Michael Van Tassel is the new principal of Belleville High School.
He replaces interim principal Dennis Connolly who had been filling in for the past year.
In making the recommendation to the school board on Monday, School Supt. Tom Riutta said in a memo to the board, “This is an important decision; we are building a new high school, re-integrating alternative education students as well as dealing with a critical budget shortfall next year.
“My recommendation for high school principal is Michael Van Tassel. I think Mr. Van Tassel has demonstrated that he is up to the many challenges which our District faces in the upcoming years, with a clear understanding of what needs to happen to make our students successful,” Riutta said.
The newest member of the board, Kevin English, made the motion to approve Riutta’s recommendation, which was seconded by Bob Binert and unanimously passed by the board.
When English ran for the board last fall, he told supporters that he would work to get Van Tassel hired as BHS principal.
Riutta said Van Tassel has served in a number of positions with the Van Buren Public Schools: teacher, band director, and assistant principal at both the high school and the alternative school.
“Most recently, Mr. Van Tassel’s assignment has been an informal co-principalship with Mr. Connolly. Mr. Connolly has been most impressed with Mike’s work ethic and his commitment to improving Belleville High School,” Riutta wrote in a memo to the board.
“Mr. Van Tassel works well with staff, is highly motivated and has demonstrated excellent communication skills and a willingness to put in the long hours necessary to improve Belleville High School.
“I am confident that he will serve the students of Belleville High School well,” Riutta said.
Van Tassel will begin his new position on May 17. Connolly has agreed to stay through the end of the school year and will be available to serve as a mentor next year, if necessary, Riutta said.
“This is the beginning of an administrative reorganization at the high school,” Riutta said.
“I have talked to both Mr. Van Tassel and Mr. Connolly regarding a clear measurable list of responsibilities for the assistant principals. We will be working on job descriptions over the summer; I believe when the job descriptions are completed, we will be more productive than in the past years,” Riutta said.
The master’s degree in education that was lacking in the past for Van Tassel to be eligible for this position was completed in December at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, according to Van Tassel’s credentials presented to the press.
Van Tassel also holds a master of music degree (performance) and a bachelor of music degree. He was director of bands at the Van Buren Schools for 15 years before moving into administration at the high school in 2005.
Van Tassel has been a polarizing figure in the past, influencing band parents to fill board meetings to support him on various issues.
In 2006, before he resigned, former BHS Principal Kevin Kelly gave a poor evaluation of Van Tassel’s work as assistant principal. Van Tassel applied for the principal’s position to succeed Kelly, but Sheila Brown was selected.
Then, the late School Supt. Pete Lazaroff reassigned Van Tassel from his BHS assistant principal position to a position at South Middle School. Van Tassel filed a grievance and influenced supporters to crowd the board room for many long, emotional meetings. They got what they wanted again and the board overruled Lazaroff on Van Tassel’s behalf on a 4-3 vote.
Then, Van Tassel left the district to go back to the university. Sheila Brown resigned with one week’s notice just before school started in 2008.
Assistant principal Tim Ottewell took over as principal for the 2008-9 school year until the principal’s position could be filled.
In 2009, a procedure seeking a new principal ended up with Van Tassel not being among the finalists and his supporters again protested to the board. The job was offered to Matthew Chapin, who accepted it before he rejected it.
Dennis Connelly, an experienced consultant who fills interim positions, was brought in to serve while the search for a new principal was re-launched.
After members of the community served on focus groups, four finalists were chosen, including Van Tassel. But Supt. Riutta’s recommendation was to not select a principal now, but to keep Connolly as principal for the time being and make Van Tassel an assistant principal.
Riutta said last October that after the new high school is built, they could begin a search for a new superintendent who could pick his own high school principal.
He changed his mind and on Monday recommended Van Tassel to the position he has been seeking for years.
After Monday’s meeting, a board member noted that board members believe Van Tassel has changed and will no longer use political action to get what he wants.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, the board:
* Approved the first reading of a District Grading and Homework Policy that removes non-academic factors such as behavior, attendance, and work completion from grades, to measure what students have learned. The second reading will be June 14;
* Tabled action on the Wayne RESA Budget and appointed Trustee Brenda McClanahan to attend the RESA budget session on May 19 to get more information on the document. Under state law the board must act on the RESA budget not later than June 1;
* Approved the Alternative Education Transition Plan proposal as recommended. The alternative classrooms in trailers will be closed and the students returning to BHS. The plan addresses concerns voiced by parents and teachers concerning the move;
* Approved the second, and final, reading of a revised board policy on purchasing goods and services. It changes “lowest qualified bidder” to “lowest responsible bidder.” Trustee Martha Toth said “responsible” means who can get the job done, based on price, quality, and service factors;
* Recognized National Teacher Week, honored PTO presidents, honored Students of the Month, and honored an EMU fraternity that has been volunteering at Elwell Elementary School;
* Approved requested retirements of Saundra Brown of Edgemont, after 34 years in food service, and Betty Scott of North Middle School after 25 years as a paraprofessional;
* Approved hiring Noreen Desilets as a bus driver at a pay of $12.59/hr. and Stacie Carr as a paraprofessional att $9.75/hr.;
* Approved the retirements of teachers Elsie Berry of ECDC after 33 years of service and Carrietta Preuninger of Tyler Elementary after 38 years of service;
* Discussed the trouble everyone has hearing the board when it meets at the BHS cafeteria, as it did Monday. Toth said if they want the television cameras, this is the only building that can be used. Board President David Peer suggested having contractors move upgrades to the cafeteria acoustics to the front of the schedule instead of at the end. Peer said it didn’t used to be this bad and Toth said the sound equipment was a lot younger then; and
* Went into executive session to discuss a written attorney opinion on negotiations.