Board schedules community conversations after months of public calls to make interim superintendent permanent

The Wayne‑Westland Community School District board voted to begin a series of board‑community conversations starting in September and to set agenda topics in June as members of the public pressed the board to make interim superintendent Jennifer Curry the district’s permanent superintendent.

Dozens of parents, staff, union representatives and community members used the district’s allotted public‑comment period to urge the board to offer Curry a three‑year contract and to avoid a national superintendent search. Speakers described Curry as a long‑time district employee who has provided stability through recent financial and operational challenges.

Several public commenters tied Curry to recent district accomplishments. Heather Martinez said, “Jen Curry deserves a 3 year contract,” and Amy Gridley, speaking from long experience in the district, described Curry’s leadership during prior disruptions and asked the board to approve her as permanent superintendent. The Wayne‑Westland Education Association also delivered a formal statement of support: Steve Conn, WEA president, said the union and “all the MEA groups in Wayne Westland” back Curry’s appointment.

Other parents and community members asked for transparency and public input before any final action. Jessica West urged the board to use the announced community conversations in September to gather stakeholders’ views and to delay final decisions until after that outreach.

Board members responded during the meeting with differing views. Several board members and district staff said the board had previously offered Curry a two‑year contract that was declined; board members described their duty to the district and to due process while also praising Curry’s work. One board member summarized, “We voted in a meeting to offer her a 2 year contract. She rejected the offer,” and said the board’s next step was community engagement and an open selection process.

At the meeting the board approved 6‑0 a motion to “initiate a series of board community conversations to begin in September” and also discussed scheduling preparatory agenda work in June. Several board members said they would invite stakeholder input on topics for the September sessions and asked the district attorney to help ensure the forum follows legal and procedural requirements.

Speakers who opposed a search and who urged the board to immediately grant Curry a three‑year contract warned of the costs and disruption of another national search. Jennifer Owens noted prior high turnover in superintendent hiring and asked the board to avoid further instability; other speakers said a new search risked political influence and more expense.

Board members emphasized that community input would be sought and that the board’s decision‑making process is ongoing. Interim Superintendent Jennifer Curry thanked participants in the district improvement summit and called for a strong finish to the school year, without commenting on contract negotiations during the meeting.

The board’s next steps include crafting the agenda for the September community conversations, with preliminary agenda planning expected in June, and continuing any personnel or contract actions through typical board processes.