Oxford’s search for a new school superintendent was narrowed to three finalists last week with one of them emerging as the apparent front-runner.
‘He blew me away,? said School Board Trustee Sue Tombrella, referring to Dr. Dale Martin, currently employed as the superintendent of a grade school district in Downers Grove, Illinois for the last 8? years. ‘I don’t care if he stays six years and decides to retire. Those are six years that are going to do us a lot of good.?
At the May 10 special meeting, the school board decided to ask Martin back for second interview as well as Robert Barnes, superintendent of Holly Schools since July 1999, and Dr. William Skilling, superintendent of Webberville Schools since 2003.
Each candidate was invited back to meet with school administrators and staff on Monday (Skilling), Tuesday (Barnes) and Thursday (Martin) of this week, then engage in second interviews with the school board each evening at 6 p.m.
Based on the first interview, Martin appeared to be the board’s initial favorite as all seven members immediately picked him to make a return appearance.
‘What I like about him, first of all, is his experience is superior,? said Tombrella, who was perhaps Martin’s biggest fan. ‘He has been in larger districts than what we have, which tells me if he has conquered those, he can conquer anything.?
Martin worked in Bay City Public Schools from July 1981 through March 1991 as assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent and finally superintendent. He then served as Waterford’s superintendent from March 1991 to July 1994 and as superintendent of New Hanover Schools in Wilmington, North Carolina from August 1994 to August 1998.
‘Here is a man that with his credentials could probably go anywhere he wanted to go,? Tombrella explained. ‘He has chosen to stay in this particular field for obvious reasons, he loves it. He really, genuinely, passionately likes it.?
Tombrella noted Martin’s love of education is also evidenced by the fact he’s willing to ‘come down? from his current salary of $210,000 to what Oxford’s willing to offer.
Trustee Pam Phelps described Martin as ‘the whole package.?
‘We got it all in one,? she said.
Those who attended Martin’s interview were also impressed and let the board know it.
‘I think we are extremely fortunate to have such a highly qualified candidate with so much experience as (Dr.) Martin,? said Oxford Elementary School Principal Debbie Stout.
Trustee Major Murray was prepared to make a decision that night and offer the job to Martin.
‘I think we’re procrastinating,? he said. ‘If he’ll take it, go with it. If he won’t, then have runoff of (the) two (remaining finalists).?
But other board members didn’t want to rush the decision. They wanted time to learn more about all three candidates and give them each a chance to meet and interact with school administrators and staff.
Skilling also generated lots of conversation amongst board members due to some initial ‘homework? by School Board Treasurer Doug Myer which painted the Webberville superintendent in an unflattering light.
However, after further research and Skilling’s second interview on Monday, Myer told this reporter the negative comments he recounted to the board last week were either inaccurate or the opinions of Webberville business owners who weren’t happy about the bonds and millages their superintendent got approved.
Myer said the main problem was Webberville is a ‘small, rural town? similar to Dryden that wasn’t ‘ready for the drastic changes? Skilling implemented to improve the tiny school district.
Skilling has ‘vision like no other,? he explained.
Overall, Myer thinks ‘highly? of Skilling and is very impressed with what he was able to accomplish in a school district with approximately 600 students and a $5 million annual budget.
‘He has transformed Webberville into a much better district than it was,? he told the school board. ‘He had remodeled the buildings to look beautiful . . .Everything was prettier. Everything was better.?
Myer said Skilling has ‘strengthened the curriculum like you can’t believe? and ‘raised academic standards? in Webberville. ‘He is a teacher in the truest sense,? he said.
Prior to being superintendent in Webberville, Skilling was interim middle school principal in Byron Center, Michigan from July 1991 to June 1992 and high school principal in Byron Center from 1992-2002.
In addition to being Webberville’s superintendent, Skilling’s also an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University, a position he’s held since 1993.
Skilling is ‘heavy into the arts,? according to Myer.
‘Every student between the first and fourth grade (in Webberville) is required to play the violin,? he said. ‘Not just any instrument, particularly violin.?
All the violins were donated to the district, so they didn’t cost taxpayers any money.
Last week, Phelps expressed concern about how much time Skilling has to devote to the school district given he has six children, two of which have already graduated college.
‘I’m not sure that he’s going to give the time and be able to be everywhere in the community that he ought to be, doing what he ought to be like some of these others,? he said.
Murray noted, ‘I think this would be the final position for Martin and Barnes. I think it would be the next position for Skilling. Are we comfortable with that??
‘I see two of them that this is where they’re going to retire and I see one who we are part of a plan,? he said.
But Murray noted, ‘We may need a striver at this point.?
Myer described Skilling as both ‘aggressive? and a ‘young up and comer.?
Not much was said about Barnes last week other than Myer talked to some people he knew in Holly, such as the village manager, and he received ‘high marks across the board.?
Prior to leading Holly Schools, Barnes worked, from January 1985 through June 1999, in a number of school districts in Kentucky in a variety of positions including superintendent, athletic director and principal at the elementary, junior high and high school levels.