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February 26, 2006Districts have job(s) to fillGlen Lake, Suttons Bay shared chiefSUTTONS BAY - Leaders from Suttons Bay and Glen Lake schools have some big decisions to make, much sooner than they expected.Thomas Harwood, who since July has served as dual superintendent for the two Leelanau County districts, will leave by April 30 for an assistant superintendent position in Grosse Pointe. His departure will leave both districts with a vacancy and a choice about whether to continue one of the two superintendent-sharing arrangements in Michigan. Glen Lake parent Stella Otto hopes officials don't decide in haste. She urged that same caution when the districts agreed to try sharing a leader for a year, and said she's disappointed to see Harwood's tenure in the joint position end after just seven months. "I still think it's a proposition that has merit," she said. "But I think the timing is incredibly bad." Glen Lake and Suttons Bay have each paid half of Harwood's $132,000 annual salary and half his benefits. He previously earned $118,000 in the Suttons Bay position. Suttons Bay middle school principal Kathleen Maisonville acknowledged that declining enrollment and trying financial times necessitate collaboration. But she said district leaders need to have a long-term plan. "We're in a crisis mode. We need to redesign education in the county, and we don't know yet what that's going to look like," she said. But Suttons Bay parent Mary Woods applauded the districts' initiative and encouraged them to continue sharing a leader. "I think it's the shape of things to come," she said. Both districts held recent public forums before Harwood announced his resignation, and are planning a joint meeting for the first week of March to talk about the future. Steven Hall, Suttons Bay school board president, said the forums drew few people, but most comments were favorable. "There are some people that are still skeptical about it, but there were no significant complaints," he said. Glen Lake school board president Joan Hawley said most of the feedback in that district has been positive, but employees expressed some concerns. "Some staff feel like it has meant more work and they feel like they're missing something," she said. Harwood, who served as Suttons Bay superintendent since 2003 before taking on the dual role, said he's been comfortable in the position. He maintains an office in both districts and spends half his time in each. "It's been hectic, but I think it has been working out well," he said. "Both districts have been very supportive." Hawley predicted both districts would need interim superintendents to take over between when Harwood leaves and when they make a final decision.
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