
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART — Hart High School Principal Brandon Bruce and Hart Middle School Principal Kevin Ackley are among four candidates vying for the district’s superintendent position.
Bruce was hired as the high school principal last August. He was hired back at Hart Public Schools about two and a half years ago as the Spitler Elementary School principal after serving as superintendent of Gwinn Public Schools in the Upper Peninsula.
Ackley is in his 15th year as Hart Middle School principal and has been an educator in the district for 27 years.
The two other candidates are Engadine Consolidated School Superintendent Andrew Alvesteffer and former Fremont Public Schools Superintendent Brad Jacobs, who serves as planning executive for SitelogIQ.
The four candidates were selected to interview for the position at a Hart Public Schools Board of Education special meeting.
The interview schedule for the candidates is the following:
Monday, March 9
6 p.m. — Brandon Bruce
7:15 p.m. — Kevin Ackley
Tuesday, March 10
6 p.m. — Andrew Alvesteffer
7:15 p.m. — Brad Jacobs
The interviews are open to the public and will take place at the Diman-Wolf Early Childhood Center, 306 W. Johnson St. The board of education invites interested people to attend.
The new school leader will take over for Superintendent Mark Platt, who will retire at the end of the school year. Platt will be the longest-serving superintendent in Hart Public School’s history. This year marks 13 years at the helm of the Pirate ship and 36 years as an educator.
“Superintendent Platt has provided 13 years’ exemplary service to the district,” states a press release provided by Consultant Mark Dobias with the Michigan Association of School Boards. The board has contracted with the MASB to facilitate the search.
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