Grosse Pointe school board committee
approves 30-month deal for Harwood

The last hope of Grosse Pointe's school board minority to defeat a Tom Harwood superintendency likely died Tuesday (Aug. 2), when a member failed to insert language in his draft contract that would allow the board to easily terminate his employment.

Board treasurer Brendan Walsh, part of a three-member board committee working on Harwood's contract, tried to get fellow members John Steininger and Joan Dindoffer to consider a so-called convenience clause that would allow the board -- which may change significantly with the November elections -- to dismiss Harwood at will.

But the two wanted nothing to do with it, saying it would harm the district's reputation with future superintendent candidates, and keep it from attracting excellent administrators. The current draft contract for Harwood, left, is for 30 months, with termination only for cause or by mutual agreement, with a buyout.

Harwood's selection to succeed retiring superintendent Suzanne Klein showed a sharp division on the board, which approved the choice 4-3 last month in a contentious meeting that followed days of interviews with Harwood and two other candidates. When the time came to vote, the other contenders, Richard Machesky and Jon Dean, weren't even discussed before a motion was made to offer the job to Harwood. The quick action left some spectators dumbfounded, and led to a shouting match in the parking lot afterward.

At the time, Walsh told district voters who opposed the choice to pay close attention to board elections this year. With Steininger's seat up for grabs (and Steininger thus far undeclared for re-election), whoever wins it could tilt the board majority in favor of the three who voted against Harwood -- Walsh, Fred Minturn (whose seat is also in play this year) and Judy Gafa. Should that happen, the new majority could dismiss Harwood, reopen the process and hire a candidate more to their liking.

But such a drastic step would harm the district, Steininger and Dindoffer said Tuesday, concurring with both the district's lawyer, John Gierak, and Jim Morse, a representative of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, the search firm for the position.

"It would be very negative" for the district, Morse said, adding that top candidates wouldn't even apply, knowing they could likely be made a ping-pong ball for a battling board.

Walsh replied that he only wanted the contract to reflect reality.

"We need to put the moose on the table and say this is a divisive choice," he said. "It has to be considered if we're being honest with ourselves."

Steininger replied that Klein was hired by a split vote, and that she proved herself in the job. Dindoffer echoed that Harwood deserves a similar chance.

"What's a reasonable contract?" she said. "It's similar to the standard (for other districts), similar to Suzanne Klein's. We're not hearing that an at-will contract or one a with convenience clause is typical. My sense is that if we have a contract that can be terminated for convenience, it deters the district from showing confidence in its leadership."

Walsh replied that he respected their position, but that he would vote against the contract, presumably along with the rest of the minority. Steininger adjourned the meeting, telling Gierak to make minor changes and forward the document to Harwood.

The full board is expected to vote on the matter at its Aug. 22 meeting.

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