Community Receptions Next Step in Grosse Pointe Superintendent Search

The public will have the opportunity to interact with the three men selected to advance in the 's during community receptions next week. 

The of the original four candidates back for a second interview. The board is aiming to have a candidate selected by later this month to begin negotiations with that person.

Each of the community receptions will be held in the commons area. Their second interviews with the board will be held in Grosse Pointe South's auditorium.

Tom Harwood, the district's current assistant superintendent of human resources, is the first of the three to hold a community reception. He is the only internal candidate and received a 4 to 3 vote to continue into the second round of the interviews.

Harwood's reception is scheduled for 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday July 11. His second interview before the board will begin at 6:30 p.m. the same day. 

Michael Jon Dean, assistant superintendent for human resources in Birmingham Public Schools, will have a community reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday July 11 and his interview with the board will begin at 8:30 p.m. the same night. Dean was voted 5 to 2 to return for the second phase of interviews by the board. 

Richard Machesky, assistant superintendent for secondary education in Troy School District, is the last of the candidates. His reception will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday July 12 with his interview before the board beginning at 6:30 p.m. that same night. Machesky was the only candidate to receive a unanimous vote by the board to return for a second interview. 

The public is invited to meet the candidates during the community reception and public comment will be allowed during a board meeting following the last interview. That meeting will begin at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday July 12. 

Should anyone wish to provide anonymous feedback, a form will be available to be filled out and turned in for the board's review, according to district spokeswoman Rebecca Fannon.