By Crystal Hayduk
The Chelsea School District Board of Education met on June 10 to discuss options regarding the hiring of an interim superintendent to lead the district for the 2015-16 school year.
Current Superintendent of Schools Andy Ingall recently accepted a job with another school district.
Board President Steve Olsen opened the meeting by offering the first opportunity for public input. During this time, he read aloud 10 emailed letters to the board from a cross-section of community leaders and business owners. All ten letters indicated support for former superintendent Dave Killips as the best candidate for the interim position.
Written statements noted his past experience, proven track record, knowledge of the community, stellar reputation, intelligence, and documented leadership skills. Supporters said that these qualities would contribute to a smooth transition over the course of the next year while the board concentrates their efforts on an extensive search to find the right person for the permanent position.
Olsen said, “On the table is the ad hoc committee’s recommendation [to negotiate with Killips].”
Board members commenced a lengthy and, at times, fervent discussion about the process of choosing a candidate. New board members had questions about specifics, such as the timing of installing an interim candidate, importance of superintendent certification, definition of ad hoc committee, and requests for clarification of previous misunderstandings.
Board member Laurel McDevitt explained that the board hires and fires the superintendent. “If the superintendent is not acting as we want, it’s our responsibility to manage that,” she said, adding, “The interim will be in charge of a limited number of things.”
Olsen reminded the board that the decision was made at their special meeting on May 31 that the interim would be expected to maintain the present course of the district.
“Overall, Dave Killips, in my humble opinion, did a fantastic job.” Olsen said. “He got this district through the hardest financial times since the Great Depression. Within the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, Killips was considered the best superintendent in the county by his peers.”
Ultimately, the board agreed by majority vote in a straw poll (4-3) to enter negotiations with Killips for the position of interim superintendent, to begin on July 1. All board members agreed to fully support the interim regardless of the vote, and agreed that supporting the final decision of the board is in the best interest of the district.
Voting for Killips were Olsen, McDevitt, Anne Mann and Tammy Lehman. Voting no were Laura Bush, Greg Rhodes and Dana Emmert.
At the second opportunity for public input, Killips received support from community leaders Will Johnson and John Mann; as well as Beth Morris, who is a social worker for the school district.
Julie Norwood asked about the process for hiring a permanent superintendent. Olsen said that next time the process will include community and stakeholder input as well as public interviews.
The board is expected to vote on the contract offer at their regular meeting on June 22.
