Top six candidates named in HAS superintendent search

Kent Barnes announced his impe...

HOLLY, Michigan – With Superintendent Kent Barnes set to retire a little more than four months from now, members of the Holly Area Schools Board of Education have narrowed their search to six candidates during a special meeting held on Feb. 5.

Last October, board members voted to hire the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) to coordinate a superintendent search for the district. The board chose MASB based on its rigid timeline, its inclusion of out-of-state candidates in the search.

During Tuesday’s meeting, board members selected the top six candidates from a field of 27.

Among them are Dr. Michael Jacob Osborne, the current principal for Hudson High School and Middle School in the Hudson Area School District, Anthony J. Habra, the current superintendent/facilities operations and transportation director for Rudyard Area Schools, Cindy Weber, superintendent for Durand Area Schools, Robert Behnke, assistant superintendent for instructional services for Northville Public Schools, Holly’s former HHS Principal and current Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction, David Nuss, and Susan Wooden, a professor of English for Alpena Community College and US Air Force Combat Readiness Center and former superintendent for the East Jordan Public School district.

At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19, board members will interview Habra, Wooden and Nuss, while Weber, Behnke and Osborne will be interviewed at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20 in the Board Room at the Karl Richter Campus, 920 Baird St., Holly.

Following the first round of interviews, the top three candidates will be invited to participate in a second interview at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20 in the Board Room at the Karl Richter Campus. Residents of the district, all staff and administration are encouraged to attend the interviews.