Brandon Twp.-By a six-to-one vote Tuesday night the board of education offered the position of Brandon School District superintendent to Tom Miller, current assistant superintendent of the Port Huron area school district.
The three-year, $120,000 contract which could begin on July 1, 2005 was offered to Miller via cell phone at the meeting. He accepted the position, contingent on future contract negotiations.
‘Port Huron and Brandon are different communities,? said Miller, 49. ‘The most important thing is that I’m here to serve the community, to serve the best interest of the kids. We’re all about kids, we must keep them in mind. Kids need a connection with the school.?
Miller says his first task as superintendent is to see what directions the board needs to go with a variety of issues.
‘I’ll make a recommendation based on what the staff, board and community needs are,? said Miller.
‘I’m an open person, if there’s a concern with anything and I receive a call I’ll always get back to them within 24 hours of the call. It’s vital’it’s all about creating relationships and good listening.?
The search for a new superintendent which ended Tuesday night was conducted by Grand Rapids area based T.D. & Associates after current superintendent Bart Jenniches announced his exit after nine years last summer.
A total of 37 candidates made inquiries regarding the superintendent position since the opening was posted by T.D. & Associates in January. The field was narrowed to 22 candidates, then to four candidates who were interviewed in a day long session by the board on Feb. 5.
Nancy Campbell, assistant superintendent for the Berkley school district since 2000, and Tom Miller, were the finalists selected by the board.
As part of the search process, site visitation teams, comprised of teachers, administrators, a Parent Teachers Association member, two high school students and community members visited the Berkley school district Feb. 10 and the Port Huron school district on Feb. 17. Each team member was provided a profile approved by the school board of what to look for in a superintendent.
‘Part of the issue is that we need to look at is the total package,? said Beth Nuccio, school board president. ‘Miller was a more rounded candidate (than Campbell). We did listen to all the reports; when it came down to it he brought the most to the table.?
‘Port Huron is in turmoil, some think it must be Tom Miller’s fault’it’s not. There’s a lot of politics going on in the district. The Port Huron district is a much larger district then Brandon, there’s some real social-economic problems there. That community is diverse’they gave him some opportunities to learn some things and now he can come here and shine.?
‘Tom will bring a sense of how important the work environment is in a community ‘there’s a reason he’s choosing to leave Port Huron. He was very positive and upbeat, it was not him rather it was the community that had the problems. I hope the Brandon community will give him a chance, the board believes that Tom’s the man for the job.?
Not all agree.
‘I still had further questions for Tom Miller,? said Karyn Milligan, school board trustee who voted no on the contract.
‘When Tom gets here I’d like to talk with him and clear up with lose ends’there was not time. I had to go with my feelings at the time of the vote’given the information that’s why I voted. I welcome Mr. Miller. It was not a vote against his credentials.?
Site visitation team members who were in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting supported Nancy Campbell rather than Tom Miller. Ten members, who participated in the site visits and interviews addressed the board with both their findings and recommendations.
‘Nancy Cambpell was the right choice for the job, I felt she was right for us at this time,? said Bonnie Kerin, school board member from 1992-96 who worked on the last superintendent search for Bart Jenniches in 1995. ‘I’m truly disappointed with the decision and the accountability of the process.?
A teacher for the past 32 years, Lyn Coffey, Brandon Fletcher Intermediate sixth-grade instructor visited each district and was equally disappointed that Miller was offered the position over Campbell.
‘Based on the profile of what the (school) board was seeking in a superintendent, I felt that Nancy Campbell fulfilled that profile more completely than Tom Miller,? said Coffey, who teaches math, reading and social studies. ‘The evidence was there for Campbell. There was no question in my mind. Regardless of my disagreement with the board I will work will Miller and the board to make Brandon the best district it can be.?
Since being appointed to the assistant superintendent position in 1998 Miller has faced several key issues in the Port Huron School Distirct.
‘The Port Huron Area School District enrolls about 11, 500 students and employs about 1,400 staff. Enrollment is declining at a rate of about 100 to 150 each year says Miller. The district located about one hour north of Detroit is comprised of three high schools, four middle schools and 13 elementary schools. The district has a yearly budget of $100 million, Miller says he’s responsible for about $75 million.
‘In May 1999 four Port Huron middle school students were in custody after police uncovered an elaborate killing spree plot, similar to the Littleton , Colo. shooting, according to The Times Herald of Port Huron. No one were injured. That same year custodians near a Port Huron Middle school found a bomb that, according to newspaper reports was disarmed by the Michigan division of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Miller says following these events an outside consultant was hired by the district to determine what security measures could be implemented.
‘The Port Huron Area School District faced a $6 million budget shortfall for the for 2004-05 school year. District officials considered the elimination of some teaching jobs along with other positions and the foreign language program in the middle schools, according to reports. Miller says a buyout of 95 certified staff last year saved the younger teaching staff and helped avert many layoffs.
‘Teachers in the Port Huron District have been working without a contract since the start of the 2004-05 school year. Miller is a member of the negotiations team and says progress is being made with issues such as raising cost of retirement and sufficient funding by the school district.