Mills requests one-year leave of absence
Bryan Mills, a middle school English teacher who has laid the foundation for the popular choir and drama club programs, will not be available to work for the Rogers City Area Schools for the 2005-06 school year as he tends to family matters in California. Mills, who has been involved in productions that have turned into major community events over the last eight years, has asked the board of education for a one-year leave of absence. The next meeting of the school board is Monday. ?If granted, I would return to the same position, if available, or to a substantially equivalent position in August 2006,? Mills stated in his letter to the board.
The letter was submitted July 15 to the central office at the Grambau Center. Mills stated that if the board is not able to grant the request, he would have to formally resign. He already has taken a temporary one-year position with the Oakdale Schools in mid-California. ?My family comes first,? Mills said Tuesday in a telephone interview.
REGARDLESS OF the board?s decision Monday, school administrators have been left with some positions to fill. In addition to teaching English, Mills was the seventh and eighth grade choir instructor, and also handled two high school choir classes. The drama club advisor position also will need to be posted. While the board still needs to formally act on the request, interim superintendent Paul Mancine wants to ensure that the guidelines of the contract with the teachers? union, in preparing to fill Mill?s positions, are followed.
?In all my experiences with labor relations, you follow the contract,? Mancine said Tuesday. ?You have to check with the people who are laid off, and then you have to reshuffle, if there are certified and qualified people in that scenario.? He said there might be people who would prefer a certain person be hired as a replacement ?but again, when you are dealing with union contracts, you are dealing with black and white, and what the contract says.? High school principal Deb Jones already has been looking at different scenarios so every position is covered with certified and qualified personnel.
She realizes that whoever takes over ?will not be Bryan Mills, and I don?t expect
MILLS? SITUATION is not unique to the district this summer. Three other teachers, Bob Brietzke, Janet Brietzke and Jim Jopp, retired and their positions are being filled with current staff. ?Maybe the kids will learn different things from someone new,? Mills said. Jones said the drama club?s trip to New York City next year will still take place. Mills said there are 14 adults who he expects to lead the fundraising. Plus, nobody wants to disappoint the students looking forward to the trip.
?Things don?t have to stop,? Mills said. ?I love Rogers City and I think the seeds planted there will grow.? Mills said he wants to return to the community. Mills has been involved with the production of plays in the area since his days with Presque Isle County 4-H in the mid-1990s. His first production as RCHS teacher was ?Grease? in 1998. Mills? last directing effort featured was ?Noises Off!? in May at the Rogers Theater.