WATERFORD, Mich. (WXYZ) — After 18 years with Waterford Schools, superintendent Dr. Keith Wunderlich didn't hold back Thursday when telling those at a School Board meeting why he's leaving.
"I'm leaving because of the Board of Education," he said.
Dr. Wunderlich, who announced in February he'd be stepping down this summer, claimed Thursday that the Board disrespected, lied about, and plotted against him, among other things.
“I’m ending year number 41 of my career in education. And for 38 1/2 years it was a pretty good career. 2 1/2 years ago, the Board got cancer and the cancer has spread," he said.
He claimed the School Board's focus is not on staff and students, but rather on enforcing its own agenda and picking fights with those who disagree.
“There seems to be some sort of sport, trying to make administration look bad," he said.
We spoke with John Paul Torres, Vice President of the Waterford School Board, who agreed with Wunderlich about one thing.
"I would agree with him that 2 1/2 years ago the Board got cancer, but I would flip it and say it actually is when he started to actively work against the Board," Torres told 7 Action News.
Torres also feels Wunderlich intentionally politicized the meeting.
"It just so happens yesterday evening is the one night a year when we approve the contracts of our administrators here in this district. So it’s not a coincidence that he used that opportunity when he had the people what work directly with him, in that room," he said.
We reached out to Wunderlich for a response, and to follow-up to Thursday's comments. He released the following statement:
"Waterford School District is a great place to learn. We have wonderful staff and a wide array of programs. I wish the entire Waterford community success as I move to the next chapter of my career."
Come July 1, Scott Lindberg will replace Wunderlich as superintendent in Waterford. Lindberg is currently the deputy superintendent at Huron Valley.
