Traverse City Area Public Schools is in search of a new superintendent. Steve Cousins says he is retiring from public education to begin a consulting career at the end of the school year, effective July 1st.
Under Cousins’ leadership, the region’s largest school district launched an online academy and three early college programs, where high school students earn college credit through Northwestern Michigan College. Montessori has expanded and TCAPS launched the Front Street Writers Program in conjunction with the Traverse City National Writers Series.
All of that happened as the district also worked to eliminate a $5 million dollar structural deficit.
“It took us a couple years to get there totally, but we finally made it and we have a structurally balanced budget for the first time since probably about 2003,” Cousins says.
“I’ve felt very fortunate to be a part of this team,” he says. “This is a great district and there’s going to be wonderful things happening in the future.”
But Cousins says the district has some work to connect with local voters, after recent bond proposals for building upgrades failed at the polls.
His resignation also comes as the Secretary of the State is asking district officials to find a way to reimburse more than $25,000 dollars TCAPS spent on a 2012 campaign mailer. State officials say taxpayer funds should not have been used on a postcard that advocated a “yes” vote for the school’s millage.
The district’s teachers also remain without a contract.