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Laingsburg narrows superintendent search to two
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Friday, July 10, 2009 4:12 PM EDT
LAINGSBURG - The Laingsburg Community Schools Board of Education narrowed its search to two candidates Wednesday night.
DeWitt Public Schools High School principal Michael Foster and Godwin Heights Public Schools High School principal Jonathan Whan edged out three other candidates following first-round interviews this week.
Both Foster and Whan are set for follow-up interviews July 16 and 17. The Board was undecided as to which candidate to interview on which day.
A few members from the community and staff members for Laingsburg Community Schools expressed concern with the choices the Board made Wednesday night.
“I know you must be hearing it in both ears right now,” retired teacher Ken Walters told the Board after their decision. “But even if it's 20 (percent of people unhappy), you have to listen to that 20. You have to ask yourselves if we're just going to be treading water with these candidates.”
Treasurer Scott Danek urged community members who might disagree with the choices to consider the whole district.
“I would caution you on thinking that you are representative of an entire community,” Danek said. “We've heard from umpteen different responses from people that had negative things to say about every candidate, and we heard umpteen different responses of people with positive things to say.”
Secretary Larry Cook agreed.
“Besides these initial interviews, all of us have independently conducted our own interviews with these candidates,” he said. “I know I've got concerns about both, and there are things I like about both.”
Parent Deanna Arksey said she had ideas of what she was looking for in the candidates.
“I'm looking for someone who can communicate with the kids and parents,” she said, “but the biggest thing is that he's visible to everyone and accessible to everyone.”
Following the Board's decision to narrow the candidates, Arksey reminded the Board of her thoughts.
“I think we need to give some people an opportunity,” she said. “I also think we need to get some new blood in here.”
Foster has previous connections with the district, serving as the Laingsburg High School principal for 10 years. He also currently lives in Laingsburg. Whan previously served as assistant principal at Bay City Central High School and on the Central Montcalm Public School administration team. He currently lives in Byron Center.
Foster and Whan beat out Genesee secondary principal Richard Carsten, Capac Community Schools High School principal Michael Mrozinski and Mackinaw City Public Schools Superintendent Jeffrey Curth.
The Board plans to release updated information about the follow-up interviews, which will take place during public meetings, later this week.
- Contact Nathan Bruttell at 725-5136 extension 231 or nbruttellarguspress@gmail.com. Post comments about this story online at www.argus-press.com.