District ready to move forward as Byrne tenders resignation

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

The superintendency of Daniel J. Byrne officially came to an end December 9 when a letter of resignation was given to Rogers City Area Schools Board of Education president Mike Marx, who received a copy the next day.

Byrne, who faces two felony charges in 53rd Circuit Court next month, cited a lack of financial means to support his family for stepping down. The handwritten letter states:

?Dear Mike,

Due to the lack of income, I can no longer financially support my family. Therefore, I hereby submit my resignation as superintendent/elementary principal.

Sincerely, Daniel J. Byrne.?

MARX BRIEFLY commented at the December 8 regular school board meeting that a letter could be submitted, and that a special meeting could be scheduled before Christmas break. He has decided to wait until the January 12 meeting to discuss the situation further.

?We are going to be able to move on,? said Marx, of receiving the resignation. ?With this letter we can begin to look at the options of replacing the superintendent.?

All contacts regarding the situation with Byrne have been through the district?s attorneys in Lansing.

Byrne is accused of downloading illegal material and accessing inappropriate Web sites on school-owned computers. He was placed on administrative leave without pay in early November.

Former business manager Don Schaedig was hired to handle the duties of the superintendent?s office.

The Rogers City Police Department was contacted to investigate the matter November 3. Byrne was arrested the next day and arraigned November 10. He is out on 10 percent of a $10,000 bond but is not allowed on school property or to have contact with children under the age of 17.

Byrne?s next appearance in court will be the day of the next board meeting. BYRNE

?S RESIGNATION brings an end to what many had thought would be a long career in Rogers City.

From the start, Byrne was pleased with the opportunity. He moved from Rawlings, Wyoming where he worked in a district of about 1,800 students and took over in Rogers City July 2, 2007.

The board was pleased with Byrne?s progress and extended his contract for another year on June 9, 2008 through the year 2011.

In the weeks before the charges were levied, it was announced that a new contract was reached with the teachers? union. Byrne saved the school district money by serving as chief negotiator.

?We have to move forward, like it or not, we have to move forward,? said Marx. ?I guess it is a form of closure, but we now can do what we need to do. Everybody in the district has been very professional throughout this whole process, and I?m grateful for that.? Byrne served as superintendent for 16 months.

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