Grosse Pointe School Board Votes to Hire Search Firm

The Grosse Pointe Public Schools board voted Tuesday to hire a firm to do a national search for superintendent candidates. The passage came on a third motion after two previous motions failed.

Current Superintendent C. Suzanne Klein announced her retirement earlier this year to take effect next December. She gave lengthy notice so she can help with a transition period. Klein is the district's longest serving superintendent by years. 

Board members varied on their opinions about the best way to perform a candidate search. Two motions--one for each of the companies looking to get the gig-- failed upon first vote. The third motion to hire Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates passed 4 to 3.

One of the motions was reintroduced by Board member Brendan Walsh after some discussion about how the board would ever reach a consensus. Walsh told board members he fears their lack of a decision might lead to having to hire an interim superintendent and urged them to get behind the decision.

 At one point during their discussion, board member Joan Dindoffer motioned to begin the internal candidate application process. 

Her motion was met with disagreement by board member Fred Minturn, who said he felt it would not be responsible to only consider internal candidates. "How would we know we picked the right candidate?"

Board member Judy Gafa agreed. "People in this community want the best of the best," she said. "We might have a great internal candidate but they need to stand on their own against the others."

Board President John Steininger spoke against hiring a firm after also voting against both initial motions to hire a firm. He said he wants to review the internal candidates first and it may be the more efficient way. "I'm not looking at bringing someone in from out of state," Steininger said. "I'm not as concerned about curriculum...We need someone razor sharp financially."

Hiring a firm to do a national search doesn't have an impact on whether or not internal applicants will be accepted and considered, Walsh said, noting it's all the more reason to hire the firm.