The Flint school board has picked a former emergency manager to be the district’s interim superintendent.
Gregory Weatherspoon says he’s learned things that can help Flint schools from his stints as EM in Muskegon Heights and Highland Park schools, and recently was Benton Harbor interim school superintendent.
“Dealing with crisis number one. Dealing with the deficit in academics and finance like we are right here. And dealing with children,” says Weatherspoon, who has a 46-year career in education.
The school board decided to let the district’s former superintendent go after he announced he didn’t plan to stay in Flint after his contract expired next year.
Board President Diana Wright announced Tuesday that Superintendent Bilal Tawwab and two top district officials were on administrative leave.
Weatherspoon will serve as interim superintendent while the district conducts a national search for a new permanent superintendent.
School board president Diana Wright says the board considered others for the job.
“When I say he was not my first choice I do not mean that he’s our second choice,” says Wright. “He’s the first choice that was available to us.”
Flint Community Schools faces numerous issues, including lingering problems elevated lead levels in the tap water in some school buildings.
