Hancock Schools Appoint Klein to School Board, and Salani as Interim Superintendent, President Kero Resigns Suddenly

This summer Hancock Public Schools have had a shakeup in leadership. Though following last night’s special meeting,  the district should see stability going forward.

In June then Superintendent Steve Patchin tendered resignation from his position. An agreement to stay on with Hancock could not be reached in a follow up meeting between then Board President Dale Kero, Vice President Catherine Jordan and Patchin. Separately board member Randy Heinonen tendered his resignation around the same time. Later that month the board approved both resignations, with Patchin’s date effective September 30th.

School Board Vice President Catherine Jordan presided over the special meeting, that included a large crowd of concerned parents, alumni and community members. Jordan will move into the role of president following the resignation of Board President Dale Kero. Jordan told those attending that the resignation letter was submitted earlier in the afternoon on Tuesday. With Kero citing a desire to spend more time with his family as his reasoning behind the sudden leaving. Hancock Public Schools then accepted Kero’s resignation from the board. Hancock Schools will seek applicants to fill Kero’s vacancy, with intent to fill the position during a special meeting sometime next week. After the district has appointed a final member to the board, the trustees will choose a vice president.

Filling in the role left by Heinonen’s departure will be Houghton County Sheriff’s, Detective Lieutenant Charlie Klein. He is an alumni of Hancock Public Schools, and his children are enrolled in the district. Klein was the recipient of the 2022 Project of the Year SparkPlug Award, from the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, for his work to help implement the Project Lifesaver program with his department and others in the western Upper Peninsula. His term will end at the start of January 2025. If he desires to continue a role with the school board Klein will need to run for a seat in November 2024.

Hancock Public Schools will post to fill the superintendent position left by the outgoing Steve Patchin. In the meantime while the board seeks a replacement, High School Principal Chris Salani will take over as the Interim Superintendent. Salani has worked closely with Patchin during his tenure as High School Principal, and gladly accepted the role from the board.

Last the school board approved a finance resolution and purchase agreement to acquire McAfee Field from O’Keefe LLC. McAfee Field was previously under a lien with the Department of Education. O’Keefe LLC was able to negotiate the ability to sell select university properties to help the Department of Education recoup some of the debt owed by Finlandia University.