Ann Arbor school board to discuss superintendent search

The Ann Arbor Board of Education will begin a discussion Wednesday on how to precede with finding a new superintendent following Patricia Green's unexpected retirement last week.

Green, who started with the district about 21 months ago, turned in her resignation letter to school board President Deb Mexicotte near the end of the April 10 regular meeting, which adjourned early Thursday morning.

Green said in a statement to the community, she intends to retire this summer after a 43-year career in public education. Her resignation is effective July 9.

The board will begin to consider various elements for moving forward with its fourth superintendent search since 2002, including whether to use a search firm; whether to hire an interim superintendent; the scope of the search it would like to conduct such as national, Midwest, statewide or local; the initial qualities it should look for in a new leader; and how to engage the public in the process.

The board also is expected to talk about whether or not Green's resignation falls within a "satisfaction guarantee" window through Ray & Associates, which is the search firm used to hire her.

A curriculum report was on the agenda for Wednesday's study session, which begins at 5:30 p.m. at Huron High School, but the report was pushed back to a later date. The board also will discuss its new committee structure Wednesday.

Prior to Green handing Mexicotte her letter of resignation at last week's meeting, the board voted to enact a five-hour time limit for regular meetings and a new subcommittee structure that eliminates the Committee of the Whole.

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The subcommittees will be made up of three trustees and will be in compliance with the Open Meetings Act, meaning the meetings will be announced, open to the public and minutes will be recorded.

Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.