By David Fleet

Editor

Goodrich

-On Monday night the school board accepted a paid leave of absence, effective immediately, for Michelle Imbrunone, district superintendent.

According to a statement issued by the board, Imbrunone’s request is due to a significant family medical situation and she would be unable to fulfill the board’s residency requirement for the 2017-18 school year. In addition, she will resign effective June 30 when her contract with the district expires.

“The board thanks Mrs. Imbrunone for her dedicated service and commitment to our district and students,” said David Cramer, outgoing board president. “We wish the best to her and her family.”

Imbrunone was hired in June 2014, replacing superintendent Scott Bogner, who retired. Imbrunone had been assistant principal at Avondale School District since 2009, prior to being named high school principal in 2012.

Prior to joining the Avondale School District, Imbrunone served as an intervention specialist teaching at-risk students at Fraser High School. She was a social studies teacher at Fraser High School from 1995 to 2009.

Since starting as superintendent, Imbrunone had not moved into the school district as required by her contract and continued to commute from the Macomb County area. In addition, Imbrunone had been under scrutiny by several district teachers and parents due to her style of management. Several community members expressed concerns during recent school board meetings.

Kevin Ayre, teacher at the high school for the past 12 years, addressed the board on behalf of the Goodrich Education Association.

“I would like to extend our thanks for you seeking our input regarding some of the tough decisions that I think have been made. We really appreciate that. I’ve met with every other building separately and we’ve shared our concerns and I’ve heard their concerns and I will stress we want to improve that communication. That will make us better as a district.”

The board also voted 7-0 to hire Ryan Relken, promoting the current Oaktree Elementary School principal as interim superintendent. The board indicated in a statement they will start a search process for a new superintendent this spring.

“I truly appreciate the opportunity and the confidence of the school board,” said Relken. “Honestly I’m a little overwhelmed, but I will get out there and meet the staff and students over the next few days. I’ll listen to their needs and concerns.”

In May 2014 the school board hired Relken as principal of Oaktree Elementary School. The open position was created by the resignation of Oaktree Principal Michael Ellis in December 2013.
A Port Huron native, Relken, 41, earned a master’s degree, educational leadership at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; master of education (M.Ed.), elementary education and teaching at Northern Arizona University; and bachelor of arts (B.A.), elementary education and teaching at Arizona State University.

“I left Michigan at the age of 23 for a job in professional hockey,” he said. “I can’t skate. But I really wanted to do is hockey play-by-play. I did get a job offer to call games for the Tupelo Mississippi T-Rex of the western professional hockey league. That lasted about a year and I very quickly found myself at Arizona State (University) working to become a teacher. I had the privilege of being a fourth and a fifth grade teacher with Gilbert Public Schools in Arizona from 2004-2010.”

In 2010 Relken and his family moved to Newport, Ore. where he became principal at Sam Case Primary School. The kindergarten through third grade school had an enrollment of about 600 students. Ryan’s wife, Meredith, is a Michigan State University graduate and school speech pathologist in Genesee County. The couple have been married since 2002 and have three children, Brendan, 11, Genevieve, 8, and Dylan, 6. All attend the Goodrich School District.

The turnover of superintendents is not new to the school district.

Following the retirement of Dr. Raymond Green in 2004 after 23 years with the district there have been five superintendents which include Kim Hart, Larry Allen, John Fazer, Scott Bogner and Michelle Imbrunone.

While candidates like Hart and Relken were promoted from within the school district, superintendent search companies have ranged in cost from about $5,000 to $6,000.