The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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District looks to Glass for superintendent job
By Sean Dalton, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: August 28, 2008
Robert Glass is paying his first visit to the Dexter Community School District this week, but those in the district will be visiting him with questions and scrutiny during several interview meetings planned for today.
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If hiring Glass is Plan A, then Plan B would mean going back to the Michigan Municipal League for another pool of 20 candidates, which has already cost the district $4,000 in fees.
Glass was one of the original 20 candidates that the MML brought to the table for consideration earlier this year.
School officials say that, more than likely, another search wouldn't even begin until January 2009. Outgoing Supt. Evelynn Shirk leaves in September, so an interim superintendent would have to fill the position temporarily.
Heading into the interview process, interested parties on the Board of Education say they generally have good feelings about Glass.
"We are certainly impressed with his resume and particularly the references that he has," board Treasurer Dick Lundy said Tuesday. "He comes from a district that has a lot of similarities to Dexter."
Lundy said he was impressed with the environment in Birmingham schools, which fostered a leader who stayed on for nearly two decades and an environment of apprenticeship in various higher functions of school administration.
He says he is personally looking for somebody to fit Dexter's unique culture, and that the similarity of Birmingham schools sounds promising.
"I think that one of the top priorities in the district is curriculum (and its) ongoing improvement," Lundy said, adding that he hopes Glass has the "basic nature" of valuing input, listening to concerns and taking all viewpoints into account.
Lundy says he has a good feeling about Glass being a long-term superintendent.
"Usually a superintendent stays on two to four years on average, which makes them basically useless ... you're just going to fill up space and keep dust off of the chair," he said.
He hopes that the mentorship and vetting of employees' career ambitions in Birmingham translates to a long-sitting Superintendent Robert Glass.
Board Trustee Kim Covert says she was impressed with Glass's style and personality in the brief time that she spent with him.
"He was pleasant and welcoming and warm," she said. "That was my immediate impression of him."
Covert said that as the mother of children at the elementary school grade levels, she is particularly interested in Glass's understanding of special education and early childhood education and development.
"That's where I'm at right now as far as raising my own children, so those are certainly my interests when thinking about choosing a superintendent."
Coincidentally, while serving as an elementary school principal in Vestaburg Community Schools, Glass doubled as the special education coordinator for three years.
Covert echoed what others said about seeking candidates in January if Glass is deemed as not "fitting" the district - like other candidates passed over for the position in the past.
Dexter Village Council Trustee Donna Fisher will attend multiple meetings with Glass, since she is not only involved in village government, but also works in the main office at the Copeland building on Main Street.
"I was invited to meet with him first as a school employee ... the Village Council has time between 5 and 5:45 p.m. (Thursday) to meet him," Fisher said, adding that she is still doing her homework by looking at what Birmingham schools have to offer on its Web site.
"I don't want to be critical, (but) I do know from the union side of things (that some people) have a problem with him as he came from a district that privatized," she said.
"When we run into employees from other districts that have gone through privatization, it's been extremely painful. Personally, I think as long as I do my job well they will want to keep that."
Fisher said she doesn't see that being an issue for Dexter.
"I don't think parents in the district would want to privatize," she said. "Even from that standpoint it doesn't matter that he privatized.
"Just because that district privatized doesn't mean (he) will do that for us. He will have to get the Dexter climate and do what's best for here."
Speaking more as a government official than a school employee, Fisher said her "biggest hope" is that Glass is willing to work with the community.
"One of the nice things we've had in Dexter is that we've been able to work together," she said.
"I once saw a bumper sticker that said, 'Great schools make great communities.' I hope he is somebody who wants to locate here and be a part of the district and active in the community."
In either capacity, Fisher is sad to see Shirk go.
"I have loved working with Evelynn. She is one of the kindest and most humane individuals I've worked with," she said.
"I think if someone comes in with professionalism the staff will rise to the occasion."
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