Bedford’s search for school superintendent nearing goal

3/4/2013

TEMPERANCE — Bedford Public Schools’ next superintendent could come from the Jefferson Schools district in north Monroe County or Montrose Community Schools in Genesee County.

The board of education recently interviewed Craig Haugen, superintendent of Jefferson Schools, and Mark Kleinhans, superintendent of Montrose Schools.

They were picked as finalists after undergoing interviews with the board, and recently returned for a second round of meetings with the panel. Three other educators also underwent initial interviews with the board. In all, 20 people applied for the job.

Jon White, acting superintendent, said board members have scheduled visits on Thursday at Jefferson and Friday at Montrose, with a decison on the next superintendent being made soon after, possibly at a special meeting.

The Michigan Leadership Institute is assisting Bedford schools in the search to replace Ted Magrum, who retired in September.

Mr. Haugen of Temperance has been superintendent of the 2,000-student Jefferson district since 2008. He was superintendent of Whiteford Agricultural Schools near Ottawa Lake from 2004 to 2008 and previously was principal of the middle school and high school in Addison Community Schools.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Bethel University in St. Paul and his master’s degree in education leadership from Eastern Michigan University.

Mr. Kleinhans has been superintendent of Montrose Schools, a 1,500-pupil district, since 2002. He had been principal of Kuehn-Haven Middle School and assistant principal at Alma Middle School in Alma, Mich.