Area schools explore cooperative measures; shared superintendent a ?viable option?

School board members in Posen and Rogers City are considering the possibility of sharing a superintendent. Delegations from the Rogers City, Posen and Onaway school districts have met to discuss ways of sharing resources to cut education expenses. Rogers City Board of Education president Mike Marx reported Monday night on the results of the discussions. According to Marx, the objective is to reduce operational costs and expand educational programs without consolidation.

Sharing the superintendent position has been done in other school districts with good success, Marx said. Referring to discussions between Posen and Rogers City officials last Friday, Marx explained, “At this point in time, it’s a very viable option.” Board member Armand Loiselle added, “It is critical to point out we are not losing any community identity as far as sports or things like that. This is all part of the exploration that is part of the search for a new superintendent.”

THE BOARD VOTED in January not to renew the contract with superintendent Ed Schultz and began looking for a successor. Ken Wozniak, president of the Posen Consolidated Schools Board of Education, is optimistic about the potential benefits of cooperation between the school districts. When reached for comment on Tuesday morning, Wozniak said his board would be discussing the plan at their meeting Monday night. “I am glad to hear that the Rogers City board also sees merit in sharing administrative resources because that is one option we are definitely looking

to pursue as well. “The main thing we need to inform the people about is that what we are considering is strictly someone to look after the finances and run the schools at the upper management level.

“Nothing is going to change as far as how each individual school is being run and that’s very important to the people of both communities,” Wozniak said. Posen Superintendent Dennis Stratton is currently in the second year of a three- year contract. Following the evaluation of his performance by the board in the coming month, the board can elect to extend his contract for three more years.

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