Plymouth-Canton Reaches Deal With New Superintendent

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools reached a deal Tuesday with its incoming superintendent, according to a report from the Canton Observer.

According to the report, the district's Board of Education on Tuesday voted 6-0 to approve a three-year deal with Dr. Michael Meissen, currently the supervisor of school improvement and student achievement for Milwaukee Public Schools in Milwaukee, WI, at $212,000 per year, plus benefits.

The deal kicks in on July 1 and runs through June 30, 2016.

Meissen previously served as superintendent of Glenbard High School District 87 in Illinois, and left his $215,665-a-year job in 2012, according to the Daily Herald in suburban Chicago.

It was there that Meissen worked to standardize curriculum, facing some community backlash when some honors classes were eliminated, according to the Daily Herald.

Rod Molek, Meissen's assistant superintendent for human resources and student services, described Meissen as a bold leader to the Daily Herald.

"His style is that of a coach," Molek told the newspaper. "He works with his assistant coaches and players. He's with us in the trenches and wants to do better every day … And he's not afraid to tackle issues you know don't have 100 percent support."

Meissen pursued the superintendent job at L'Anse Creuse Public Schools in Harrison Township in 2012, according to Glen Ellyn (IL) Patch. According to the Daily Herald, Meissen was one of three finalists for that post, but withdrew his name from consideration.

Meissen also was named as a finalist for Racine Unified School District superintendent in Wisconsin in February, but did not receive a job offer, according to journaltimes.com.