Supt. Andrees Talks with Patch Before Comedy Slam

JoAnn Andrees, set to retire after 21 years with West Bloomfield Schools, looks forward to volunteerism and offers hopes for the future of public education.

On Friday, a comedy show to benefit the West Bloomfield Educational Foundation and an open house event are scheduled to celebrate the career of retiring Superintendent JoAnn Andrees. Andrees has worked at the West Bloomfield School District since 1989, in various capacities: as principal at Abbott Middle School; counselor, assistant principal and principal at West Bloomfield High School; and as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the district. Her retirement is effective June 30. Gerald Hill of Glenview, IL signed a contract last month to lead the district for the next four years. Andrees spoke with Patch this week regarding her retirement, career, and more. How is the transition process being handled within the …

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UPDATE: Gerald Hill Tentatively Accepts West Bloomfield Superintendent Job

The retiring superintendent from Glenview, IL, accepted the position, pending negotiations, just hours after it was extended early Saturday. He would replace JoAnn Andrees.

The day after being interviewed and just hours after he was offered the job, Illinois educator Gerald Hill tentatively has agreed to become superintendent of the West Bloomfield School District. Hill, 60, the retiring superintendent of the school district in Glenview, IL, was offered the position early Saturday after the West Bloomfield Board of Education unanimously voted to extend an offer. The board interviewed Hill and two other candidates on Friday, and a fourth early Saturday in the Administrative and Community Services building as they searched for a successor to retiring superintendent JoAnn Andrees. The other candidates were Mark Daniel, superintendent of Dowagiac (MI) Union Schools; John Maloy, superintendent of  Aspen (CO) …

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Weekend Countdown

Superintendent Search Interviews to be Held

West Bloomfield School Board to host candidates over two days this weekend.

The search for the West Bloomfield School District's new superintendent should become a lot clearer after this weekend. The Board of Education announced Tuesday that interviews would be held at the Administrative and Community Services center building at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday in order to find a replacement for the retiring JoAnn Andrees. Information about the number of candidates being interviewed and who they are will be available later in the week, said district officials.  The interviews are part of a monthslong search process the district has undertaken in order to find a new superintendent. In March, the board held a special board meeting in order to narrow down search criteria with firm Ray & Associates and established the …

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Timothy Rath

8:41 am on Thursday, May 3, 2012

Hi, Tom, and Judy, I will try to get answers to these questions today and post them on Patch.   more ›

Salary for Incoming Schools Superintendent: $190K

The West Bloomfield School District on Friday honed its list of desirable qualities in a superintendent to replace the retiring JoAnn Andrees.

Search criteria in finding a superintendent for West Bloomfield Schools to replace the retiring JoAnn Andrees was established on Friday at a special board meeting, in addition to the salary figure of $190,000. Andrees' salary in the 2011-12 fiscal year was $153,425, which represents a 10 percent pay cut from the previous year. Representatives of district's executive search firm Ray and Associates spoke with the Board of Education at West Bloomfield High School to hone a list of "most desirable characteristics" of potential applicants in order to publish promotional materials and an application form. The characteristics, gleaned from a series of surveys taken at focus groups March 7-8 in West Bloomfield, were shared with the public and …

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West Bloomfield Schools Staff and Parents Discuss Bullying on Panel

The panel discussion followed the premiere of 'Bully,' a documentary screened at the Palladium as part of the second annual Uptown Film Festival in Birmingham Saturday.

There were a lot of tears at probably the most talked-about premiere of the Uptown Film Festival. There was also a lot of anger, frustration and above all, a desire for change. Bully, a documentary on bullying in American schools and communities from acclaimed filmmaker Lee Hirsch, officially premiered Saturday afternoon at the Palladium 12 as part of the second annual Uptown Film Festival. The film will be officially released March 30. After the premiere, Defeat the Label, an international anti-bullying nonprofit with local roots — as well as one of the festival’s nonprofit partners — hosted a panel discussion with area educators, parents, counselors, a police officer and a 7th grade bullying victim. The film itself follows five bullied …

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Board Process for New Superintendent Revealed

Throughout the month, three West Bloomfield School District Board members will oversee the hiring of a search firm to replace JoAnn Andrees.

West Bloomfield Schools Superintendent Andrees to Retire

JoAnn Andrees announced her intention to retire at the end of the school year after 21 years in the school district.

JoAnn Andrees announced Saturday she will retire as superintendent of the West Bloomfield School District at the end of the school year. it was announced Saturday afternoon in a news release sent via email to district families. Andrees, who will retire after 21 years in the district, including the past four as superintendent, made the announcement is a "Letter to the community" that came via email. Her retirement is effective June 30. The school district will engage a search firm to find candidates to replace Andrees, according to a news release from the district that accompanied Andrees' letter. Andrees has worked at the district since 1989, in various capacities: as principal at Abbott Middle School; counselor, assistant principal and …

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West Bloomfield School Board Ratifies New Teacher Contract

The two-year contract, which was approved by 6-1 vote, includes a 5% pay cut, increased health care contributions and a step freeze in the second year.

The media center in West Bloomfield High School was uncharacteristically quiet Monday night, given the circumstances. Picket lines comprised of parents and teachers carrying signs and wearing red shirts with the West Bloomfield Education Association (WBEA) logo were a familiar sight before most every school board meeting since May 2010. However, no red shirts or union representatives were to be seen as school board trustees ratified a tentative two-year agreement between the district and the West Bloomfield Education Association (WBEA). The new agreement, which includes a 5 percent pay cut, increased contributions for health insurance, and a step freeze during the second year, will be effective Sept. 1, 2010 through Aug. 31, '12. The …

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150 Parents, Teachers, Students, Staff Join To Find School Solutions

The West Bloomfield School District hosted 150 parents, teachers, staff and students who hammered out ideas for budget cuts and new revenue streams.

About 150 West Bloomfield parents, teachers, staff and students rolled up their sleeves Wednesday to help find solutions to the school district's budget challenges for the 2011-12 school year. The people who attended the meeting at the West Bloomfield High School media center joined committees tasked with reviewing and creating program and budget recommendations. Those committees will meet privately until May 16, when they will finalize proposals for recommendation to the district. The meeting combined discussion of the budget with that of the district’s strategic vision. Although the committee-style meetings were held previously, most recently in 2006, this was the first time the doors were opened to the community in helping develop the …

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Timothy Rath

11:40 am on Thursday, April 14, 2011

Thanks for the comment, Christy!   more ›