Schools

Update: Kenwood Parents to Voice Concerns With Leadership Selections

Parents say school board was unfair in selection of new leadership at Kenwood and Schalm.

A group of concerned parents will take a stand at tonight's Clawson School Board meeting against the district's decision to appoint  Principal Patricia Pell as principal of both and Schalm and against the hiring of Suzanne Kropfreiter as assistant principal of both schools.

Kenwood PTA President Kimmi Carlesimo said the district made the appointments without notifying parents, even after district officials told them they would form a parent committee to help with the selection of a new principal. The current Kenwood principal, , is retiring this year after 14 years of working in the district. 

"We feel kind of slapped in the face," Carlesimo said.

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Superintendent Cheryl Rogers sent a letter out to parents, dated Thursday, June 9, that announced the new leadership changes.

"Having the same leaders (principal and assistant principal) at both buildings provides an exciting opportunity for us to build upon recent district activities to coordinate and make consistent such important efforts as curriculum content and implementation, teacher evaluation, instructional strategies, disciplinary steps and school improvement," the letter states. "I am confident the shared principal position will encourage more collaborative efforts among students, parents and staff in both buildings."

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In Rogers' letter to families, she also stated that Kropfreiter was a retired principal from the Romeo and Rochester school districts.

Rogers said it's been about 40 years since the school district appointed one principal to two schools.

"We are on a path of collaboration," Rogers said. "Having the same assistant principal and principal will help us to get there sooner and faster."

Rogers said the school board did not vote on the appointments. She made the decision to assign Pell to both schools and hire Kropfreiter based on the needs of the district. 

"We looked for someone who had the skills that we needed and the experience we needed," Rogers said in a phone interview on Monday.

Rogers said she decided against a parent committee to avoid conflicts if parent input didn't come into fruition.

"Seeking input... and knowing you would not be able to accept it provides a false hope to parents," said Rogers, adding that she is charged with making appointments for principal and assistant principal in this instance. The school district did not post the assistant principal job opening and Rogers said Kropfreiter was an experienced educator who she knew could handle the job. 

"She has a lot of experience with evaluating teachers," Rogers said.

Carlesimo said parents will present a statement to the school board tonight that lists their concerns with the fairness of the principal and assistant principal selection.

The questions in the statement are as follows:

  • When did the school board begin the search to fill the position that Virginia Mantela is vacating?
  • How many candidates were interviewed for this position?
  • What key qualifications were sought?
  • Why was the position of principal not posted publicly?
  • Why was the position of assistant principal not posted publicly?
  • Why were the opinions of key teachers, staff or parents not attained for filling this position?

Carlesimo said parents are requesting further discussion and detailed answers to their questions in 30 days. As of Monday morning, 40 parents had signed the statement in support.

"We want them to know that the entire school is concerned," Carlesimo said. "We don’t want to lose the way that our school is already set up."

The school board meeting begins at  7 p.m. at .

Parents will have a chance to meet and speak with Pell and Kropfreiter at Meet & Greet events at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Kenwood Media Center and 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Schalm Media Center.

Other agenda Items

There will be a retirement celebration at the school board meeting for Principal Virginia Mantela; George Johnston, transportation department; Sylvia Johnston, special education paraprofessional; Ed Churilla, maintenance department; and Marilyn Shier, library media technology.

The school board will also announce call backs for some of the 15 teachers who received layoff notices this year and they will vote to amend the 2010-11 budget and adopt the 2011-12 budget.


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