Goodrich- A new district superintendent could be selected Monday night.
The board of education voted 6-1 last month to retain the services of the Michigan Leadership Institute to coordinate the search for a district superintendent following the resignation of John Fazer on March 26. Fazer has been superintendent since May 2009 and will remain until June 30.
Since then 31 candidates have applied for the position which were narrowed down to five on Monday night during a closed session school board meeting.
The board selected the Michigan Leadership Institute at a cost of $6,700.
‘We’ve had an excellent response to the opening,? said Tim Zernhelt, board president. ‘It’s possible the board will select a candidate on Monday night.?
The board had targeted June 15 to have a replacement’overlapping the position by two weeks. The time is necessary, say school board members, to help with the transition process.
Zirnhelt said names were withheld. at the candidates request.
New Goodrich superintendent
Goodrich-The school board voted 7-0 on Monday night to hire John Fazer, the current superintendent at Holton Public Schools. The board and Fazer reached an agreement on his contract last week.
Frazer was selected over Mark Kleinhans, the current superintendent at the Montrose School District, to replace current Goodrich Superintendent Larry Allen, who was formally hired in December 2007, after former Superintendent Kim Hart was put on administrative leave in July 2007. Allen’s contract ends June 30.
‘I’m excited about coming, it’s going to be a good fit,? said Fazer, 56, a native of the central Upper Peninsula community of Powers.
Since 2005, he was superintendent at Holton Public Schools on the west side of the state. The district has an enrollment of about 1,100 students and 65 teachers. In comparison, the Goodrich School District has an $18 million budget and about 130 teachers.
Fazer’s first teaching employment was in Brisbane, Australia when he served in the Queensland Education Department. He also served as a varsity basketball coach at Wayland High School and Stephenson High School. From 1984 to 2002, Fazer was an elementary principal in Fremont Public Schools.
Fazer earned a master’s degree in secondary administration from Central Michigan University, a bachelor of arts from Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis. He graduated high school from St. Lawrence Seminary, Mt. Calvary, Wis.