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O’Connor named new Alcona superintendent

News Photo by Jason Ogden Alcona Community Schools administrator Dan O’Connor was appointed Monday as the district’s new superintendent, replacing Superintendent Shawn Thornton whose last day is March 1. O’Connor is the middle school and high school principal as well as the district’s athletic director.

LINCOLN — Just a week after Superintendent Shawn Thornton announced her retirement from Alcona Community Schools, the board of education appointed from within the staff to replace her.

On Monday during a special meeting, administrator Dan O’Connor was appointed by a 6-1 vote to replace Thornton after a motion was cast by board Vice President Gary Sims.

Sims was seconded by Secretary Charles Spitznagel. Trustee Steve Yokom cast the lone dissenting vote in the measure.

The special meeting to discuss O’Connor as a possible replacement for Thornton was announced during a regular board meeting Feb.13 where Thornton announced her retirement after 15 years as superintendent. During her announcement she suggested O’Connor could be a suitable replacement.

Before the discussion on Monday, teacher Christie Thomas during public comment commented on why she thought O’Connor would be a good fit.

“He is always looking forward and looking for ways to make himself and the school better,” she said. “He is willing to listen, which is a very integral characteristic of a leader. I have gone to him with problems and he is willing to listen and adjust his positions based on seeing a different point of view.”

During board discussionboard President Dr. Ken Chamberlain said he thought O’Connor would be a good fit as well.

“I have had the fortune to work with Dan on a lot of different occasions, so I am eager to hear what others have to say,” he said, opening the discussion.

Sims said he had a lot to say about O’Connor and that a member of the public asked whether the board was going to conduct a superintendent search. Sims said he was taken aback by the question but said he thought about whether a search should be conducted over the better part of a weekend.

“Those resumes and searches take an enormous amount of time,” he said. “They’re expensive and we’re looking at three to five months to get it to completion. We would like to always promote within because we have a known quantity.”

Sims said by the time he was finished weighing the pros and cons of doing a search his confidence in O’Connor as a replacement was cemented.

Yokom had a contrary opinion to the board and said although he thought highly of O’Connor, he suggested O’Conner be appointed interim superintendent during a search for a new candidate.

“Personally I think not looking is a little bit of a disservice to our community and the people who elected us to this position,” he said. “I can’t think of any kind of business or business man that would hire someone just off the cuff like that without at least looking.”

Chamberlain said in some circles that may be a way to approach replacing Thornton, but the board had 11 years to see the progression of O’Connor when he first hired as an English teacher after graduating from Central Michigan University in 2006.

“When you have someone who has a talent and a gift you try to develop it and retain it,” he said. “From my standpoint the search is a perfunctory step and takes time and money.”

O’Connor said he was grateful for the appointment.

“I look forward to the challenge of being the superintendent,” he said. “Thank you for having the confidence in giving me this next step.”

Chamberlain said until replacements for O’Connor’s duties is found, the school’s dean of students and other administrators would take on various jobs in the district.

Jason Ogden can be reached via email at jogden@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693. Follow Jason on Twitter @jo_alpenanews.

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