(CROSWELL-LEXINGTON) — The Cros-Lex School Board Tuesday night had a full agenda. The board hired former Marlette Schools Principal, Michael Distelrath as interim middle school principal and Alan Broughton, who most recently served as Marlette’s interim Superintendent, as interim operations director-focusing on the district’s infrastructure needs. Broughton also served on an interim basis for Sandusky and Kingston Community Schools after retiring from the Superintendent position at Deckerville Schools in 2008. Former Cros-Lex Superintendent Charles Smith is serving that role on an interim basis until a replacement is found. Tuesday night the board hired the Michigan Association of School Boards to conduct the search for a new leader. The changes to the district’s current administration come after Superintendent Julie Western and Ann Wood, Director of Administration, Curriculum, and Operations, resigned last month amid controversy over the resignations of three principals, who lacked proper administrator certifications. The issue resulted in Cros-Lex being fined by the state. The resignations of High School Principal Ryan Cayce, Middle School Principal Mark Benson and Frostick Elementary Principal Colette Moody caused a community uproar. Further review into the matter by the state found that Mr. Benson was not out of compliance and the fine to the state was reduced by almost $71,000. Both Cayce and Benson have accepted new principal positions with other districts. Cayce is now in Ubly and Benson in the Saginaw area. Interim Superintendent Smith is working to get Colette Moody back on the job as Elementary Principal by the start of the school year next month.
