SPRINGBORO — Todd Petrey is expected to be named Springboro Community City Schools superintendent at tonight’s school board meeting following a challenging week of negotiations.

He would replace Gene Lolli, whose resignation will be effective this summer.

Petrey, 39, has worked as principal for three years at Creekside Early Childhood School, which is in the Lakota Local School District. Prior to that, he was principal at Dennis Elementary School East in Springboro.

School board President Scott Anderson said Petrey’s experience in Springboro was an asset to his application.

“He had worked in the district, and I know he was well-respected and well-liked,” Anderson said. “Then he worked in Lakota, which is a huge district, where he’s been very successful. He enhanced his skill set and will be able to bring all that knowledge back to Springboro.”

Petrey said he loved his time at Lakota, which has close to 18,000 students, and gained a great deal of central office experience. The South Lebanon resident said he wanted to come back to Springboro because he loves the city and because he shares the same goals as the school board.

“Where the board’s at right now is wanting the highest academic achievement and fiscal responsibility,” Petrey said. “That’s what I stand for.

“I also want to make sure that the staff’s voice is heard. I am 100 percent an educator first, and pro teacher,” he said. “My No. 1 responsibility is to the kids in Springboro and the education they’re receiving.”

Petrey said he was offered the job June 1, the night after he and fellow finalist Richard Earley talked to the community in a public forum.

Earley, superintendent at Hillsboro City Schools, withdrew his name from consideration the following Monday. He said “the process is lingering” and that he thought the board either had decided on Petrey or was split on its decision.

Petrey entered into further discussions with the board, but then wavered on whether to take the job.

“We started negotiating, and the board gave me time to think,” said Petrey, who is married and has a 6-year-old son. “They gave me time to make sure this is what I wanted, and this was going to work for my family. The board is very crystal clear in what they expect from me.”

Anderson added: “They were tough negotiations, but it all worked out. We offered him a little bit more money to come.”

Petrey said he would earn $130,000 per year at Springboro, which is about a $30,000 raise compared to his salary and benefits at Lakota.

That also is a higher salary than Lolli’s, who made $105,000 in the position; the contract is for five years as opposed to three.

Petrey added that he will not receive retirement pickup, tax-deferred annuities, a car allowance or other incentives sometimes offered to superintendents.

“What the public sees is exactly what I am being compensated,” he said.

Anderson said he feels Petrey will be able to bridge some of the recent conflict in the district, which was reflected in Lolli’s resignation amid a difference in philosophy with the school board and the public outcry over the proposed reassignment of Springboro High School Principal Ron Malone.

“He’s a very good communicator, and he has a history here at Springboro,” Anderson said of Petrey. “If anyone can do it, he can.”

Petrey, who would start Aug. 1, said he sees a bright future for the Warren County school district of roughly 5,400 students.

“Sometimes conflict creates the best plans,” he said, “and that’s what’s going to happen in Springboro.”

The school board meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. today at the Springboro High School Media Center, 1675 S. Main St.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.