On Thursday April 30, the Leland Public School (LPS) board voted 7-0 to offer its open superintendent position to Stephanie Long and to enter into discussions to finalize a contract. That contract will be approved by the school board in an open session at a time to be determined, with July 1 as her expected start date. 

“The school board is very pleased that Ms. Long has accepted the position,” Leland’s school board president Bill Robinson tells The Leelanau Ticker. “She is a highly experienced and highly capable administrator with a wide range of responsibilities in several local districts. Ms. Long is the right fit to lead LPS at this time.” 

The LPS board started the search process in October 2019. A total of 26 administrators with a wide range of backgrounds applied. “We are very appreciative of the assistance of Charlie Andrews at Michigan Leadership Institute for guiding us every step of the way,” says Robinson.

The school board chose 6 candidates to interview and was prepared to choose one of two finalists following second interviews late last week, but Robinson tells The Leelanau Ticker that Bradley Brunner, the other finalist, withdrew his application for a variety of personal and professional reasons. “The LPS community wishes him well in his future endeavors,” he says, adding that the school will schedule transition planning steps with Mike Hartigan, the part-time interim superintendent as soon as appropriate. 

Hartigan retired as superintendent at Leland Public School in 2010 and during the past decade has done three interim stints at Glen Lake, the last one being an entire year as superintendent. He came on board at LPS part-time January 1, 2020, with his contract ending June 30, 2020.

“Mike is an accomplished school leader with a long history of administrative jobs at LPS and Glen Lake. All of the board members are extremely thankful for Mike’s tireless — and more than part-time — service to kids,” adds Robinson.