Huron Valley Schools President Steps Down

UPDATED: Huron Valley Schools Board President Lisa Blackwell has resigned from her presidency, effective immediately. The school district released the news Friday afternoon, one day after the board made a Highland Middle School.

Janet Roberts, director of community relations for the district, said in an e-mail that Blackwell had previously informed the board of her decision but that she purposefully postponed her decision to step down in order to complete the middle school utilization process.

Blackwell said she stepped down so she could 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 said in an e-mail. "I have taken many hours away from my family because of this presidency, and now it's time to start putting my family first."

She will still serve on the board as a trustee.

At Thursday's meeting, Blackwell took a moment to address criticism she had received regarding her son’s departure from Huron Valley Schools to attend a private school, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in Orchard Lake. She explained that her son plays hockey and will have the opportunity to play on the top-ranked hockey team in Michigan, “And that’s all I have to say about that,” she said.

Blackwell has three other children set to graduate from Huron Valley Schools.

The criticism came following a post on Blackwell's Facebook page that was then broadcast on pattnow.com. This is a website for the group Parents After The Truth Now, which aims to provide factual information about district happenings and to hold appropriate people accountable for system flaws, according to its creators, Ron and Sally Madison, who are parents in the district.

"I have learned a lot, made some mistakes and, I hope, done some good things people will remember," Blackwell said in her e-mail. "I feel honored to have served the community and the district in this capacity and am happy to serve the rest of my term as a trustee."

As board president, Blackwell sat on the executive committee and had several responsibilities in addition to normal trustee duties. As trustee, Blackwell will no longer have as many of those responsibilities.

Former Vice President Charles Dittmar will now serve as board president. Roberts said Dittmar will have the authority to appoint a new vice president to serve for the remainder of the calendar 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 in an e-mail. "We are fortunate she will be remaining on the board and continuing her service to the students, staff and families of Huron Valley Schools."

Blackwell was elected to the board in 2004 and has served as board president since 2009. Her term as trustee ends in 2012.