Dexter Delays Search for New Superintendent

The Dexter Community Schools Board of Education has decided to take some more time before picking a new superintendent.

According to the school district website, the board has decided to continue the preliminary superintendent search activities before selecting candidates for interviews.

A note from Larry Cobler, president of the school board, states that the Michigan Leadership Institute's Michael Wilmot will conduct further research on candidates and the board will continue to review the progress and decide soon on a revised search schedule.

According to an article in Heritage Newspapers, the board was originally planning on beginning the interview process this week.

"We decided we needed to do some more background checking and so we did not select anyone to come out of the pool of candidates," said Cobler at the meeting, according to the article.

According to Heritage Newspapers, of the 35 applicants, approximately 10 are currently sitting superintendents, which the district was looking for.

"Some of them weren't the right fit (and/or) hadn't been working for awhile. We just needed to check on a few more of those who had been in the superintendent pool and do a little looking around," Cobler said.

Dates that had been previously posted on the district website regarding the search should be disregarded, and a new schedule will be released soon.

"We hope community members and District staff will continue to be patient as we conduct a thorough search for the best candidates - those who will be most successful in the Dexter Community School District," said Cobler in the statement.

Dennis Desmarias, former superintendent of Riverview Community School District, is currently serving as interim superintendent. His six-month contract expires in June.

Desmarias is filling in for Mary Marshall, who was hired by Pentwater Public Schools in October.