At Monday’s regular meeting (May 14), the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved three new administrators.
The former Belleville High School Principal, Michael Van Tassel, was promoted to superintendent last winter, and since then the BHS post has been filled by interim principal Rod Fisher.
The newly appointed BHS Principal is Abdul Madyun, who will be paid $106,610, plus fringes offered to all administrators. He has a one-year contract, effective July 1, 2012.
Diane Kullis, who was hired last August as a Special Education Supervisor, was promoted to Director of Instruction, with a one-year contract paying $105,000, plus fringes, effective July 1, 2012.
Karen Johnston, an assistant principal at BHS, has been promoted to Supervisor of Special Services, at a salary of $97,194, plus fringes. She has a one-year contract, effective July 1, 2012.
Trustee Sherry Frazier said it may look like the district, which is trying to climb out of a deficit budget, is hiring more administrators at a bad time. She said, however, this is a great investment for the district, so it can move forward.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, the board:
• Approved the recommendation of Plante Moran CRESA to accept the bid of Asphalt Specialists to replace the South Middle School parking lot for a cost not to exceed $295,762.40 to be paid out of Sinking Funds and be done by Aug. 1;
• Heard presentations from three elementary principals: Jeff Moore of Savage, Barb Santo of Tyler, and Michelle Briegel of Edgemont;
• Was informed of the recommended titles for the new BHS English Curriculum, which already was approved by the board;
• Approved the new middle school course: Spanish Language and Culture I and II;
• Approved offering Schools of Choice with a limited number of openings in all schools in all grades. Van Tassel said the district will not bump district residents out of their home schools as was done in the past;
• Approved the resignations of Harry Wagner, 3-year SMS crossing guard; Mechelle Rhodes, 12-year bus aide; and Traci McInally, 11-year lunchroom monitor at Edgemont; and the layoffs of paraprofessionals Jeanne Riley, Denise Armatis, Paula Brown, and Jack Loria;
• Approved the retirement of Judy Pappas, a teacher at Tyler Elementary, after 34 years of service;
• Approved the South Middle School Eighth Grade field trip to Cedar Point June 11; and
• Went into executive session to do a quarterly evaluation discussion on the superintendent.