Superintend
ent Norman Taylor’s umpiring activities outside of school business hours was a topic of discussion at the Wayland Board of Education meeting April 27.
According to minutes of the meeting, published on the district’s web site:
“A short discussion was held regarding the superintendent’s work schedule and expectations of the board. (Board President) Nancy (Thelen) clarified with new board members that Superintendent Taylor has been officiating volleyball and umpiring baseball and softball games for many years. These activities were discussed at the time he was hired. Nancy stressed the importance of district meetings and events taking precedence over non-district activities in the superintendent’s schedule. The superintendent stated that on days when he is required to leave the district at 3 p.m. he arrives in his office at 7 a.m. On days when he must leave the district at an earlier time he uses half of a vacation or personal day.
“A question raised by (Trustee) Peter Zondervan and discussed was how this is different from other administrators who hold coaching positions either in or out of the district.”
Townbroadcast, in an editorial last December, opined that it is unfair for Taylor to be allowed to engage in athletic activities in an official capacity besides his regular job, while other administrators, except Dorr Principal Kevin Zaschak, have been denied such opportunities.
Zaschak is the head varsity hockey coach for the Forest Hills Central Rangers.
Wayland High School varsity softball coach Cheri Ritz several years ago was forced to choose between that and being athletic director, but couldn’t do both. Varsity boys’ basketball coach Mike Hudson served as interim assistant principal at the high school, but also was forced to choose between coaching and being an administrator.
Mike Omness, now the assistant principal at WHS, has expressed an interest in helping as an assistant football coach, but board policy forbids it.
So the criticism was that two administrators were allow to do something that others were not.
That issue also showed up in the school district’s survey of opinions about what’s going in Wayland Union Schools.
One opinion, from an unidentified administrator, about what’s needed in the district, was:
“New leadership in Central Office in the position of superintendent. A superintendent who is fiscally responsible. A superintendent who has vision and a plan to grow the district. A superintendent who can personally coach his administrators and develop them professionally. A superintendent who does not leave during the school day to officiate baseball and volleyball games. A superintendent who does not leave early from work to go to Detroit Tiger baseball games. A superintendent who is in the district and not at every conference available in the state of Michigan. A superintendent who does not take Disney Vacations during the school year. A superintendent who will make a decision and support his administrative team. A superintendent who actually cares about the people of this organization, the students and community. A superintendent who is really about WAYLAND and not promoting his own self interests…”
Another unidentified administrator said on the survey, “The focus should be on what’s best for the students of the district. The BOE (Board of Education) needs to have specific goals, move forward with setting and revising district policies, consider a 180 evaluation of the superintendent, and collaborate more as a team. All BOE decisions should be based on what’s best for students through the lens of district goals. The BOE should not allow the superintendent to continue to officiate at sporting events during the week, as this is disruptive to his job duties. The superintendent is also out of the district too much with a variety of community events and meetings during the work day…”
Taylor recently was awarded a 1.5% increase in pay to more than $131,000 per year and his overall evaluation by the board rated him as “highly effective.”
PHOTO: Supt. Norman Taylor
