Steinmetz is offered superintendent position at Madison

Manchester superintendent, Nicholas Steinmetz, made his first formal public appearance at graduation 2018. Photo courtesy of Unforgettable Photos.

Manchester superintendent Nick Steinmetz, after serving for just 17 months in the position, was recently among the pool of interviewees for a similar position at Madison Schools in Lenawee County.

An article in the Adrian Daily Telegram on Saturday indicated that the selection committee had announced Steinmetz as their candidate of choice for the position, but that he had not yet accepted the district’s offer.

It was reported that Steinmetz was recruited to Madison by Brad Hamilton, who was serving as Manchester’s interim superintendent while Manchester was in the process of hiring Steinmetz. The Telegram also quoted a selection committee member who said that a selling point for Madison was Steinmetz saying that he would plan to relocate his family there if selected for the position.

School board president Chris Fegan said that she would be speaking to Steinmetz to find out how Manchester could keep him on for a longer time.

“We won’t know anything for a couple days at least,” she said. “Until then, we are working like heck to keep him (here).”

Steinmetz has quickly become a familiar face; not only in the school district but around the community during his time in Manchester. Returning to an area closer to family was a deciding factor for him in relocating from Ironwood, in the Upper Peninsula. He, along with his wife Sara and their three young daughters, have become active both in the schools and around town.

In fact, Nick Steinmetz was recently tapped to serve on the Downtown Development Authority by Village President Pat Vailliencourt, an appointment approved by Village Council only last Monday, Nov. 18.

“I was very excited with the prospect of having Nick on the DDA board,” Vailliencourt said. “As soon as he came here he jumped in with both feet and got involved. He would really be an asset as we continue to form collaborative groups to promote the Manchester community.” Village Council agreed eagerly and unanimously confirmed the appointment.

In addition to the superintendent position, Steinmetz was also filling the principal’s jobs at both Klager Elementary and Riverside Intermediate Schools, after Gary Puhl was laid off from Riverside last spring and Jennifer Mayes resigned as Klager principal at the end of the school year. “Deans of Student Success” serve in the disciplinary roles at both schools, with Steinmetz focusing primarily on instructional leadership–developing curriculum and overseeing staff. At the time, he explained that those tasks are really the primary job of an elementary school principal, and that they dovetailed perfectly with the superintendent job.

The most recent former superintendents in Manchester have stayed for an average of five years. Steinmetz’s immediate predecessor, Cherie Vannatter, served for six years; Shawn-Lewis Lakin for four; and David Oegema, about five years.

The Mirror reached out to Steinmetz on Saturday but received no comment.

Fegan added, “Nick has made great strides with the district and put a lot of new systems into place. We can carry on with this new, improved culture as a district. We will work hard to keep him here, but regardless of what happens, we need to stay positive, move forward, and remain focused on the well-being of our students.”

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.