GOISD head Mayle to retire, Tulppo tapped as replacement

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Ewen — The board of education for the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District voted Wednesday to promote Alan Tulppo to replace Bruce Mayle as GOISD superintendent once he retires.

Mayle has served in the GOISD since 1999, first as the career and technical education director and assistant superintendent before becoming superintendent in 2005. He is retiring effective June 30.

“I am thankful for the opportunity that has been given to me to serve the GOISD and surrounding communities. I am blessed, to have had the wonderful and talented staff here at GOISD to work with during my tenure,” Mayle said in the district’s announcement.

He credited his wife, Karen, for her support during his tenure and said he was looking forward to his retirement.

“I am looking forward to spending time with my family and grandchildren in retirement. I hope to have more time to hunt, fish and trap once retired,” he said.

He also praised Tulppo.

“I am confident that the incoming leadership of Alan Tulppo will continue to lead the organization to the next higher level of serving our local districts and communities,” Mayle said. “I wish him and the GOISD family the very best.”

“Here at the ISD, we’re kind of excited about the transition,” GOISD board president Russell Bailey told the Daily Globe, adding it was a well-earned retirement for Mayle.

“That leaves a pretty big gap in our personnel.”

Although he said Mayle’s departure leaves big shoes to fill, Bailey is confident Tulppo is up to the task.

He praised the job Tulppo has been doing since he became the ISD’s director of general education in July 2018.

“He’s been working in all the districts in the two counties and doing a real good job for us,” Bailey said, saying the board thought the promotion was the best fit for the area.

It’s also a pick that’s been popular with the superintendents of the six local districts that make up the GOISD.

“Every one of them wrote a letter of support for Alan, that they enjoyed working with him and encouraged the board to hire him as a replacement,” Bailey said.

Tulppo has deep ties to the area.

“(He’s a) local Ewen boy, graduated from Ewen-Trout Creek … came back as superintendent of the Ewen-Trout Creek School,” Bailey said.

Tulppo served as the K-12 principal and superintendent for E-TC from 2015-18, according to the district’s announcement. Prior to that, he worked in the Northland Pines School District in Eagle River, Wis.

“Bruce Mayle has placed the GOISD in a position where it is connected throughout the state and is known for doing quality work on behalf of students,” Tulppo said. “We have excellent, dedicated staff and I am humbled and honored by the board’s offer to serve as the leader of this organization.”

The district still needs to finalize the contract with Tulppo, according to Bailey, but he doesn’t foresee serious issues with the rest of the process. Tulppo will be sharing his transition plan for the first year, according to the announcement, over the course of the month of April.

Once the contract process is finalized, Bailey said the district will also begin looking for a new director of general education.

Tulppo is scheduled to officially assume his duties as superintendent on July 1.