The search for a successor to retiring Wayland Union Schools Supt. Norman Taylor began in earnest Thursday afternoon and evening with a couple of “public input sessions.”
Dr. Rodney Green from the Michigan Association of School Boards, himself a superintendent for 24 years, led a session just after noon at the administration building and in the evening at the Wayland High School media center. He indicated that he spoke with students Thursday morning in a full day of information gathering.
Green led attendees through determining what people believe are points of pride for the school district, what its challenges are, and what qualities they want in a new superintendent to succeed Taylor, who will retire officially on July 1 after 10 years.
The next step will be a school board workshop Tuesday, Feb. 11, open to the public. Surveys already have been available on line.
“When you are doing this process (the search) in needs to be in front of the public,” he said.
The application deadline will be March 6 and the goal is to have initial interviews starting Saturday, March 21. The target date for hiring is sometime in April.
Points of pride mentioned by parents in the audience included location between two metropolitan areas, the school board, community support and “tremendous growth, but maintaining that small town feel.”
Parent Tonya Lyons said of the school board members, “I think they are very approachable here.”
Mentioned as challenges were tremendous growth, technology, transportation, support staff shortages and landing in a strange place of both an asset and a challenge was the Gun Lake Casino.
One parent said, “We don’t want to wind up being financially dependent on the casino. We don’t have pay to play or have to buy school supplies (like other districts)” but things could change.
It was estimated that all students in eighth grade and younger haven’t had to deal with pay to play and buying school supplies.
Green said, “There are very few districts in Michigan that have the revenue sharing agreement that you have. That’s a great advantage (in attracting a quality superintendent).”
Transportation’s greatest challenge is finding enough bus drivers.
Technology is a challenge everywhere for parents who struggle to keep up with rapid changes.
One parent asked, “We rely on it a lot. I’m old school. How am I going to help my kids?”
Qualities sought in the new superintendent include appropriate experience as an educator and education administrator, ability to get along with subordinates and the public, taking pride in the district and community activism.
Green said it is unlawful to insist the superintendent live within the district’s borders, but he or she should be encouraged to live here.
Parents said if the school chief has children living in the district, he or she will have a stake in its success.
