By Laura Colvin and Megan Collier
With a pool of potential high school principals apparently narrowed to one, Lake Orion Community Schools sent out an email informing parents about an opportunity to meet ‘final candidate? Sophia LaFayette this week.
LaFayette currently serves as Detroit Public School’s ‘Chief of Staff to the Chief Academic and Accountability Auditor,? according to the DPS website.
The community meeting takes place in the high school media center at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 7, and will last approximately 30 minutes, according to an email sent by Margaret Hazlett, executive director of human resources.
Some parents say they’ve been in the dark about how the search for a replacement has progressed since former LOHS Principal Todd Dunckley was reassigned to Oakview Middle School last spring.
Dunckley learned March 25 his contract at the high school would not be renewed; his Oakview tenure began July 1.
According to Hazlett, a committee of 14 parents, staff, students and administrators interviewed about 20 candidates during the process, bringing back three of the most recent for first and second round interviews.
‘After the second round we felt that there was really one candidate that accomplished all the skills and abilities that we were looking for,? she said, referring to LaFayette.
The committee did a ‘site visit? at DPS with the LaFayette, after which it awarded her a unanimous recommendation as final candidate, said Hazlett.
Administrators refused to offer LaFayette’s resume or credentials until after the meeting this Thursday.
Superintendent Ken Gutman estimates the total number of candidates interviewed was close to 20.
Until the district finds a permanent principal, Mike Fenchel and Tom Tobe will continue to serve in the interim. The two split principal duties, with one occupying the position three days and week, and the other heading up the school two days.
‘We still have not identified whether or not we’ll be recommending Ms. LaFayette,? said Gutman. ‘Should we identify a final candidate that we recommend to be hired, we would certainly ensure a smooth transition and work with all three involved to make sure it all works with the interest of students.?
According to Hazlett, Tobe and Fenchel are not employees of the district. Instead LOCS is ‘contracting with them like any other vendor providing a service.?