By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The search for the next Brandywine Community Schools superintendent is expected to start soon.
Board of education president Phil Bozung said Monday night he plans to contact two search firms – the Michigan Association of School Boards and Michigan Leadership Institute – in the next few days. Gary Rider, the district's current superintendent, is expected to start his position March 1 as head of Thornapple Kellogg Schools in Middleville, Bozung said.
"I want to get it going as quick as we can," he added.
Bozung said he hopes to present the board with a recommendation for a search firm at the next meeting on Jan. 22. July 1 is the targeted starting date for the new Brandywine superintendent, Bozung said, adding an interim chief for the district will be announced soon. He would not reveal the name but added it would be a "familiar face."
Thornapple Kellogg has expressed interest in Rider helping that district with its $29 million bond proposal. Brandywine is also preparing a bond proposal for 2007 and is aiming to have it on May 8 election ballots.
The Brandywine board approved the final scope of the project Monday night, giving the campaign organizing committee its blessing. Brandywine will ask voters for approval of a bond proposal of $5.75 million or 4.85 mills for 25 years. The proposal seeks to reauthorize the current 4.85 mills in place for the school district.
A large chunk of that total would be designated for improvements at Brandywine Elementary, including outer envelope improvements, creating separate areas for students being dropped off by parents and buses and revamping the physical fitness classroom and locker rooms. Other areas to be addressed by the proposed bond would be improving the water system, band and choir rooms, locker rooms and envelope at Brandywine Middle/High School, and repairing the roof at Bell Administrative Services Center.
The next step in the Brandywine bond is organizing a campaign, which Rider said was also starting Monday night. Hebard and Hebard, the architectural firm on the project, will meet with the Michigan Department of Treasury Jan. 22 for approval of the bond proposal.