Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
JIM BOBULA was hired as superintendent and principal for the 2013-2014 school year in Ontonagon at the Ontonagon Area Board of Education meeting Monday night. Bobula, a longtime Ontonagon teacher, graduated from the school and has also served as principal and athletic director in the last year.
ONTONAGON — The Ontonagon Area Board of Education Monday hired a new superintendent- principal combination for the 2013-2014 school year.
The board approved a one-year contract with Jim Bobula. Bobula graduated from the Ontonagon school system and has been a longtime teacher, and in the past year, principal and athletic director.
The hiring of Bobula came following a letter of resignation of five-year superintendent Gray Webber. Webber spent 27 years as a teacher in the system and was hired in 2008. Along with the letter of resignation, the board approved a three-year consulting agreement.
Board president Dean Juntunen said that at the March meeting the board agreed not to renew the superintendent’s contract and restructure the administration. “We did not give Webber written notice of this intent,” Juntunen said, noting that the superintendent has a “legal right to be superintendent next year.” Juntunen said that the board has worked in conjunction with Webber to have a three-year consulting contract with the one-year wage distributed over three years.
Juntunen said Webber would be paid $16,400 the first year and $18,200 for the next two years.
Alexandra Jaris, in the audience, told Webber that he should have backed out graciously. “If you care so much for students, how can you do this on a technicality?,” she added.
Webber reminded her that three years ago he gave up $13,000 of his salary in an effort to try and lead concessions from others. He added he would be available for up to 250 hours of consultation, the same as if his contract had been renewed. “I am automatically superintendent next year if I did not resign,” he said. The board unanimously approved the resignation and consulting contract with Webber.
The board approved a one-year contract with Linda Karttunen to be business services manager and transportation and food service director for the 2013-14 school year and approved a one-year contract for Kristie Ollila to be business services assistant, which will include assistant transportation director and wed site manager duties for the 2013-14 school year.
