While nothing official has occurred yet, the Lake Orion School Board has been spending a lot of behind-the-scenes time preparing for the search for a new superintendent.
Current superintendent, Christine Lehman, is retiring this June.
Board President Jim Weidman said the board has spent around 17-18 hours over three separate occasions at their winter workshops, developing a game plan for the search. They have also had help from Oakland Schools Superintendent, Dr. Vickie Markavitch, in organizing their process.
Weidman said the board has spent time doing several things, including developing a better understanding of how the board works and how they work with one another so they ‘can be thorough in (their) communication? as they go through the process of selecting a new superintendent.
‘We also focused on our assessment of the current education environment in Lake Orion,? he added, noting that they each developed a list of traits and characteristics that they would like to see in the district’s next leader.
Now that they have a better idea what they want as a board, Weidman said their next stop is to select a facilitator so they can start collecting the opinions of the community (parents, teachers, etc.). They will see at least one presentation from a company that provides this type of service at the next school board meeting on Feb. 27.
‘A lot of work has gone into getting to this point,? said board member Bob Gritzinger. ‘We know what we would like to have as a board in that position ? what kind of person, what their attributes should be, what their qualifications generally should be.?
‘This is going to be the opportunity to reach out to all segments of the community… to get their take and point of view and bring that into the discussion,? he added.
Weidman also thanked the board for the time they have put into the process so far.
‘I think we’re on a path to be thorough and be comprehensive and inclusive in what we are trying to complete,? he added.
The next school board meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.