Maire Principal Named, Grosse Pointe District Searches for 4 More Administrators

A district veteran, Sonja Franchett, has been approved to lead following the retirement of Kathleen Satut. The pair have already begun transition work in the last several weeks, Franchett said. 

Franchett has a master's degree in curriculum instruction and a master's as an education specialist. She officially became the principal July 1 and has worked in several of the district's elementary schools, including , , and . 

She said she's taught every elementary grade level at some point and is looking forward to working at what she described as "a great school with a great staff."

Before truly taking the helm of the school, Franchett will be traveling a bit this summer and returning in August, she said. 

Filling the Maire vacancy is just the beginning of the hiring the district must do before next school year.

The school board recently accepted the retirement of principal Mark Mulholland. He has been the principal for 11 years and with the district for 13 years, according to a human resources report presented to the board.

Interviews for the principal position are scheduled for July 13, said Thomas Harwood, assistant superintendent of Human Resources.

Of the 100 applications Harwood received, six have been chosen to advance in the process, he said. Two of Grosse Pointe South's administrator of principal Allan Diver and assistant principal Brandon Slone.

An the men had been using their school-issued computers and Blackberries to send personal emails containing inappropriate adult images. but district officials have not yet concluded their case. 

The interview process for the principal will happen in two phases and involve many district representatives, parents and others, including possibly a student, Harwood said. Principal Tim Bearden will be involved as the only other "like administrator" in the district. The first phase will concentrate on district officials and the second will concentrate on central office administrators, Harwood said.

Meanwhile, Harwood has received 155 applications for the assistant principal position, three of which are internal. The interview for the assistant position will happen after a principal is chosen, likely in August, so that person can be involved, Harwood said.

The district has also posted a job ad for the athletic director position at Grosse Pointe North. The current athletic director, Carmen Kennedy, has let district officials know of her intent to accept a position with South Lake High School. 

Kennedy's formal resignation is anticipated to be on the school board's monthly human resources report for the July 25 meeting, Harwood said. Kennedy was awaiting approval from the other district's board before submitting her notice in Grosse Pointe, he said. 

Thus far, Harwood has received 39 applications for the position. Applications will be accepted through July 15. The goal for Kennedy's position is to fill it by early August to ensure the new person is in place before the fall sports season, he said. 

Mulholland's vacancy is the last priority because he isn't officially retiring until Jan. 31, 2012, giving the district significant time to find a suitable, qualified candidate.

All of this interviewing coincides with the to replace . The school board recently from four to three and the next phase of the interviews is scheduled for July 11-12.