FeedsPrincipal candidate field narrowed
By Monday, the Van Buren Public school board will have a recommendation for a new principal at Belleville High School.
According to Paul Henning, spokesperson for the district, the interview process is complete and candidates will now go through a background investigation and referral check.
The hope is to have the committee recommendation at the July 10 meeting for approval of the members of the school board.
“Whenever there’s a change in leadership there’s always concern,” said Henning. “I don’t see this more or less different than any other position filled in the district. We want the best candidate for the job, which is always a concern.”
“The process is taking as long as it has to. We don’t want to go too fast or too slow,” Henning added.
The nine candidates—both internal and external—all have a remarkable background and experience in education, Henning said.
“It’s great for us because we want to hire someone of higher caliber. We had a lot of high quality candidates to choose from,” he said.
Former principal Kevin Kelly resigned in May to return to his home town of Traverse City.
Job responsibilities of the position will include: supervising the educational program, instructional staff, extracurricular programs, safety and health of students and staff; reports for budgets and records; training and other school related matters. The school district desirable qualifications are: a valid state certification to practice as a school principal, a masters degree with the emphasis in educational administration, at least three years of job experience as an assistant principal and at least five years experience as a teacher.
The salary is $95,850-99,850, but will be negotiable depending on qualifications and experience.
Recently, the hiring method has been in question, but Henning said it is the same one used for past three years.
“The committee involves the superintendent, director of curriculum, finance director, president of the administrator’s union and president of the teacher’s union,” he said. “That way everybody feels equal partnership in the selection of who should get the job.”
Mike Colletta, president of the teacher’s union, said he stands behind the hiring process.
“It involves all the instructors and members of the bargaining group. It gives accountability to the hiring,” he said.
“As far as certain people saying that there are student discipline and racial problems at the high school, that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Colletta added. “That would imply that the high school is in disarray and it’s not. For the fifth straight year we’ve had a decrease in student disciplinary incidents and a reduction in violence.”
“Racial concerns are concerns in society in general. The high school is no more different and I don’t believe it reflects anything different, certainly not worse,” said Henning.”
Henning added no matter which candidate is chosen for the position they must be in agreement with the changes at the high school.
“We want the best candidate whether internal or external,” he said. “The process is proven to be solid in that respect.”
