Almont School Board sorts through 18 applications for Superintendent

List narrowed to five; interviews next week

 

TRI-CITY AREA — The revolving door of school superintendents has struck in at least one Tri-City Times coverage district, possibly two.

The Almont School Board has known for several weeks that current Supt. Kimberly VonHiltmayer would be leaving her post at the end of the school year, June 30.

Capac Superintendent Amy Nelson has also been testing the waters in other districts, including applying for the Richmond position.

According to the Richmond District, Supt. Nelson was not chosen as one of two finalists.

VonHiltmayer is a longtime Almont educator who was thrust in to the top role, first as an interim and then named Superintendent, after William Kalmar was removed from the same position and later hired to be the Lapeer County ISD Supt.

The Almont Board of Education retained the services of Michigan Association of School Boards to conduct a search for the districts’ next top administrator.

During Monday’s meeting, the board reviewed 18 candidates who had applied. Each board member gave their top selections and quickly narrowed the list down to five.

At that point, Michigan Association of School Board’s representative Scott Morrell stepped out of the room and began calling the five candidates, to see if they were interested in scheduling an interview with the board.

Originally, Morel made contact with two applicants and left voicemails with three others.

By the end of the meeting, a third had confirmed they were interested. Early Tuesday morning, the MSAB representative had heard back from the two others, giving Almont five candidates to interview.

In a public statement early Tuesday morning, the district stated, “The Board of Education is pleased to announce the five candidates selected to interview for superintendent: Jordan Ackerman, Ron Jacobs, Jason Larsen, Ashley McCann-Markham, and Kyle Wood. Each candidate brings strong leadership experience and a commitment to serving students, staff, and community.”

The board agreed interviews will be held on Tuesday, May 19, and Wednesday, May 20, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the High School Media Center.

This marks an important next step in the district’s superintendent search process

Board President Janaea Smith said, “After first round interviews the Board will determine two candidates who will be invited to do a tour of the district on Tuesday May 26, followed by a meet and greet from 4:45-5:30 p.m. in the High School Cafeteria with a second round interview at 6 p.m. in the High School Auditorium.”

She added, “The Board will strive to make a selection for the District Superintendent that evening and begin the negotiation process with the candidate. As the process continues, the Board will remain dedicated to keeping the community informed. We appreciate the engagement and support of our families, staff, and community throughout this important transition. Our shared goal is to identify a Superintendent who will champion excellence, foster innovation and uphold the values that define our district.”

Of VonHiltmayer’s departure, Smith said, “This decision was not unexpected. To my knowledge, she resigned from her position with Almont and is considering future opportunities in education. I respect Mrs. VonHiltmayer’s decision, and to my knowledge, there are no additional reasons beyond what she shared in her letter regarding her departure as Superintendent of Almont Community Schools.”

According to Smith, Mrs. VonHiltmayer received an Effective rating on her most recent evaluation from the Board of Education.

“While, as with any collaborative relationship, there may have been differing perspectives at times, the Board and Superintendent worked productively together and remained focused on what was in the best interest of the district,” Smith said.

She added, “she dedicated significant time and effort to advancing the district’s goals, including working diligently to support the Bond and Sinking Fund initiatives. Her commitment and work ethic were evident throughout that process. She stepped into the Interim Superintendent role a few years ago and fully committed herself to both that role and her subsequent position as Superintendent. She remained focused on the immediate and long-term needs of the district and worked diligently to address them.”

After the meeting, Smith said the salary range for the new superintendent will be $135,000 to $150,000, plus negotiated benefits.