Posen to interview superintendent candidates
by Peter Jakey—Managing Editor
The superintendent search in Posen will pick up some steam next week.
The district’s executive committee has narrowed a field of 19 applicants to seven for public interviews.
The names, which were released Wednesday morning, are: Bruce Matson, Engadine; Kristen Tebo, Onaway; Becky O’Bryant, Rogers City; Michelle Wesner, Bellevue; and William Taylor, South Haven.
The interviews will be Oct. 1 and 5. More details about the times will be published in a follow-up article next week.
“We picked seven, but we would like to interview five or six,” said board president Ken Wozniak. “We took seven in case one or two says they are not interested, after we ask them.” The list includes men and women.
“I think we have seven really strong candidates,” said board member Brian Konieczny, who is a member of the committee.
Interim superintendent John Palmer suggested the board one-half an hour before the interviews to prepare questions. “Some will be more pertinent to our situation,” said Wozniak. Teachers Hollie Kuchnicki and Glenn Budnick will be invited to sit in on the interviews and provide input.
The board decided at the end of the last school year to move forward with a search for a new superintendent/K-12 principal. Palmer, who commutes from Cheboygan every day the students are in class, agreed to stay on until the new person is hired.
In other board news:
• Beth Hincka and Mandee Hincka were approved as 2016 trip club advisors, replacing Hannah Pontius. They also will serve the Class of 2018. Both are volunteer positions and Wozniak said he had a letter from two individuals interested in volunteering as advisors in 2019. He thought there was discussion about phasing out the trips.
“We talked about ending the trips, but I don’t think we ever acted on it,” he said.
A couple board members wondered if they should conduct a survey.
Wozniak said the board should ponder a decision during the next month. “Talk to the parents, talk to the community and get their thoughts,” said Wozniak.
• Palmer said the student count is at 2
• The board is still trying to rid the property of the portable classroom.
“We tried to take bids on it and nobody wants it,” said Palmer. “We need to get that building out of here.”
Different people have expressed interest, but now school officials would be willing to listen to anyone who would haul it away.
• The high bidder for the school’s van was Jesse Chappa, who will pay $400. Additionally, the Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle Educational Service District offered the district a 2005 van for $1. It graciously accepted.
• Head cook Mary Ann Zakshesky was granted a leave of absence of up to 90 days to tend to family matters; however, she told Palmer she could be back within the next couple of weeks. “But it might be longer than that,” said Palmer.