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Martha Essenmacher, the district's interim superintendent since January will be offered the permanent position at the regular board on June 20.

The seven-member school board held a workshop Monday evening to discuss the four candidates that had been interviewed for superintendent.

Five of the seven board members favored offering a contract to Essenmacher, the 1973 Sandusky High School graduate who has worked for the district since 1999.

"I think we have our best candidate already," said board member Tim Thomson

"In the short time she's been here (in the interim position), she's done a good job," agreed board member Pam Wadsworth.

Board President Brian Mellstead said it would be a "waste of...time" to bring another candidate back for a second interview.

"There's nothing he can say that will erase what Martha's done" in the last five months, Mellstead stated.

His comment was an apparent reference to Thomas Palmer, principal of Fremont High School. Board members Russell Schumacher and Brad Kohn suggested having a second interview with Palmer.

Members Richard Gerstenberger and Denise Ball indicated support for Essenmacher, although Ball said she would not oppose another interview with Palmer.

Essenmacher served as elementary principal for four years, until she traded jobs with then superintendent Tim Lentz on Jan. 1.

She became interim superintendent, while

Lentz, who planned to retire in March, moved to the elementary school.

The board also interviewed John Raab, interim superintendent of Dundee Schools, and Michael Mrozinski, high school principal at Capac, for the superintendent's job.

"I don't see anybody better than what we have," said Thomson after the workshop.

"I'm really pleased the board is entrusting me with the responsibility and I look forward to continuing to serve the district," said Essenmacher, a professional educator for 30 years.

"Sandusky as well as the rest of Michigan's school districts have challenges ahead of them and it's going to take all of us working together - administrators, teachers, community - to weather the storm we're having."