He's baaack!
Mancelona's North Central Academy, a campus of Steven Ingersoll's Bay City Academy, dismissed its Building Leader Kurt Grangood last Friday, September 2nd. Although Mitten Educational Management has yet to announce the shakeup, sources indicate Grangood's departure may have been due to disappointing fall enrollment figures. (Grangood also served as the Bay City Academy's Superintendent.)
And it appears the charter school's former Principal, and soon-to-be-but-never-was Bay City Academy Superintendent, is back in command. After confirming Grangood's departure in a phone call to the Mancelona school this morning, on a hunch I asked if Cleland was available.
The answer?
A cheery “Sure! Who’s calling?”
Back on April 29, 2015, the Bay City Academy's Board of Directors announced the selection of newly-minted Mitten Educational Management as its new educational service provider. Replacing Steven Ingersoll's Smart Schools Management, Inc., Mitten is headed by fortunate son-in-law, Brian Lynch. The press release also proclaimed the selection of Pat Cleland as its choice for Superintendent.
But the rosy future painted by the Bay City Academy quickly went sideways.
Arrested on May 25, 2015, Cleland was formally arraigned September 22, 2015 on one count each of stalking and attempted possession of a controlled substance analogue. In addition, Leelanau County court records reveal a northern Michigan woman sought, and received, a personal protection order against Cleland on May 26, 2015; Cleland was served on June 8, 2015.
Less than 24 hours before jury selection was set to begin, Cleland opted not to go to trial and instead struck a plea deal in 86th District Court. Cleland plead guilty to the stalking charge and, in return, prosecutors dropped the drug charge.
According to the terms of Cleland's delayed sentence, negotiated for him by Traverse City attorney Patrick E. Heintz, the stalking charge could be dismissed after a successful two-year probation period.
Heintz successfully struck a similar deal for Cleland in 2013 when he plead guilty to one count of retail fraud-3rd degree. (Cleland served three days of community service in lieu of a six day jail sentence.)
So when you read the “just the facts” Leelanau News court report excerpted in italics above, does it make you wish that guy was deskside in your kid's classroom?
I didn't think so.
But there's always the school's Hawk's Nest snack shack where your kid can buy overpriced ramen noodles, yogurt, and granola bars.