TRAVERSE CITY -- There's no denying that the budget will be a predominant topic at Traverse City school board meetings next year.
But the board will have to contend with another pressing issue shortly after members-elect Julie Puckett and Kelly Hall take office in January: Superintendent James Feil's contract will be up for renewal.
School boards are responsible for hiring superintendents. Feil was selected in 2005 to replace retiring school chief James Pavelka.
Only one member of next year's board, Alice McNally, remains from the group who hired Feil.
Existing and incoming members say the perspective change that comes with an evolving board is an ideal launching point to discuss the district's future -- and that could include its leader.
"Any time a contract expires, it's always a good time to look back and look forward," said Puckett, who won a four-year term Tuesday. "The board that's going to be deciding in December is going to look vastly different than the board that's going to be deciding in January."
Feil and board members are developing an evaluation tool that will send surveys to various community groups, including parents and employees, to gather new insight about his leadership style.
Informal quarterly reviews have been held all year and a formal written review will be completed next month.
In March 2007, Feil's contract was renewed through June 30, 2010. He earns $159,832 this year and did not accept an annual salary increase.
Board members have to decide whether to renew Feil's contract by April 1.
The new tool combines the state of the district with individual attributes, said Gary Appel, who retained a partial term through 2012 in Tuesday's election.
The district is moving in the right direction, Appel said, but a better job can be done at "strengthening the teacher voice."
"I suppose anything's possible," he said of Feil's contract. "I'm expecting to learn quite a bit through this process."
Feil said he is not concerned about negotiations and is comfortable with both the present board and the upcoming transition.
Recent challenges, including budget cuts and contentious teachers' contract talks, were difficult to work through, he said. But he believes emotions have to be put aside for progress.
"We have to be careful not to personalize this," Feil said. "I feel very positive about where I believe this district is going and how I'm contributing."
Challenges happen, but people remember their lingering effects, Puckett said. She advocated for Bertha Vos Elementary when it was slated to close two years ago.
Something needs to change when people remain unhappy, she said, and it might mean examining leadership relations. She added that she wants to learn what's said in closed-door evaluation sessions.
"If there's a tenor of negativity out there, that's not helpful for our district," Puckett said. "Just from an outside perspective, I'm always more concerned about communication."
Board member Megan Crandall said she has asked to write a dissenting opinion to include with Feil's evaluation, but fellow board members denied that request.
She said she doesn't think Feil's contract should be renewed, but is eager to see input from the latest review.
"I'm not comfortable with making any offer before the new board members," Crandall said. "What right is it for this board to say, 'Yep, we are or are not going to extend his contract,' when we've got two new members coming on who would have to live with that decision?"
No employee, regardless of position, should be retained if he or she fails to meet employer standards that are "fair and objective," Hall said.
"If you believe that his contract should be renewed but there are elements that are lacking, you better set a performance plan to make sure that employee measures up," she said. If he doesn't, "It might be time to look someplace else."
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