Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette The Lake Linden-Hubbell School Board held a special meeting Tuesday with MASB consultant Tim Hall, via virtual meeting, on re-starting the district’s search for a superintendent.

LAKE LINDEN – The search for a superintendent for the Lake Linden – Hubbell School District must begin again after a candidate was hired, then quit before taking the position.

“It’s unfortunate that we’re all back talking about this again,” said Tim Hall, consultant with the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) via virtual meeting Tuesday, “after we went through a search and came up with a candidate.”

The MASB’s Executive Search Services has been assisting the school district with their ongoing search to fill the vacancy since May, when the School Board accepted the resignation of then-superintendent, Brad Codere, who stayed on until the end of the school year. Since then, retired LL-H Superintendent Craig Sundblad has filled the position.

During the special meeting of the School Board Tuesday, the question was brought up on whether to re-post the position now or wait until the new year.

Hall cautioned that this is a difficult time of the year to hope for a number of candidates. “The most likely times that we’ll get a decent number of applicants will be February and during the first semester break,” he said. “The cycle is most commonly done so that we start them on July 1, which aligns with your school district’s budget year. The other one is January 1, which is about mid-year.”

Hall said the position could be re-posted, and remain posted until it is filled, if the Board cannot persuade Sundblad to stay on temporarily.

Sundblad, who indicted he has other obligations, said he can no longer fill the position after Friday.

“Depending on whether or not you decide to move ahead with another search, would depend on the timing of the contract payment to the MASB,” Hall said, adding the MASB contract provides if there is a separation between the district and the superintendent within a year, after the person hired quits, the MASB would do the search again at no additional fee other than the consultant’s travel expenses.

Hall suggested the Board re-post the position at the beginning of 2026, with the idea that the new superintendent would assume the position on July 1, 2026. “In January or February we would want to get things rolling,” he said, “and probably run the vacancy for 12 weeks or so, then plan on interviewing around May.”

Board President Patricia Burton suggested requesting an interim superintendent from the Copper Country Intermediate School District. That suggestion was questioned by another trustee who said the district already had a qualified internal applicant. Lisa Ruhman, middle/high school assistant principal has applied for the position, but Burton said she feels it is important to keep her current position because she is needed full-time, and preferred not adding to her current duties.

Trustee Courtney Holzberger said she did not feel appealing to the ISD was a good idea for the school district, adding the district already had an internal offer to fill the position temporarily. “I just feel that asking the ISD to cover the district for a month and having things extended for another month of uncertainty, and another month of duties that have to be covered within the district by somebody who’s already got duties on them,” Holzberger said.

Holzberger went on to say she did not understand where the Board thinks it is going to find a stronger applicant than Ruhman.

“I’m very concerned about this,” Holzberger said. “Doctor Ruhman has emailed the Board and offered to serve as interim superintendent.”

Holzberger said the Board has heard from staff, as well as parents, that Ruhman has their support.

“This is an interim role until June 30th,” she said, “and we’re going to continue this uproar in the district by posting the position?”

Holzberger pointed out that as of Nov. 1, the district does not currently have a superintendent, while hoping the ISD will provide coverage until an interim applicant can be found.

Hall was asked for a procedure when a district does not have a superintendent. He said the district has to have one.

“Whether you officially appoint the ISD superintendent or you appoint an interim,” Hall said, “whether through direct appointment or a posting, you can’t even go 24 hours without having someone designated as your superintendent.”

Burton said her intent will be to appeal to the ISD for an interim, part-time superintendent. The motion was made, and supported, to post a position for an interim superintendent and a middle school and high school principal. The motion passed without comment.