Eight applicants for the superintendent position were invited for interviews next week by the Oxford Board of Education.
‘We have some great candidates,? said School Board President Colleen Schultz, during a special meeting held Tuesday night to screen applications.
‘I think there was only one out of the 25 (applicants) that I threw out right away the first time through,? noted Treasurer Doug Myer. ‘The number of superintendents that applied was huge.?
A total of 26 candidates originally applied for the job, however, one person took a position in another school district prior to the meeting.
With the aid of Carl Hartman, Director of Field Services for the Michigan Association of School Boards, the organization hired by the district to conduct its superintendent search, the board of education narrowed the pool from 25 candidates to eight.
‘The reason that we narrowed it down to the candidates that we did is because they all have central office experience,? explained Trustee Sue Tombrella. ‘The candidates that we decided not to interview, some of them did not have central office experience, some of them did (but) they obviously didn’t fit the bill for other reasons. The ones that we did select, every one of them have central office experience.?
It appeared Tombrella’s comments were geared toward explaining why the three applicants currently employed by the Oxford school district in various administrative positions ? Mike Schweig, Tim Throne and Dr. Jerry Oermann ? were not invited to interview.
The eight applicants who were selected will be interviewed during three special school board meetings scheduled for next week. All of them will be open to the public.
Three candidates will be interviewed from 6-9 p.m. on Monday, May 7 and Wednesday, May 9. Each interview will last approximately 60 minutes.
‘It may take a little bit longer, but we’ll try to keep them to an hour,? Hartman said.
Two candidates will be interviewed on Thursday, May 10 from 6-8 p.m. That same night the board may choose who they wish to invite back for a second interview.
Public attendance at these meetings and participation in the interview process is strongly encouraged.
Audience members will be invited to jot down questions for the candidates on note cards provided at the meetings.
The last five minutes of each interview will be devoted to questions from the public, according to Hartman.
Audience members will also be asked to make written comments about each candidate on special forms provided at the meetings.
‘They can fill out the feedback forms while the interview is going on,? Hartman said. ‘That’s their opportunity to provide input.?
Without further ado, here are the eight candidates invited for interviews next week:
Kimberley Hart ? Superintendent of Goodrich Area Schools since July 2004. Previously served as an elementary principal in Goodrich from July 1990 through June 2004. A resident of Davison.
Bruce Burger ? Superintendent of Morrice Area Schools since July 2005. Previously served as a principal in Atherton Community Schools in Burton from 2000-05. A resident of Clio.
Dr. Dale Martin ? Superintendent of Downers Grove Grade School District 58 in Downers Grove, Illinois for 8? years. Previously served as superintendent of New Hanover Schools in Wilmington, North Carolina from August 1994 to August 1998. Superintendent of Waterford School District from March 1991 to July 1994. Superintendent of Bay City Public Schools from July 1988 to March 1991. Deputy Superintendent of Bay City from July 1985 to July 1988. Assistant Superintendent of Personnel and Employee Relations for Bay City from July 1981 to July 1985. A resident of Downers Grove, Illinois.
James Craig ? Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Niles Community Schools since 2001. Previously served as middle school principal for Buchanan Community Schools from 1994-2001. Assistant middle school principal for the School City of Hammond in Indiana from 1992-94. A resident of Niles.
Robert Barnes ? Superintendent of Holly Area Schools since July 1999. Previously served as superintendent in Greenup County, Kentucky from July 1994 to June 1999. Elementary principal in Calloway, Kentucky from July 1992 to June 1994. Junior high principal in Henderson County, Kentucky from July 1988 to June 1992. High school principal in Crittenden County, Kentucky from July 1986 to June 1988. Assistant principal/athletic director in Crittenden, Kentucky from January 1985 to June 1986. A resident of Holly.
Robert Glass ? Executive Director of Instruction for Birmingham Public Schools since July 2005. Previously served as principal of Quarton School in Birmingham from August 2002 to July 2005. Elementary principal for Suttons Bay Public Schools from July 1999 to July 2002. Elementary principal for Vestaburg Community Schools from July 1996 to June 1999. A resident of Bloomfield Hills.
Karl Paulson ? Assistant Superintendent of Lakeview Public Schools in St. Clair Shores since October 2003. Previously served as high school principal in Kearsley Community Schools (Flint) from July 1998 to October 2003. Assistant high school principal in Rochester Community Schools from August 1994 through July 1998. A resident of Lake Orion.
Dr. William Skilling ? Superintendent of Webberville Community Schools since 2003. Previously served as executive director of ST Concepts, Inc. in Byron Center, Michigan from 2002-03. High school principal in Byron Center from 1992-2002. Interim middle school principal in Byron Center from July 1991 to June 1992. A resident of Williamston.