By Judy Seifert (Contact / Staff Bio)
July 3, 2009 - 08:02 a.m. EST

MAYVILLE — Suprintendent of Mayville Schools William Hartzell has called it quits.

Hartzell submitted a letter of resignation to the Board of Education at its regular meeting Tuesday night, stunning board members.

“I’m still in shock,” said Board Treasurer Robert DeCoe. “None of us had any idea this was coming.”

Hartzell, who has been with the district for 37 years, stated in his letter that he had failed to accomplish his goal of keeping the amount of fund equity money used to cover the district’s budget obligation to $70,000 – $75,000, “In October, 2008, I further stated that if I failed, then I would resign. It appears I have not fulfilled my promise to you,” Hartzell said.

DeCoe said he remembers the October meeting but doesn’t recall this specific conversation. A check of the board’s minutes from October meetings doesn’t mention Hartzell’s statement either.

The district has been tightening its belt this year. In March, concern over the state of its operational budget forced the Board to freeze salaries, steps and to cap health, dental and vision benefit premiums for its teachers.

At that time, Board President Thomas Hamilton said the district had about $412,000 of fund equity. That amount was expected to drop to $200,000 by the beginning of the new school year if the district didn’t stop spending money.

According to Hartzell’s letter of resignation, the board was notified in October 2008 that approximately $120,000 of fund equity money would be needed to cover budget requirements for the 2008-09 school year. Hartzell’s hope then was to keep that number down.

“When the meeting started and our superintendent wasn’t there yet, I didn’t think too much about it,” DeCoe added. “But when the letter was opened and read - well, it floored me, my jaw dropped.”

Board members moved quickly after Tuesday’s meeting to appoint an interim superintendent. Rhonda Blackburn, the current high school and middle school principal, will assume the temporary position, but only until July 8.

“Our organizational meeting was originally scheduled for the 8th,” DeCoe explained. “We’ve now moved that date up so that we can start working on finding a permanent replacement.”

Hartzell was not available for comment.

Judy Seifert is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at seifert@tcadvertiser.com.