Board expected to pick school boss today

The Farmington Public Schools Board of Education will likely appoint an interim superintendent today after the resignation of current Superintendent Bob Herrera.

The board will meet remotely at 6 p.m. today

Board President Zach Rich said at the Dec. 15 meeting that Oakland Schools has recommended the Farmington board appoint an internal candidate to avoid disruption to the district. Oakland Schools is the intermediate district that represents all schools in the county.

The district did not release the names of any candidates under consideration.

Herrera had served the district for a little more than a year when he announced his resignation last November. He filed a complaint against board member Angie Smith alleging harassment. The board passed a resolution censuring Smith.

Herrera will continue as superintendent through the end of the semester, Jan. 22.

The board passed a resolution in November accepting Herrera’s resignation and providing severance pay of $105,000. The agreement makes his complaint against Smith moot.

The board agreed at the Dec. 15 meeting to devise a request for proposals from search firms that could be hired to assist in the recruitment of a permanent replacement for Herrera.

Smith had complained that Herrera did not do enough for Farmington African-American students and staff, according to several sources.

Smith had similar complaints about former Superintendent George Heitsch, who retired in June 2019 after five years leading the district.

Former Board President Pam Green and Vice President Terry Johnson announced their resignations Nov. 16, at the same meeting where Herrera’s resignation was announced. Green and Johnson cited the “unprofessional conduct” of two unnamed board members.