A familiar face is taking the reins as superintendent of Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS).

Interim Superintendent Paul Soma was promoted to the district’s head post Monday night following a nearly year-long search process to find a replacement for retired superintendent Steve Cousins. Board members voted 6-1 to hire Soma over Associate Superintendent Sander Scott, the second remaining finalist for the position. The two internal candidates were the last to survive an exhaustive search led by the Michigan Leadership Institute after a third finalist, Ronald J. Webber of Novi Community School District, withdrew his application last week.

During hiring deliberations, board members stressed the difficulty of their decision, noting the district had “two highly qualified individuals who bring different strengths to the table,” according to Kelly Clark. “What Paul and Sander have both shown is they understand the complexities of an organization this large,” agreed Scott Hardy. “What we have with Paul is the experience of running (it).”

Erik Falconer, while calling Sander an “innovative educator…with deep ties to the northern Michigan community,” cited Soma’s financial expertise and collaborative managerial style as the reason he voted for the candidate. “He’s a leader who puts people in a position to reach their potential,” Falconer said. “By placing him at the top of our district, he not only makes us better at the top, he makes us better throughout the district.”

While Doris Ellery believed “both candidates have excellent credentials,” she cast the lone vote against Soma, saying Scott had “shown his willingness to get to the root of an issue and work with others to find the best solution.” However, after noting that “whatever the outcome…we need to come together as a district with our new superintendent,” Ellery made a second motion following the 6-1 vote to hire Soma to propose a resolution of “confidence and support” in the board’s hiring decision. That motion passed unanimously.

Both Scott and Soma tell The Ticker the interview process leading up to the decision was an “intense” and difficult experience. “It was exhaustive and exhausting,” acknowledges Scott. “But I trust that process. I trust the board of education made what it believes is the best decision.”

Scott – one of five candidates also in the running for superintendent at Bay City Public Schools – says he plans to move ahead with interviewing at that district Wednesday night. “I’m certainly going to keep pursuing that,” he says. “Right now, it’s the only other position I’ve applied for.” If not hired at Bay City, Scott says he “looks forward to continuing my work with Paul on behalf of TCAPS.”

Soma reciprocates Scott’s remarks, calling the associate superintendent a “strong leader” for TCAPS. “I would hope he would stay on in that position,” Soma says. For his part, the new superintendent says he’s “honored and humbled” by the board’s decision – and ready to get to work.

“I’ve laid out for the board what I think are the issues facing TCAPS over the next two to three years,” Soma says. Among his priorities: ensuring the district’s budget is “structurally balanced,” establishing “qualitative and quantative measures” for student achievement and continuing to challenge state policy for education funding.