Clinton board hires Pray as interim Supt.

On a 5-2 vote, with board members Kevin Kelly and Kevin Ward dissenting, the Clinton Community Schools (CCS) board voted to hire former Clinton Supt. and current Blissfield Community Schools Interim Supt. David Pray Wednesday evening, April 22. Pray’s term will run through June 2016. All CCS board members were present.Sixteen candidates applied for the interim position and the board narrowed it down to two: Pray and former Pittsford Area Schools (PAS) Supt. Andrew Shaw. The two were interviewed Wednesday before the board made its decision to hire Pray. Shaw’s interview began at 6 p.m. while Pray’s started at 7:30 p.m. Each candidate opened with providing educational, career or other pertinent accomplishments. Shaw earned a master’s degree from Michigan State University in K-12 administration and was the elementary school principal and superintendent for PAS. Before that, he was a fourth grade teacher. Pray earned a master’s degree in educational administration from Eastern Michigan University where he also obtained a specialist degree. He was a sixth grade teacher for 17 years, elementary school principal for five years, middle school principal for two years and CCS superintendent for 19 years from which he retired.After the introductions, each candidate was asked the same 10 questions the board had prepared beforehand. The 10 questions were: • Motivating others to follow your lead, especially in the face of resistance, is a key leadership trait. This is a transitional time for Clinton Community Schools. Describe how you might motivate others to follow your lead as an interim superintendent, particularly with staff or community members that seem hesitant or resistant.• What is your opinion on whether our district should have a communication plan? If you believe there should be a plan, what pieces do you envision and at what interval (website, Facebook page, Twitter, email, phone, other — weekly updates)?• Share your vision towards technology planning and how you would build a comprehensive plan that would focus on implementation and maintaining financial sustainability.• What is your philosophy on a surplus in your school budget? How much is needed?• Establishing clear guidelines of authority, responsibility, and focus is critical in operational decision-making. What role do you feel board-level committees serve? Please describe in detail the communication procedures that you feel are the most effective when operating with a committee structure.• Please describe your experience with district negotiations and share an example of how you helped to mitigate seemingly impassible roadblocks during the collective bargaining process.• Please share your thoughts on the level of importance you might emphasize in integrating technology into the district and individual classrooms.• If hired as the interim superintendent, what focus would you have on curriculum?• Please describe how you might prioritize physical plant needs (e.g. buildings and grounds, and busses) in the midst of budgetary constraints.• In regards to fiscal responsibility, what is your philosophy towards upgrades or repairs — purchase or install new or maintain existing?When Pray answered the first question, he told the board that no matter the board’s decision on which candidate they hired, there would be those in the community who would not be happy with the decision. “No matter what decision this board makes, there will be people who oppose it,” Pray said. “There will be people who will say David Pray didn’t deserve the position if he gets it. Now Andrew Shaw is a wonderful man. I know him very well. There will be people who say if Andy [Andrew Shaw] gets it, he didn’t deserve it.” After the candidates answered the 10 questions, each was given the opportunity to ask the board questions or make a comment. Shaw gave the board his “120-Day Plan” if he were to be hired as interim superintendent. In the packet, he set four broad goals he would want to achieve.They were: • To focus organizational efforts and align resources supporting highly effective teaching and learning opportunities for all teachers and students. • To establish and promote highly effective district governance by building a trusting, productive, collaborative relationship with the Board of Education.• To establish a respectful, positive district culture centered on teaching and learning.• To build public trust and confidence through honest communication and positive relationship. After closing statements by both, the board entered into open discussion about the candidates. Each board member spoke on the candidates’ opening statements and the answers given for all 10 questions before making their decision.“I just think that both candidates did a phenomenal job tonight,” said board member Wanda Heinz. “I think that we had two very strong candidates for our position and I honestly don’t think we could go wrong with either one of them. I think they can both step in and do the job.”Heinz then nominated Pray for the interim superintendent position.