COLUMBUS, Ohio – Tens of thousands of dollars spent on a national search have gotten Ohio’s state school board little farther than a city block in its search for Ohio’s next schools chief.

On Tuesday, the State Board of Education is poised to conclude its second superintendent’s search in as many years with a choice between two finalists: Acting State Superintendent Michael Sawyers, and Richard Ross, top education adviser to Gov. John Kasich.

Two years ago, after Superintendent Deborah Delisle left the job under political pressure, a search for her replacement ended in the surprise pick of Interim Superintendent Stan Heffner. Heffner resigned amid ethical questions about his relationship with an educational testing contractor.

To professionalize the latest search, the board hired Ray Associates in a contract costing more than $42,000.