Randy Trent, executive director of physical properties for the Ann Arbor Public Schools, stands inside the Huron High School gymnasium where newer, brighter, more energy efficient lights were installed last summer as a part of new upgrades happening all across the district. Trent will leave the AAPS at the end of July for a new job.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo
But after 28 years with the Ann Arbor schools, Trent, the executive director of physical properties, will be moving on.
District spokeswoman Liz Margolis said Trent accepted a similar position to the one he holds now with Ann Arbor at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District as the head of its facilities department. Trent announced his resignation Wednesday morning in an email to the AAPS staff.
Trent's departure will leave a big void in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, as trustees touched on during Wednesday's regular board meeting.
Trent was the longest-serving member of the district's executive cabinet. That title in his wake will belong to Jane Landefeld, director of student accounting and administrative support services, who has been with AAPS for 26 years. Margolis is the second person with the most experience in the district. She has been at AAPS for 10 years, followed by Chief Financial Officer Nancy Hoover, who has been with AAPS for nearly 7 years.
The remaining five top administrators in the district have an average of 2.6 years experience with AAPS, with the exception of David Comsa, deputy superintendent of human resources and legal services, who has been with Ann Arbor for 6 years.
Trent is the third AAPS administrator to leave in the last four months.
Superintendent Patricia Green ended her five-year contract three years early back in April, when she announced she'd retire effective July 9. Deputy Superintendent of Operations Robert Allen resigned in February to take a position as vice chancellor of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics under former Ann Arbor Superintendent Todd Roberts.
Board of Education members praised Trent's temperament and expertise Wednesday and talked about how much his presence and breadth of knowledge would be missed.
Trustee Irene Patalan thanked Trent for his commitment to the community and for his thorough and thoughtful management of his department and the district's facilities. She said he always used the utmost care to get whatever it was that he was doing right done well and done right.
"You have always given us your 100 percent, plus-plus-plus best," she said.
Vice President Christine Stead said she has the "utmost respect and credibility" for how Trent has helped manage the district.
Trent's last day at the Ann Arbor Public Schools will be July 22, Margolis said. A plan for addressing the vacancy has not been developed.
According to the district's most recent W2 tax information, collected as part of the state's mandated transparency reporting, Trent earned $117,710 in compensation during the 2012 calendar year. Trent's new salary was not known as of Wednesday night.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.