Forest Hills — The district’s Board of Education voted to enter into contract negotiations with Sara Shubel, retired East Grand Rapids superintendent, to serve as interim superintendent until a permanent one is named. Superintendent Dan Behm will retire this summer after 17 years in the role.
Board member Mary Vonck, part of the three-person subcommittee that reviewed the candidates for the position, said she believes Shubel will help set up conditions for Behm’s successor to succeed. An important part of that will be continuing to involve the community in the strategic planning process under way.
Vonck said the interim position could last up to a full year, and that Shubel is open to serving any timeframe within that span.
In addition, Michigan Leadership Institute was chosen by unanimous vote to lead the search for a permanent superintendent. The board received proposals from four search firms. Vonck explained that MLI rose to the top in part because they included the most time in their proposal to be present in the district to make sure the community is heard during the search process.
Updated information on the search process can be found on the district’s website.
Related SNN articles:
• Forest Hills superintendent announces retirement
• With EGR’s Shubel ‘we never coasted’
