Following school closure vote, HVS president resigns

Huron Valley Schools Board of Education President Lisa Blackwell resigned from the board presidency late last week and is turning over the reigns to former Vice President Charles Dittmar, effective immediately.

She tendered her resignation Friday, March 4, one day after the board voted to close Highland Middle School.

She will serve the balance of her school board trustee term that expires December 2013.

According to a press release, Blackwell is stepping down to spend more time with her family.

“In the last 20 months I have spent as board president, we have closed two schools, we have had two board members resign completely, and we have gone through several very tough negotiation processes,” Blackwell stated in the release. “I have taken many hours away from my family because of this presidency, and now it’s time to start putting my family first.”

Huron Valley Director of Community Relations Janet Roberts said Blackwell previously informed the board of her pending resignation, but postponed making that announcement public until the board finalized the middle school utilization process.

“Lisa has probably had the toughest job in 20 months as a president has had in the last 20 years,” said School Board Treasurer Sean Carlson. “While her leadership will be missed, she will still be an effective trustee.”

As the new board president, Dittmar will appoint a board member to serve as the board’s vice president for the rest of the year.

“Lisa’s strength, compassion, strong leadership and above all, dedication to the children of Huron Valley Schools, were hallmarks of her term as president,” Roberts said.