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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Controversial figure not hired for YPS position

Vick rejected by board with 6-1 vote

By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer

PUBLISHED: July 24, 2008

The Ypsilanti Public Schools Board of Education listened in silence as a dozen speakers voiced their arguments either in favor or in opposition of the proposed hiring of Jim Vick as Ypsilanti High School's new athletic director/assistant principal. Then, without discussion, they voted down the motion to approve his hiring by 1-6.

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Vice President Linda Snedacar Horne was the sole vote in favor of the former Eastern Michigan University administrator.

The meeting began with the agenda items regarding the hiring for the two assistant principal positions at the high school being pulled out of the consent agenda in order to be voted on separately.

During the first public input portion of the evening eight speakers, including State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, Ypsilanti Area Chamber of Commerce President Diane Keller and Vick's attorney Thomas Manchester, spoke in support of Vick. Four speakers, including former Board of Education Vice President Amy Doyle and EMU Professor Mark Higbee, spoke against Vick's hiring.

Kelly Powers, president of the Ypsilanti Education Association, said she and the union would work with whoever was hired, but said she was concerned about "the black eye this could give the district." Both she and prior speakers faulted the district's hiring practices.

When the board came to Vick's hiring on the agenda, Horne moved to hire. President David Bates called for a second and there was silence at the table. Bates was forced to call for a second again before Trustee Ed Jackson seconded the motion. Trustee Sarah Devaney immediately called the question and the vote was taken.

Superintendent James Hawkins said the administration will now take a day or two to deliberate and decide in which direction to go. He said it would have to be decided whether to return to the pool of candidates from which Vick was selected or whether to repost the position.

A third option would be to move newly hired Assistant Principal Charles Fuller into the AD/AP position and repost the AP position for which Fuller was hired.

Kathleen Conat is a freelance writer for The Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.