Wayne-Westland makes superintendent transition

In a mutually-agreed upon resolution, the Wayne-Westland Community Schools Board of Education voted October 1 in a Special Session to end the School District’s administrative relationship with Superintendent Dr. Shelley Holt.
The Board voted 7-0 to accept a resignation and resolution agreement which allows both the School District and Dr. Holt to accept Dr. Holt’s resignation and move forward in a positive manner. “I wish Dr. Holt nothing but the best as she moves on and thank her for the many positive contributions she made to the School District during her time as Superintendent,” said Board President David R. Cox.
The mutual agreement addresses not only Dr. Holt’s tenure with Wayne-Westland but results in the dismissal of her pending lawsuit against the School District. The resolution of these matters allows the Board of Education to move forward with a search process to hire a new Superintendent.
During the search process, the District’s current Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Operations, Ms. Jill Simmons, will serve as Interim Superintendent. Ms. Simmons, who earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University and her Master’s degree in Human Resources and Employment Relations, with concentrations in Employment Law and Labor Relations, from Penn State University, has been employed by Wayne-Westland for nine years. Ms. Simmons will be supported by Dr. Sue Carnell, with whom the Board will enter into a consultant agreement. Dr. Carnell had served as the Interim Superintendent since July 2019 but was limited by Michigan retirement rules as to the amount of time she could serve as an administrator.
“The Board of Education will now begin the process of identifying a new superintendent to lead our District in what will surely become one of the most exciting rebuilding eras in District history,” said Cox. “With stable finances, new employee contracts in place, major facility upgrades on the horizon, and a new curriculum coming online, the School District is looking forward to making positive changes in virtually every area of study for every student,” he added. “Our mission is to educate and prepare all of our students to be knowledgeable, responsible, contributing members of a global society. This requires a dedicated teaching and administrative staff functioning in an environment that recognizes and appreciates that dedication. The Board is committed to maintaining that environment for all employees.”