By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR – Having recognized that local and internal searches failed to identify the next top administrator, the Taylor Public Schools Board of Education met Nov. 7 with state advisors to consider strategies for a more exhaustive candidate search.
Current Supt. Diane Allen has confirmed that her retirement will be effective June 30, 2016 – if not sooner – as the longtime educator earlier this year agreed to an extension of up to one year after initially planning to retire in 2015.
School Board President John Reilly said the panel had interviewed three candidates in March, but failed to agree on any of the candidates either for lack of experience or unfamiliarity with a district of Taylor’s size. Rather than attempt another local search, Reilly said the board met with representatives from the Michigan Association of School Boards.
The initial meeting was to determine a timeline and process for a search to be coordinated by the MASB. Time was of the essence, Reilly said, given Allen’s pending departure.
“Our agreement with her is up to June 30, and we’d like to identify someone prior to that so they can work with her,” Reilly said.
The board has certain expectations for Allen’s successor, whose tenure will begin with a district that has struggled in recent years.
“Like almost every district, we had financial issues,” Reilly said. “We just came out of a deficit elimination plan, so that will be a primary concern.”
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)