Board selects Michigan Leadership Institute for national superintendent search; adds city representative to college search committee

The board authorized the finance committee’s recommendation to contract with Michigan Leadership Institute (MLI) to run a national superintendent search. Trustee Patrick D'Ambrosio moved the award and Trustee O'Jaffney supported the motion. Board discussion confirmed the RFP specified a national search scope and trustees said the award is contingent on acceptable reference checks. Administration noted a clerical correction to the vendor paperwork had been addressed earlier in the day.

The board recorded a roll-call vote for the award: Jamal Ajami — yes; Ali K. Bazzi — yes; Patrick D'Ambrosio — yes; Mary Petlichkoff — yes; Nazre Soap — yes; Omar Zarr — not present; President Moses — yes. The motion carried.

Separately, the board considered a city request to add Zainab A. Hussein as the city representative on the Henry Ford College presidential search committee (increasing its membership from 24 to 25). A motion was moved to add the city representative and was supported; trustees emphasized adherence to the Open Meetings Act and board bylaws when handling such additions. A roll call approved the appointment with the same yes/absent pattern noted above.

The motions were processed in public session; details on base bid and reimbursable expenses for the MLI contract were discussed but recorded reimbursements were left as general reimbursable expenses in the motion for flexibility.