If negotiations go well, Lake Orion will see a familiar face as their new school superintendent.
In a special board meeting held Friday night, the Lake Orion Board of Education interviewed internal candidate, current Assistant Superintendent Ken Gutman, for the position of superintendent, which will become vacant when current Superintendent Christine Lehman retires this June.
The board voted 5-2 to offer the position to Gutman pending successful contract negotiations.
Board President Jim Weidman and Trustee Bob Gritzinger were the two dissenting votes, both expressing a belief that the board should continue to an external search to verify they are choosing the best candidate possible.
‘We’ve done a lot of work in the past four-and-a-half months to get to this point,? Gritzinger said. ?(Gutman) fills a lot of what we expected, but I’m not sure we’ve done everything in our power to find the best person possible in that position.?
Weidman agreed, noting he felt to find the best candidate ‘you need to leave no stone unturned.?
‘I remain in favor of continuing the process to determine if there would be candidates competitive with our internal candidate,? he said before the vote, adding this process may also support the internal candidate (Gutman) as the best choice.
Several of the board members that voted in favor of Gutman cited his enthusiasm, support from the district staff and proven track record for success in Lake Orion community schools as his selling points.
Trustee Bill Walters described Gutman as a ‘highly qualified gentleman who’s ready to work.?
‘We need to pick this man up and get to work,? he added.
Several of the board members also noted that the staff and the district feels it’s been in a ‘holding pattern? for too long, and they liked the prospect of Gutman being able to get in and get right to work as he is already familiar with the district, the staff and the community.
‘We’ve had four-and-a-half months to make this decision,? said Trustee Tiffany Weber-Phillips. ‘We’ve had this time to think and look at our stuff. Now, we need to find new leadership and take it to the next level.?
?(Gutman has) the confidence to get us to the next level, and that vision that Lake Orion can be the best out there and will be the best out there,? she added.
The next step for the board remains to iron out contract negotiations with Gutman.
‘We’ll be working out details on the contract that meet the needs of the candidate and the district,? Weidman said.
Gutman first came to the Lake Orion school district nine years ago, after being a teacher and administrator in the West Bloomfield district. He started in a position as principal at Scripps Middle School, from there moving to the board office, serving as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and once Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dave Beiter retired last year, also taking over that role as well.
‘When I came to Lake Orion nine years ago what I found was truly a positive educational climate,? Gutman said, calling Lake Orion Schools a ‘best-kept secret? at that time.
‘I believe in Lake Orion Community Schools,? he added. ‘I feel in love with this district nine years ago.?
Gutman said he believed that negotiations will go smoothly, noting that both he and the board are ‘in this for kids.?
Stay with The Review for continued updates on the negotiation process.