Forums and Timelines: Ann Arbor's Next Superintendent?

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is invited the public to upcoming Superintendent Forums. From a2schools.org:

Wednesday, June 19: 
The Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education is hosting a series of public forums to hear from the community about key criteria they would like to see in the next Superintendent of Schools. 

> 9:00 -11:00 a.m. - Pioneer High School Cafeteria Annex

 > 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Ann Arbor Public Library, 4th Floor Board Room

> 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Skyline High School Commons 

> 7:30 -9:30 p.m. - Huron High School Cafeteria 

Please join various Trustees in conversation about these important next steps in the selection process for the next AAPS Superintendent.

Phew! Those trustees are going to be very busy on June 19, running from place to place!  If you can't make it (perhaps you will be at a very exciting rally up in Lansing on that same day? It starts at 11:30 at the Michigan Capitol Building) here are a few suggestions:

1. Write the school board: boe@aaps.k12.mi.us as a group, or individually (emails here);
2. Call one or more school board members

Choosing a superintendent does not have to be
a game of roulette!

I will admit that last time round I didn't pay enough attention to the superintendent choice process. This time, I'm going to pay a lot more attention. I think those of us who care about the schools should do our own background research into all of the semi-finalist candidates. If you are willing to help me, email me at rlk234 at gmail.com. Thanks!




[Why? Remember that Ray & Associates, the search firm the school board is using, has been associated with the Broad Foundation. Read more about why you should care about that here. We need to chart our own path.]

The board has laid out the following timeline, per annarbor.com:

The board intends to review applications for the position with Ray & Associates, the consulting firm hired to conduct the search, on June 26. That evening, the board will announce the semi-finalists for the position at its regular meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library.
Semi-finalists will visit the Ann Arbor Public Schools district for tours and interviews the week of July 7, and the week of July 14 the school board will conduct its interviews with the finalists.
Green announced her plans to retire in April. Her resignation is effective July 9.

Oh, and by the way, in case you missed it, the Board appointed David Comsa, the deputy superintendent for legal and human resources issues, to be interim superintendent. It's my understanding that he doesn't have the educational leadership credentials that would allow him to be a permanent superintendent, and perhaps that was one factor in why he was chosen. He was chosen in one round of voting. The other candidates were Randy Trent (current deputy superintendent in charge of buildings and facilities); and two principals--Gary Court and Kevin Karr. In a single round of voting, Comsa got four votes, Court got two, Karr got one.