Brandon Twp.-By a uninamous vote on Monday night, the Brandon School Board accepted the resignation of Brandon Superintendent Tom Miller.
‘Retirement was just down the road for me,? said Miller, 53, in an interview with The Citizen on Wednesday.
‘My wife and I decided to move if just the right job became available’that job may not be there in the future. I’ve been in education for over 30 years, which includes 24 years in administration, it was time for a change.?
Miller accepted a position as a high school principal for ‘at-risk students? in Arizona. The charter school has an enrollment of about 125 students.
Miller added that his decision to leave the district after three years was unrelated to the turmoil surrounding the removal of Michael Ferguson as Brandon High School principal, the lawsuit filed by June Wuopio, a former employee of the district over alleged violation of freedom of speech, or the school board’s decision to not extend his contract past June 2010.
‘It was a personal decision for the future’I was looking to relocate to a warmer area. I have no regrets,? he said. ‘I’m leaving the district in good shape’there will be a balanced budget in June.?
Miller said his last day will be July 3. However, due to vacation days, his job will end on June 25.
‘This district will start to grow again’our school buildings are set for the next 30 years. They are energy efficient now’the updates to the schools were necessary and will serve this area for well into the future.?
Trustee Beth Nuccio suggested during the school board meeting on Monday the board personnel committee, which includes trustees Karyn Milligan, Chris Yuchasz and Luke Frye, gather to discuss a successor. As of press time, a meeting was set for April 25 at the Brandon Middle School. Check out thecitizenonline.com for details. Highlights of Tom Miller’s three years at Brandon School District:
nMarch 2005 – The Brandon School Board voted 6 to 1 to extend a $126,000, three-year contract to Tom Miller as the new Brandon Schools superintendent. Trustee Karyn Milligan voted no on the contract.
The deal, which included a moving allowance of $2,500 if Miller relocated to the district by July 1, 2006, took effect July 1, 2005. Miller replaced outgoing Superintendent Bart Jenniches. Nancy Campbell, assistant superintendent for the Berkley School District since 2000, and Miller, were the finalists selected by the board.
nJuly 2006- A new athletic eligibility policy that was proposed to help student-athletes maintain a tighter focus on the academic side of the equation,
was passed at the July 10 school board meeting. The policy mandates students must carry a current 2.0 grade point average (equivalent to a ‘C? average) and must not have failed any classes the previous semester.
To remain eligible, student-athletes must pass all their classes at each checkpoint, without failing any classes. Eligibility is determined at four checkpoints during the first and second semesters: first progress report (five weeks), first card marking (10 weeks), second progress report (15 weeks) and semester card marking.
nMay 2006 – More than 60 percent of voters in the Brandon School District approved a bond extension that will net about $73.4 million for several major renovations, technology upgrades, and construction of a new elementary school and activities complex. The bond extension did not increase the 8.24 mills residents pay per year in school taxes, instead, it added six years to a loan that stood at $29 million owed and which will be paid off in 2026.
The official total vote was 1,300 yes and 781 no.
nMay 2007 – The Brandon School Board OK’d an early severance package for 21 district teachers during a special board meeting. The buyouts constitute about 11 percent of the total staff in the district, enough, school officials said, to shave about $700,000 the first year and $500,000 in the second year as the district’s enrollment dropped a projected 160 students by September.
The board OK’d the severance package by a vote of 6-0 on March 12 for teachers who choose to retire early from the district. The severance plan for district teachers required a minimum of 18 teachers to participate, allowed 45 days to sign up, and seven days after that time to reverse their decision. Teachers must have been with the district for a minimum of 12 years and would receive a payout of $50,000 over 60 months.
The decision to offer the buyout came after school officials said an estimated 13 teachers might receive layoff notices due to declining enrollment.
nJanuary 2008 – The removal of Michael Ferguson as Brandon High School principal sparked controversy that included protests by students and teachers alike and left questions unanswered.
Superintendent Tom Miller said he told Ferguson on Jan. 17 he would be transferred to the position of Assistant to the Director of Special Education and the CHOICES program, Brandon’s alternative high school. The following morning, Miller told the high school staff and sent a letter home to parents informing them of the decision.
Ferguson was reinstated as the principal of Brandon High School less than two weeks after he had been removed.
nFebruary 2008 -The Brandon Board of Education, aka Brandon School District, and Superintendent Tom Miller, along with Marian Horowitz, current Boardmember Beth Nuccio and former boardmembers Ken Quisenberry and Gina Muzzarelli, were named in a lawsuit filed by June Wuopio, a former employee of the district.
The suit was prompted for retaliation in violation of Wuopio’s rights to freedom of speech under the Michigan Constitution and under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; for violation of her statutory rights under the Bullard-Plawecki Act; and for violation of her due process rights under the United States Constitution, according to the 13-page complaint, filed in Oakland County Circuit Court on Feb. 21.
nMarch 2008 – The Brandon School Board attracted a standing room only crowd at their meeting.
While there were questions again from the audience about Superintendent Tom Miller’s performance, this time Miller and some boardmembers fired back, defending decisions from placement of the new high school parking lot, to delaying hiring of more teachers until a month after school began, to use of bond money and even where Miller resides.
Perhaps the biggest difference between this meeting and the last was when it ended? 3:30 a.m.? and how it ended? with a unanimous vote to continue Miller’s contract as superintendent, but without an extension.
‘The evaluation was a long process and we looked at it as things we need to do to give Tom clear directions,? said Board Trustee Chris Yuchasz.
‘We need to work together as a group and say this is what we want. There are a lot of good things going on, but we can all improve.?
Miller was earning $131,090 annually and was under contract until June 30, 2010.
nApril 2008-The Brandon School Board accepted the resignation of Superintendent Tom Miller.
His last day will be June 25.