32 Choices for Hazel Park Superintendent, Process Continues April 29
(Crystal A. Proxmire, April 28, 2105)
With 32 applicants to choose from, The Hazel Park School Board and the interim leaders in the district are looking forward to examining the possibilities for who the next Superintendent will be.
“Traditionally, the district has always promoted from within so assessing the qualifications of each applicant is a first,” said Interim Superintendent Rick Repicky
Repicky took on the interim position earlier this year as much of the administration left in the wake of an $11.8 million deficit. Oakland Schools stepped in to fill many of the administrative roles, and the School Board made the tough decisions necessary to avoid a state take-over of the district. A five-year deficit elimination plan has been adopted and 169 employees lost their jobs, many replaced by outside contractors.
Repicky has been optimistic about the district’s challenged, but fresh, start. And the interest in the Superintendent position only adds to the Viking-strong spirit of moving forward.
“There is no way to interpret the large group of 32 candidates other than to view it as a credit to the district that so many seek to serve as the educational leader of the Hazel Park community,” he said.
In order to ensure a professional superintendent search, the district has hired the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) to lead the way. Dr. Marlene Davis, who served an aggregate of 20 years as a superintendent in California, Southfield and Wayne RESA is the MASB representative guiding the board.
Previously, Davis conducted a series of meetings with district stakeholders and the board focused on identifying the traits desired in a new superintendent. Armed with this data, Davis will guide the board through a public exercise on April 29, at 7:00 p.m. to narrow the candidate pool.
The goal will be to trim the 32 applicants to a group of roughly six for interviews. The number six is just a target number; there could be more or there could be less.
Davis will conduct a public discussion probing the board members for their preferences in candidates. In an effort to keep identities confidential, candidates will be referred to by number only during this narrowing phase. Typically, only the names of candidates selected for interviews become public.
With the field narrowed, the first round of public interviews will take place on May 7 and 8, at 6 p.m.
The plan is for three interviews to take place each night assuming that six candidates are selected. Preliminary interview times for both nights are 6:00, 7:10 and 8:20. Another round of public interviews is slated for the following week.
“The Hazel Park Board is dedicated to this mission and is committed to transparency in this process,” Repicky said. “They invite all members of the Hazel Park educational community to join them. Opportunities for audience feedback will be available on the nights of interviews. The Board invites this feedback at the May meetings and will take audience comments into consideration as it makes this most important decision.”
Learn more about Hazel Park Schools at http://www.hazelpark.k12.mi.us/.
NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Repicky’s name.
Previous stories:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/04/11/questions-answered-on-hazel-park-schools-challenges-and-changes/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/03/31/169-positions-eliminated-as-hazel-park-schools-approves-5-year-deficit-elimination-plan/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/03/22/hazel-park-interim-superintendent-gives-turnaround-update/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/03/17/hazel-park-school-administrators-resign-oakland-schools-steps-in/