Ella White Principal Berriman’s Employment Still Hangs in Balance

The Alpena Board of Education held a meeting Monday night, and the main focus of the meeting was the ongoing situation regarding Ella White Elementary principal Tom Berriman.

Berriman has been on administrative leave since November, stemming from an incident where he allegedly picked up and carried a misbehaving student to the office. Parents were able to give public comment and many voiced their support for Berriman, even wearing shirts that said “Save Our Principal” and “Team Berriman”. No decision was made on Berriman’s employment status, and some parents are wondering why the process is taking so long.

“It’s disappointing for our children to have to wait for their principal to come back,” said parent of two Ella White Elementary students, Mary Sharako. “The fact that we don’t have answers, whether or not he’s coming back, it’s pretty disappointing.”

In the meantime, Berriman’s employment still hangs in the balance as he waits on the next steps of the process.