"Working Futures"

Oakland Press

Pontiac schools' interim leader to meet with public

By DIANA DILLABER MURRAY Of The Oakland Press

PONTIAC -- Residents will have the chance to meet new Interim Superintendent Linda Paramore and learn more about school plans for fall at two events next week.

A "Meet and Greet" is planned for 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday where the public can meet Paramore and school board trustees. The event will be held at the Odell Nails Administration Building on Auburn Road, off northbound Woodward, with Paramore and the board of trustees.

On Tuesday, Paramore is holding a public forum from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the auditorium of Pontiac Central High School at 300 W. Huron to talk about what students and parents can expect in the fall with the new initiatives the board approved June 30.

The topics include the reconfiguration of elementary schools to include kindergarten through sixth grade in each of the 10 schools. Until now, only Rogers Elementary had a sixth grade and all other sixth-graders attended the middle schools.

This year, the three middle schools will be downsized to include only seventh- and eighth-graders.

The new preschool academy to open at Frost, with full- and part-time preparation for kindergarten as well as full- and part-time day care, will be another topic at the forum.

In addition, the advantages of the district's new centralized enrollment office will be described.

The one-stop shop for records will be installed at Whitmer Human Resource Center.

Applications for enrollment in any of Pontiac's schools will be on hand at the forum.

"We want to make sure all of the stakeholders are well informed and everyone is ready for the school year and ready to embrace these new initiatives," said Lisa Williams, former principal of Crofoot Elementary and newly appointed executive manager for instructional improvement.

"We think it is important that people have the information well in advance," said Williams, who noted Paramore has initiated the theme of "Pontiac Schools, Look Up!" for the coming school year.

In order to reach as may people as possible, the district has mailed fliers, initiated an automated phone system to notify parents, students, school personnel and community members, and publicized it on the Phoenix Center marquee.

Paramore plans to introduce the school board as well as new administrators on her team, including Williams; Felix Chow, the new interim deputy superintendent of business and auxiliary services; Anne Parker, interim manager for human resources; and Darryl Cosby, chief of security. Cosby plans to bring a public safety corps to high schools and middle schools beginning in the fall. The corps will have police authority to maintain a safe environment for learning.

In addition, a representative of the district's special education program will be there to answer questions about how changes will affect children with special needs.

"I just hope the community will come out and meet the superintendent and the board. We are looking forward to embracing a new year," Williams said.

Contact staff writer Diana Dillaber Murray at (248) 745-4638 ormailto:diana.dillaber@oakpress.com.

Oakland Press

New interim superintendent for Pontiac schools chosen at meeting

By JACQUELYN GUTC Of The Oakland Press

At a special meeting held Tuesday afternoon, the Pontiac Schools Board of Trustees named Linda Paramore as the district's new interim superintendent.

Paramore served as interim chief academic officer through Oakland Schools for the past year and has presented a new curriculum that will be implemented in the schools.

Paramore is a retired curriculum administrator from the Southfield school district.

"I'm just happy to serve," she said. "I'm pleased. It's a good place. I've been here for almost a year, it's easy to fall in love with Pontiac."

She said the district will begin a search for her replacement of her position as interim chief academic officer.

The board also announced that Calvin Cupidore, who has held the post of interim superintendent for the past year, has been reassigned to work on projects the board said were critical and urgent. His term as interim superintendent expired Monday.

Board Vice President Gill Garrett said the decision to change Cupidore's position came in regard to the district choosing to move in a different direction.

"He served well as the interim superintendent in that capacity," Garrett said. "With the new assignment that was given to him, those were some things that needed to move up. Those were some items that needed to have a total focus to them."

Cupidore's main focus will be the sale of surplus properties Garrett said.

"That was one of the things that was etched on last year's budget that didn't get accomplished and now it's etched in his budget to get accomplished," Garrett said.

In a written statement, the board said: "It is hoped that with full attention to this matter, the disposition of these properties will be completed in a short time."

Garrett said the district has six vacant properties it would like to sell.

Before taking over the interim superintendent job a year ago, Cupidore had been the chief financial officer of the district for almost two years.

At Tuesday's meeting, the board announced its decision to bring Felix Chow on board as interim superintendent of business and auxiliary support services, or chief financial officer.

Chow has worked as a consultant to Oakland Schools since ending his time as superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools in December.

"I know there's a lot of work that needs to be done," Chow said. "It's challenging, but I'm ready for the challenges."

He said he hopes to help the district set realistic expectations for what it wants to accomplish.

"I'm looking forward to working with Dr. Chow. He's very knowledgeable," Paramore said. "And there are good people in this district who really want to see the district improve. As we build leadership in the district and build leadership capacity, then when we leave we'll be able to have people move right into the positions."

Both Chow and Paramore are set to stay for the entire 2008-2009 school year, if necessary.

In the board's statement, it said it chose to work with Oakland Schools to fill the temporary positions so when the district hires a permanent superintendent, that person can hire a team of their own.

The board planned to hire a new superintendent by Tuesday, but when one of two finalists dropped out in May, trustees started the search again.

Contact staff writer Jacquelyn Gutc at (248) 745-4687 or jacquelyn.gutc@oakpress.com.