The Novi Community School District Board of Education met Thursday night to complete the Superintendent search process. The Board voted unanimously to offer the position to Benjamin Mainka.

The Board will begin contract negotiations with Mr. Mainka immediately, with formal contract approval at the next board meeting on July 14th.

“I am just so honored, and a little choked up,” Mainka said during a congratulatory call from Board of Education President Danielle Ruskin from the Board table. “Just appreciative for the opportunity. I truly believe that Novi is the best school district in Michigan and beyond and I’m just so honored to be a part of the community, a part of the team, and just can’t wait to get started. So thank you all for your confidence in me.”

He has served as the Superintendent of Swartz Creek Community Schools since 2016.

Before joining Swartz Creek, he was the Associate Director of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals from June 2015 to December 2016.

He was the principal at Hartland High School from 2012-2015.

He spent four years working for Fowlerville Community Schools, as the Junior High Principal from 2010-2012 and the High School Assistant Principal from 2008-2010. He was a Middle School teacher in the South Lyon Community Schools from 2003-2008.

"The Board is excited to begin our work alongside Mr. Mainka in the coming weeks," said President Ruskin. "I would personally like to thank the entire Board, the community stakeholders, Michigan Leadership Institute and to the Superintendent candidates who engaged in our diligent and thorough search.

"Mr. Mainka has demonstrated that he is ready to lead Novi now and into the future."