Top 5 Things to Know this Week

Board of Education selects Dr. Bobbie Hayes Goodrum to serve as the District's Interim Superintendent through June 2021

On Tuesday, January 5, the Board of Education appointed Dr. Bobbie Hayes Goodrum to serve as the Interim Superintendent for the District through the end of June 2021.

In August 2020, Dr. Goodrum was selected as the District’s new Assistant Superintendent of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Bobbie has been with Farmington Public Schools since 2007 serving as the Principal of Visions Unlimited and Special Education Supervisor. Visions Unlimited is the District’s post-secondary educational program for young adults, ages 18-26, who have physical and developmental disabilities. Bobbie also supervised programs for students with severe multiple disabilities throughout the District.

Dr. Goodrum earned her B.S. in Health Science from Howard University, her MAT in Special Education from Trinity College, her Sp.A. in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University, and her Ph. D. in Educational Leadership from Oakland University.

“I am optimistic about this opportunity because I believe in our Board of Education, our phenomenal staff, and our heavily-invested community,” stated Dr. Goodrum. “We are FPS and we are stronger together. I know that through thoughtful collaboration with all stakeholders, communication, and continued hard work and dedication, we can provide our students and our community the quality education that all of our students deserve.”

Dr. Goodrum will begin her new position on January 23 as Dr. Herrera will be leaving his position as superintendent on January 22, 2021.

On January 26, the Board will be interviewing firms to conduct the search for the new superintendent. Once a firm is selected, a timeline for next steps will be shared with the community.

FPS Board of Education members to interview six applicants on January 12 for the open Board seat

On Tuesday, January 12, Farmington Public Schools’ Board of Education members will be interviewing six community members who have submitted applications for the open seat on the Board of Education. The interviews will be held virtually.

Those who would like to view the interviews can use the following link http://bit.ly/BOEInterviews or watch it LIVE on TV-10 or on the Video on Demand site on the District’s website.

Each interview will be approximately 25 minutes in length:

Introduction
Questions from Board members
Concluding statement

Following the interviews, there will be public comment and then a vote for appointment. The following community members have submitted an application and will be interviewed:

5:30 p.m. - Steven Goldberg
6:05 p.m. - Janail Silver
6:40 p.m. - Donald Walker
7:15 p.m. - Doron Eisenscher
7:50 p.m. - Kevin Hammer
8:25 p.m. - Kathryn Marvin

It is expected that the new Board member will be sworn in at the Tuesday, January 19 Board of Education meeting.

Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education specialty program students returned to in-person learning on Monday, January 11

What a day it was! The excitement was in the air as our staff welcomed students returning for in-person instruction. We are excited to welcome our secondary families who have chosen to return to in-person learning on Monday, January 25. We continue to offer the virtual learning option for our families. Thank you to everyone for making this such a smooth return for our staff and students.

Please watch this video regarding the return to in-person learning.

Students in Mrs. Greenwood's second grade class at Forest Elementary School are ready to learn in-person!

The Hillside Husky mascot welcomes families as they return to in-person learning on Monday, January 11.

A Kenbrook Elementary School student settles in for her first day of in-person learning with her class.

Farmington Community Library and MCMR offer virtual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration - January 18

You won't want to miss the virtual celebration that has been planned for our community. Our students will be participating in the Keynote portion of the program IDEA Panel Discussion and Assistant Superintendent of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Dr. Bobbie Goodrum, and soon to be Interim Superintendent, will be leading the discussion around the book, The Underground Railroad. See the flier below for all of the wonderful activities that they have planned.

January is School Board Recognition Month

We would like to pause this month and honor those community members who have committed to serve on the Farmington Public Schools' Board of Education. We will be highlighting each of our Board members this month on our Facebook and Instagram platforms as well as at the January 19 Board Meeting.

Please join us in thanking our Board members for this most important volunteer service. There has never been a more challenging time to be a Board member than through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sending thanks to:

Zach Rich, President
Terri Weems, Treasurer
Cheryl Blau, Trustee
Mable Fox, Trustee
Claudia Heinrich, Trustee
Angie Smith, Trustee

January 12, 2021