Unanimous Vote for Plymouth-Canton Interim Superintendent

Experience, political connections and the prospect of a unifying influence were behind the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools board of trustees' decision to hire Jeremy Hughes as an interim district superintendent.

Hughes' experience includes five years as deputy superintendent and chief academic officer of Michigan's department of education. There, he helped revise state standards for teaching and graduation.

Hughes was one of four candidates for the temporary job and the only one not already a district employee.

The other three applicants: Philip Freeman, Pioneer Middle School's principal; Jim Larson-Shidler a certified public accountant and Plymouth-Canton's deputy superintendent of business; and Kurt Tyszkiewicz, principal of Tonda Elementary but currently working in the district offices as interim director of student services.

Hughes lives in Dearborn and Larson-Shidler in Bloomfield Hills while Freeman and Tyskiewicz are both Canton residents.

School board members voted 7-0 to offer a contract to Hughes, after some debate.

Board members Barry Simescu, Steven Sneideman and Nancy Eggenberger asked for time to determine what pay would be offered Hughes.

Sneideman said he wanted time to review notes from the four back-to-back interviews, held during a public meeting at the district offices.

But board president John Jackson and treasurer Judy Mardigian said quick action was vital. Mardigian said Ken Jacobs, the district's acting chief operating officer since November, starts a medical leave at the end of Friday and wouldn't be available for a transition after that time.

Jackson said Hughes credibility would help Plymouth-Canton's public image."We've got a a reputation that we can't get along with people," he said. "We've got to restore our reputation."

Simescu said the interim superintendent could also work with current superintendent Craig Fiegel, who remains in his job until June 30.

Though the discussion took several tense turns, each board member made it clear that the dispute was not over Hughes, but the hiring process. The school district's attorney, who was not present at the meeting, will be responsible for negotiating the contract, including salary, according to school board members.