Grandville — One of the first things Superintendent John Philo did after moving into his new office in the Grandville Public Schools administration building — the big room with all the windows and a Grandville G on the wall — was to text the office’s previous occupant, former Superintendent Roger Bearup.
“It was my first day sitting in the seat, and I sent (Roger) a picture of my computer screen and just asked him, ‘When does this stop feeling weird?’” Philo said with a smile. “Like, it just feels weird to fill the role of the person that helped mentor you and guide you into that space.
“It doesn’t mean I don’t feel prepared — I do feel very prepared for the role. And I also know there are plenty of things I’m going to learn as I go along the way. But it is a little surreal.”
For eight years, Philo’s office was right next door, as the assistant superintendent for human resources. But the change of scenery is more than a symbolic one, he said…