The two districts had shared a superintendent until last winter, when superintendent Carl Seiter resigned to return to his family in the Farwell area. Seiter’s departure caused both districts to rethink the shared position.

Now, leaders in both districts have decided to go it alone for at least the time being.

The Hillman Community Schools Board of Education will meet at 5:30 p.m. today to determine if they will hire the Michigan Association of School Boards to aid in their search for a new superintendent. Interim Hillman Superintendent Pamela Rader’s contract expires June 20.

On May 17, the Atlanta Community Schools Board of Education announced that Tony Suszek, retired assistant superintendent of finances and non-instructional services for Alpena- Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District, would serve as a part-time superintendent until 2024, sharing duties with newly hired Assistant Superintendent Susan Grulke.

News Photo by Charles Madison Kelly Burwell, president of the Hillman Community Schools Board of Education, listens to a presentation at a recent school board meeting in Hillman.

When Seiter resigned, the Atlanta school board reached out to Hillman, Suszek said, but “the Hillman board was not interested in a dual superintendent at the time.

“Atlanta wanted to move forward,” he said. His contract “is for two years, but neither the board or myself have ruled out it going further than two years.”

Suszek went on to say that he thinks Atlanta would like to return to a dual superintendent at some point, which is why he left an opening in his contract.

“If that’s what they want, the boards need to work together,” he said.

Kelly Burwell, president of the Hillman Community Schools Board of Education, said she approached Atlanta in April regarding the idea of a shared superintendent, and they said no.

“They’re happy doing what they’re doing,” Burwell said. “It’s fitting their budget, and their long-term goals. As of now, they’re doing their thing and we will be doing ours. We want transparency, we want the community to be assured and reassured that we are going to look at all options, and we are going to select the best candidate for Hillman.”

Hillman has a $6.1 million budget and with 415 students enrolled, while Atlanta has a $4.7 million budget and 262 students enrolled.

After Seiter’s retirement, both districts went on to hire interim superintendents to fill the position through June — Rader in Hillman and Suszek in Atlanta.

Atlanta hired Suszek and Grulke through a program that allows retired educators to return to work without giving up retirement benefits. That program saves Atlanta money because the district does not have to contribute to the pair’s retirement.

Through the program, the pair are limited in the number of hours they can work. Suszek and Grulke both tend to work about two days a week, Suszek said.

“This is a way for Atlanta to get experienced administrators they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford,” Suszek said.

Meanwhile, in a special meeting last week, the Hillman Board of Education met virtually with Michigan Association of School Boards Assistant Director of Executive Searches Jay Bennet to discuss costs and what the MASB would offer in terms of services.

“The current atmosphere is challenging,” Bennett said, informing the board the search fee would be $5,000. The Association of School Boards has a board assistance fund to which Hillman could apply that would deduct $1,500 from the search fee.

“Any other fees we would discuss with you ahead of time,” Bennett said.