Tom Palmer
By Tom Gilchrist
Staff Writer
BAY CITY — Tom Palmer, superintendent of the Vassar and Millington school districts, is a finalist for the superintendent’s job with the Bay City Public Schools.
Bay City Board of Education members are set to interview Palmer on March 25 at 7 p.m. at the board’s office at 910 N. Walnut St.
The finalists seek to replace Doug Newcombe, the retiring Bay City superintendent. Twenty-two applicants sought the position, and other finalists include: Janet Greif, Midland High School principal; Sander Scott, assistant superintendent for Traverse City Area Public Schools; Tony Habra, superintendent of Paw Paw Public Schools; and Keith Smith, superintendent of Kingsley Area Schools.
Palmer’s contract with Vassar Public Schools expires in June of 2017.
Randy Middlin, president of Vassar’s Board of Education, declined comment when asked his opinion about the fact Palmer seeks employment elsewhere.
Last year, according to Middlin, leaders of the Vassar and Millington school districts, along with Palmer, signed a document for Palmer to serve as superintendent of both districts through June 30 of this year.
“I don’t see that being renewed for next year; obviously, Millington’s looking for a superintendent,” Middlin said.
Millington Community Schools seeks a new superintendent, according to an advertisement on the Michigan Association of School Administrators website. Millington has set a March 31 application deadline.
“I think Millington is trying hard to get a new superintendent,” Middlin said.
Millington, with 1,290 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, expects its new superintendent to start work on or before July 1, according to the online advertisement.
The Advertiser could not reach Millington school board President Scott Murray for comment.
According to the Millington Community Schools website, Palmer holds office hours on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in Millington for a total of 12.25 hours, and in Vassar for a total of 10.75 hours on those same days.
On Wednesday in Millington, according to the Millington website, Palmer’s schedule calls for “administrative staff meetings every other week — schedule as needed.”
As superintendent of both disticts, Palmer has said that his “nighttime activities have gone up two-fold” in that role — with school board meetings in both districts, serving on committees in both districts and attending evening school activities in both districts.
“It’s two complete jobs that we’re doing at one particular point in time,” Palmer said. “It’s not ‘half the time here and half the time there.’”