Black has been acting as the interim principal at Ella White since January, following the suspension of the previous principal, Tom Berriman, over his alleged mishandling of two student discipline incidents back in early November.

After starting in the interim role, Black “immediately started making a positive impact at Ella White,” the district said in a news release. “We are very excited to see how the Eagles will (soar) under her permanent leadership!”

According to a district press release, one of the incidents that led to Berriman’s suspension occurred in a school vestibule and the other in a school hallway. One of the alleged incidents saw Berriman pick up the student and carry the student to his office.

Following the incidents, Superintendent David Rabbideau placed Berriman on paid administrative leave before later recommending his termination.

Collin Riffert

Berriman filed a complaint in regard to Rabbideau’s actions. In response, the board hired Rehmann, a third-party investigation firm.

The Rehmann investigation saw the review of video and emails sent by the parties involved as well as interviews of those involved to produce a timeline of events that was then used to determine the veracity of Berriman’s complaints. Rehmann ultimately concluded the district acted appropriately in its handling of Berriman’s discipline.

Berriman got a chance to address the board two weeks before the board’s final decision and admitted during a termination hearing in February that he could have handled both situations better.

On March 27, the Alpena Public Schools board, in a six-to-one vote, decided not to renew Berriman’s contract when it expires June 30.

The district also announced on Monday that Collin Riffert has been named assistant principal at Thunder Bay Junior High School.

Riffert was hired as a district assistant superintendent to serve in multiple buildings as needed, the district said in a news release, but he “quickly became a valuable part of the junior high school administrative team, and, as it turned out, his efforts, skills, and knowledge were needed on a permanent basis” at the junior high, the district said.

The district also announced that they have determined a third administrator is needed at the junior high and they will post the opening of another assistant principal position “in the near future.”