Board to Consider Non-Renewal of Berriman’s Contract

After the Alpena school board meeting ran for over nine hours into the early hours of Tuesday morning, the school board voted to consider non-renewal of Ella White Elementary School principal Tom Berriman’s contract. The board was initially set to consider superintendent David Rabbideau’s recommendation of termination of Berriman’s employment, but decided they will revisit the decision and consider non-renewal of Berriman’s contract at next month’s school board meeting on March 27.

“It’s been hard on our family,” said Holly Berriman, Tom Berriman’s wife. “We don’t understand why. We’re good people, we have amazing kids who are great kids, and we’re liked by the community. I mean, it’s very obvious, and here we are in this situation, and we don’t truly understand why.”

Berriman remains on paid administrative leave away from Ella White Elementary.