Ann Arbor school board leaning toward interim replacement for departing superintendent
Ann Arbor school board members are leaning toward hiring an interim superintendent to take over for departing Superintendent Todd Roberts before conducting a national search for a permanent replacement.
The board took no formal action Wednesday night, but spent nearly an hour discussing the next steps following Roberts’ resignation Friday.
Roberts is leaving to take a position in North Carolina. He will be in Ann Arbor until mid-November.
Todd Roberts
Board members hope to have a firm hired to help them in the replacement process by the end of September.
Several board members said they hope to conduct a national search for Robert's successor and said they don't want to rush it.
That led many of them to unofficially endorse the idea that perhaps an interim superintendent is the way to go.
But several also indicated they want advice from search firms.
Board member Christine Stead volunteered to begin a draft of what the district is looking for in a search firm. School board President Deb Mexicotte said the board would hold a special meeting Tuesday to discuss that draft. A time will be set later this week.
The hope would be to send that request for proposals out to firms by the end of the week, with proposals back by early September.
Before discussing the process, board members spent time talking a bit about the challenges and opportunities facing the district.
They all mentioned keeping the momentum going forward, mentioning things like ongoing student achievement work and a planned update of the district’s strategic plan.
Dicken Elementary School Principal Mike Madison, president of the Ann Arbor administrators union, told the board the union would support going with either an interim or permanent replacement right away.
“Whatever you decide to do, we back you 100 percent,” Madison said.
Board member Glenn Nelson, who has been through two past superintendent searches and is the longest-serving board member, said this search would be different.
“We are in a much better atmosphere than last time," he said. "We don’t have the turmoil we had with previous resignations.”
Earlier in the evening, the board met in closed session to discuss the legal obligations and responsibilities the board faces in the search.
Mexicotte said those include making sure the search process is conducted in open public sessions and making sure the district always has a superintendent in place.
Roberts used his time at the beginning of the meeting to briefly talk about his decision.
“I felt supported by, and pushed by, the community, as we should be, to be the best we can be,” he said. “It is with regret that I resign. It’s with sadness that I say this.”
David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.
Comments
ViSHa
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:19 p.m.
@aataxpayer: you mean the part that reads "minorities (African American)" as if there are no other minorities?
stunhsif
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:14 p.m.
DonBee for Superintendent, why shop further, run Don run!!!
DCB
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 8:04 p.m.
Madison has obviously exhibited bad leadership on many different levels and needs to move on. If he truly cares about the students at Dicken and not just himself he will allow a new principal to take the reigns who can have a fresh start with the existing students/staff and lead without the proverbial cloud over their head. Furthermore, the Ann Arbor Public Schools need a capable leader that is willing to make a long term commitment to the district - whether it be sourced internally or externally. I honestly don't care if they spend 13k or 200k if they find the right person. I am starting to feel like my kids go to school in the "D".
DonBee
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 6:47 p.m.
$13,500 for a list of names, background checks, flights in for interviews, visits to current school districts, flights in for more interviews, down selection, more flight for interviews, public meetings, bringing the family to town to check it out, flight back and forth during the final selection process, hotels, potentially help with real estate, lawyers for contract negotiations. The $13,500 is the cheap part, the rest of the search is what costs money. Save money, stay with who we know.
Jill S
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 5:45 p.m.
I like the idea of asking Dr. Roberts. Mr. Jesse have you asked him about his thoughts on a successor? If so, any insight?
magnumpi
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 4:51 p.m.
Will the interim replacement be hired quickly and shadow Roberts or would it be someone who would start right when Roberts leaves? With the recent turn of events with AAPS leadership, I don't have a lot of faith that this will turn out well.
Momma G
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 4:29 p.m.
Let's see Mike Madison might be a good candidate or one of the other "inept" administrators that the BOE has been paying large sums of money to NOT do their jobs. Very interesting. Can't wait to hear the outcome of this search or interim placement.
Jim Jim
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 1:43 p.m.
Its interesting: you don't want the Madison debacle to be carried over onto this thread....and yet his name is blatently brought up in the above article. Perhaps another article that has some solid facts about Madison's past history at other schools and his current positions held is in order....where opinions are voiced and everything is once and for all out in the open. There are so many important things going on in the world, and yet this little topic is really vital to the community and obviously needs to be addressed until it comes to a resolution - or bankrupts the district with a civil suit of some kind. yikes.
kathryn
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 1:06 p.m.
"But don't be afraid to look in our own backyard." Well, actually don't be too quick to accept what you find lying around your back yard, either. Just because someone has been hanging around the neighborhood for years, doesn't mean you want to invite them to live in your home. (i.e., Just because someone currently works for AAPS in administration, it doesn't mean he/she is a good candidates for superintendent--it's a different job.)
xmo
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 11:19 a.m.
Why did we elect the school board? To make decisions, so why do they need an outside search firm to tell them they do or do not need and interim superintendent? What a bunch of wimps!
DagnyJ
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 11:14 a.m.
$13,500 for a search? That's a pretty good deal. But don't be afraid to look in our own backyard. And please, enough on Madison. Or take it to a different thread.
Lisa Starrfield
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 10:51 a.m.
It is inexcusable that the board feels it necessary to hire an outside firm to assist them in finding a new superintendent. Given that the average superintendent's tenure in Ann Arbor is just a few years, it seems like a waste of money. How much will this cost? I thought we were in a financial crisis.
Jay Allen
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 10:25 a.m.
Because this article (thread) is about a new superintendent, I will address that first. I see no reason that the AA School Board does not hire their own superintendent. Using a firm to do it always gives wiggle room on the other end when the new superintendent is asked to step down or forced out. Blame can always be laid elsewhere. Step up, do the job you were elected to do and HIRE your own. Now on the madison debacle. There is NOT one group of admins that will band together to force another one of their own out. This exactly explains as to the how's and why's that the fine folks of AA.Com had. If this is the way the admins wish to do business, with their heads in the sand, then YES, just appoint madison AA superintendent and be done with it. Unbelievable.
David Jesse
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 10:12 a.m.
@Visha: Lee Ann is not a member of Quad A as far as I know. You can access their contract here - http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/hrs.home/employee_bargaining_unit_contracts. It includes a definition of which positions are in the union, along with a salary scale.
ViSHa
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 10:09 a.m.
$13,500 is more reasonable than other costs speculated. As far as the AAAU, is Lee Ann Dickinson-Kelly a member of this union?
David Jesse
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:47 a.m.
More clarification. The Michigan Association of School Board's superintendent search firm conducted the nationwide search the last time Ann Arbor had an opening. The contract for that search was $13,500,according to an article I wrote for the Ann Arbor News at the time.
beachbaby
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:43 a.m.
The cost of a search firm is troublesome. This is a time when it would be nice if a community business or member could offer their services at no charge (or maybe get a tax deduction). As DonBee says, that's just money that could be in the classroom.
ViSHa
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:24 a.m.
This is from the Administrator's Union contract: Affirmative Action The Board and the Association agree that continuing effort be directed toward recruiting and retaining minority group persons (African-Americans) and women in administrativepositions. We all know attributes they will be suggesting/backing
David Jesse
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:08 a.m.
One more clarification: The administrators union represents largely the building principals and assistant principals. Superintendent Todd Roberts and members of his upper management team are not included.
David Jesse
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:05 a.m.
A clarification on Madison's role. He was elected as president of the Ann Arbor Administrator's Association for this school year by its members. I'm not sure when the vote took place. The school board has no role in it. However, the school board, as a matter of policy, allows the head of the teacher's union, the head of the administrator's union and several parents groups a chance to speak on any topic they wish to at every regular board meeting.
Bonnie L
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:04 a.m.
Does anyone know what the legal costs were, if any, to defend the actions of Mr. Madison during his tenure with the AAPS? It would be interesting to know where one could find this information. It might also give a more factual perspective and enlighten all of his peers and the entire community.
ViSHa
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:02 a.m.
So not one administrator had the (fill in the blank) to ask Madison to step down from his position as president of AAAU? They are all happy to have him representing them? Oops, i better watch what i say before this comment section gets closed. It really doesn't matter who replaces Roberts does it?
HaeJee
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 8:54 a.m.
Well, that explains why Mike Madison didn't get punished for his act of segregating students and berating kids.
jondhall
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 8:40 a.m.
I think the school board should appoint Mike Madison, that would be their last departing gesture. Sorry, but that was his slot until he made a boo boo. How is that for punishment? Board has to go if it stays in its present state.
Jim Jim
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 8:24 a.m.
I am confused. Did this article just say that Mike Madison - the principal that is involved in the situation at Dicken Elementary - is also the Head of the Ann Arbor Administrators Union? When did he become head of this? Before or after the Dicken situation erupted? Is this partly why so many people have left the school and suggested they are fearful of him (per many commments in past stories ). How many other leadership roles does he have that lend him the power to thwart any disciplinary actions?
DagnyJ
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 7:31 a.m.
Here's a radical idea: Ask Dr. Roberts who he would suggest as his replacement. Surely he knows the school leaders within AAPS well enough to know if someone is right for the job. And I'll bet he knows other superintendents in Michigan as well. Why would we look for a new superintendent from far away when the best candidate might be here?
DonBee
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 7:18 a.m.
National Search - $250,000 to $750,000 of money that will not go into the classrooms. Headhunting firms that get between 6 months and 2 years of salary for successfully placing a candidate. Either option is expensive. AAPS needs a succession plan. Training leaders internally. There is a raft of folks in the administration that make more than $100,000 a year. Every year 1 or more leave for higher positions with other districts. The internal candidates have been with the district for years and have deep roots in the community. One would think they might stay longer. Internal candidates would save the district hundreds of thousands of dollars in unrestricted funds. The chance of a Rossi Ray Taylor or a Willow Run situation heavily reduced with an internal candidate. Is it that the board does not trust the administration to run the district when Dr. Roberts leaves?
motheroffour
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 7:17 a.m.
Leaves a little bit of a bad taste when the school board needs to take the time to consider a vote of confidence from those that do not have any credibility. How much money are we spending to have these people present to offer what has been offered. Of course everyone supports what the Board does concerning hiring of a replacement for Dr. Roberts, as long as the replacement caves in to the special interests of the School Board members. I am surprised that I didn't hear....."and I want to thank the board for letting me come and tell you that I support you" speech. The credibility of the board suffers when the credibility of its management is lacking.
Dr. I. Emsayin
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 7:11 a.m.
I wonder if Ann Arbor Public Schools really needs to spend money on hiring a search firm for superintendent. Don't superintendent candidates keep their pulse on what is available, especially in high profile districts like Ann Arbor? Last time Dr. Roberts was brought in by Randy Friedman, so perhaps someone else on the board has her/his pulse on those looking. Especially if the board has someone in mind, like the deputy superintendent, it may be a waste of large sums of money to hire a firm. There must be educational journals where Ann Arbor could post the opening.