We need to maintain the excellence most of us moved here to experience.. The discussions and discussion groups that evolved truly modeled what we need to put into place in Forest Hills. I would stack my FHPS K-12 experience against any other in the state, and I want my kids to receive the same top-tier education, opportunities, and support that I received here in Forest Hills. Sadly, the biggest issue facing our School Board appears to be combatting the misinformation, disinformation, and political speaking points that have for too long now taken our focus and attention off kids. For the three open seats for 6-year terms, voters will choose three candidates from a list of 10 names: Suzanne Callahan (incumbent), Holly DeBoer, Kevinn Matthew Donovan, Jessica Johns, Doug Lee, C.J. 2. The current use of open comment periods at board meetings has not been productive nor sufficient. Forest Hills is the second largest school district in Kent County, with just over 9,300 students. Having so much attention focused on parents and education in top races has changed the face of local elections, as well. The group hosting the forum brought in the security in case the forum got out of hand. "There's a . Meet the Candidates Night is September 29, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. in the Nagel Middle School Cafetorium. Here is the complete list of MEA recommended candidates for local school board races (sorted alphabetically by school district): Adrian School Board: Christy Mesaros-Winckles. Forest Heis | 4-Year Candidate Forest Hills School Board T he last couple years have provided unprecedented challenges and our district needs people with leadership experience to help guide decisions for the betterment of our students, our parents, our staff and the community at large. Its enough for me to do what I can to fight for what I believe in, Moore said. One of the first things thenew board will oversee is the search for the district's new superintendent. Jeup has also said during a Michigan League of Women Voters forum last that she is willing to ban pornographic books, even though many conservative school board members are shifting away from using the word ban., If there is a problem in the schools, I will be the person that they can come to and discuss where things might be going awry, Jeup said. Sycamore Schools came in at No. I believe communication is the key to resolving many issues and not knowing who to go to with key questions is part of the challenge. . Hi, I'm Justin Sheldon, and I am running for Forest Hills Public Schools Board of Education. I would advocate with the School Board for improved responsiveness to community concerns and an improved process for communication with community members. I have collaborated with teams across the country and around the world. Local races have become significantly more politicized than in recent election cycles, said, executive director of the Michigan Association of School Boards Don Wotruba. We need to find other ways to have those conversations to make people feel like theyre heard., The candidates also answered two lightening-round questions, to which they could answer yes or no.. Cribbs: FHPS has dropped from being in the top 10 school districts in Michigan to approximately 30 (US News). We must build confidence in the community about our emergency response plans. Twelve candidates who are running for the Forest Hills Board of Education in the Nov. 8 election participated in a forum discussion where they answered questions about their candidacy. I think our Board and administration are headed in the right direction - for example, weve recently included different interest groups on the Equity Community Council and there was a very informative Safety and Security Forum held recently. We dont want people running on platforms related to political parties. The board is an elected body that meets monthly to conduct board business. As a clinical pharmacist, I believe I bring the objective, data-focused, and rational temperament that is required to help determine the direction of the district. Wednesdays debate was moderated by Aquinas College political science professor Molly Patterson. On the bottom row is Suzanne Callahan, C.J. Vonck: I am running for re-election to continue to support our relatively inexperienced board. I encourage our Superintendent to marshall the communications resources of the district to share both required information for transparency but additional good news stories of success in all aspects of our schools. Board meetings have become one-sided platforms for anger, not representative of a community that wants to work together. According to unofficial results, Stewart received 6,113 votes; Jonas received 6,089 votes; and Bibb received 5,955 votes in Hamilton County. Gretchen Whitmer on Nov. 8, has made these issues the centerpiece of her campaign. One district in the Tri-State elected an entire block of candidates on the platform. Moore, and the two incumbents running for re-election, Ogden and Mahoney, have joined efforts in their campaign as Team M.O.M, who are all endorsed by the Michigan Education Association. I think it will be a detriment in the long term, he added. In a 2018 survey by the National School Boards Association, 75% of responding members said they spent less than $1,000 on their school board campaigns. Voters elected incumbent Paul Balent and newcomers Sara Bitter and Lynne Stieger to Sycamore Schools' board of education Tuesday. Forest Hills Council. My background in teaching helps me to understand the unique challenges of educators. The least employee in the administration building costs taxpayers $42.05/hour. Nearly half of the races for Lake County school boards go uncontested this year, while others will be fierce fights with as many as 14 candidates running for six seats in one district. Make myself visible & approachable before & after board meetings to discuss concerns & comments 8). Three of the candidates on the ballot are incumbents who currently serve on the board: Suzanne Callahan, C.J. I have observed that there is an opportunity for improved responsiveness to community concerns and this is one of my priorities. Former deputy superintendent Tianay Amat has stepped in as interim superintendent in the meantime. This is something I do daily at work as a manager; being a good boss means bringing all relevant voices together as a team and supporting that team to find solutions. 4 in Ohio and No. More. Anderson Township recently elected its first-ever African American member of the Board of Trustees. The Forest Hills, New York Election Guide brings together local election information, polling places, poll locations, poll times from independent public sources like the League of Women Voters; Vote411.org and the Vote Smart project. As president, I served as the voice of the board and worked with the board to coordinate responses to community questions and concerns related to board business. Data Driven. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. Voters elected incumbents Eileen Washburn and Eric Schwetschenau and newcomer Jonathan Eilert to Loveland City school board Tuesday night, according to unofficial election results. Developing sessions that are open and honest so staff, teachers, students, parents and the community are free to voice their concerns and offer ideas so we may work better together as a whole unit. Whether it be teaching college students, helping children get access to preschool, managing our martial arts schools, or serving as a Forest Hills School Board Member, my priority is to bring out the best in every student. "Because it is very clearly showing a disproportionate impact on our Black students.". Nickel: Students are facing an unprecedented level of distraction. Total commitment to academics & extracurricular activities 4). According to unofficial election results, West received 7,431 votes; Haffey received 5,139 votes; and Philpot received 5,078 votes. On Oct. 6, the group posted on Facebook: Sorry to burst your bubble, groomers, but we the parents are taking back our schools! with a link to a video titled when groomer school boards get confronted.. It didnt. focus is on academics and achievement for our children, not social engineering and the social justice causes of those HCS personnel who work with them. It lists concerns about transparency, parental rights and the, threat of boys in girls sports and restrooms.. If theres a public comment period, its one-way communication, and pretty much everyones frustrated. The seven-member board has three, six-year seats and one partial term seat available Nov. 8. DeBoer: Placing healthy boundaries to ensure that school is place to focus on learning Rather then a place to feel pressure to adopt someone elses ideologies With a driving force..starting on day one! Here's a look into the region's most high-profile board of education races, and who's been elected to help lead those districts come January. GRAND RAPIDS, MI With 13 candidates vying for four open seats, the Forest Hills school board race is one of the most highly contested in the region on the November general election ballot. I publish a monthly memo as the President. Unofficial election results show Adi received 8,515 votes; Boddy received 8,363 votes; and Casper received 7,938 votes. Sara is a 20+ year Anderson Township (AT) resident and a proud Anderson High School (AHS) graduate. Associate Professor of Political Science at NKU Three of the candidates on the ballot are incumbents who currently serve on the board: Suzanne Callahan, C.J. Through continued robust communication, celebrating our successes, and more means of bringing our community together, we will all be able to work together to do what is best for our Forest Hills kids. Bodenschatz will join three incumbents in. Michaud (incumbent), Jackie Nickel, Malorie Ninemeier, Justin Sheldon, and Brian Spratke. The district has 41,879 registered voters spanning Ada, Cascade, Kentwood and Grand Rapids Township, according to the Kent County Clerks Office. !I . Once its tied to a political party, we just dont think thats a good model, said Wotruba. is one of the top-performing public school districts in the state, serving over 9,000 students, with test scores landing the district in the top, But it did convince Forest Hills resident. A range of emotions at Wednesday's Forest Hills School Board meeting carried over into the next day. Cribbs: My 10 Point Promise to the Forest Hills Community 1). Before the next election cycle, communities need healing, he said. I am the only candidate who has communicated with over 1000 community members to address questions and concerns. The recent challenges our district has seen have convinced me that I must do everything in my power to defend the integrity of education from forces that want to dismantle it. None of Lebanon's current board members up for reelection this year decided to run, leaving only newcomers on this year's ballot. Boston College has a 1-2 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer. This is an area in FHPS that needs updating and I am working with the administration to make information more available and engage the community more often in venues outside the normal School Board business meeting. Times have changed and the way to Board has operated for decades requires updating. Spratke: I plan to continue to attend events for my children, and throughout the district, making myself available for questions and concerns. As a father of four children, I feel a responsibility for their future. Indian Hill, which serves more than 2,000 students,is consistently ranked as one of the best districts in the state. . It is important that our schools are safe for students and staff, in a variety of ways. I have had positive experiences in schools, as a student, a professor, and an administrator, and I want the same for others. Time that previously might have been spent on learning an instrument, practicing a sport, studying or developing friendships may now be spent on texting, video games, or social media. There are a number of ways to present ideas and voice concerns to the Board, such as public comment during meetings or emailing Board members directly. We have incredible, talented, kid-loving people in our buildings and they need to continue to be highlighted. This year, there are eight candidates running for the four open seats. News and Commentary for Barrington Hills Residents Since 2009. . However, VanSolkema told 13. This would exclude personnel files and student files which should be confidential. Local races have become significantly more politicized than in recent election cycles, said executive director of the Michigan Association of School Boards Don Wotruba, especially as national political leaders have focused on divisive and partisan issues in schools. Scot VanSolkema, 43, of Grand Rapids, is one of nearly 30 candidates who have submitted applications for the vacant position on the Forest Hills School board. I will be attentive to emails and messages sent to me, and work with the concerns that are raised in our district. The Butler County district has been in the spotlight a couple of times this election season, when U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel was escorted out of a school board meeting for speaking out against mask mandates,and then again in an Enquirer investigation into two candidates' possible campaign finance law violations through the use of Venmo. Its unclear where the donations to this fund went. I would support and advocate for policies that eliminate harmful distractions. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. C.J. Michaud, and Mary Vonck. More:'I don't know where I'm at.' There were 11 candidates running for the Indian Hillboard this year, the most candidates of any other race in the region. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. Lee: The residents of Forest Hills have been extremely generous by passing all bond and millage proposals put before us. This can be accomplished by bringing true transparency to residences of Forest Hills. I would address this by implementing competitive wages, helping create a healthy work-life balance, ensuring a supportive administration, and create an environment where teachers know they are supported. ADA, MI Voters had a chance Wednesday to hear 12 candidates share how they would help run Forest Hills Public Schools if elected to the districts school board this November. Gretchen Whitmer on Nov. 8. The role of the BOE is to set strategy and provide resources so those closest to the students can do their best work. Ballotpedia covers public school districts in the 100 largest cities in America by population, as well as the 200 largest public school districts by student enrollment. This Media Release was added AFTER we were asked to participate and later they stated this was there from the beginning. Follow Michigan Advance on Facebook and Twitter. Submit Question. Any school wants to have a strong and healthy relationship with its community, must be transparent with that community. She told WCPO that whoever planted these are trying to use race and national origin to create division within the community. Believe it or not, the FHPS Board of Education email addresses are NOT public. We look forward to working with lawmakers to ensure every Michigan student gets the great public education they deserve! Thats an unusual level of security for a school board candidate forum but this year, running for the school board has been anything but typical. It got ugly., Christopher G Mahoney (incumbent), Whitehall, police officer, Melissa Moore, Whitehall, executive director at Read Muskegon, Douglas M. Ogden (incumbent), Whitehall, pastor. Find live election results on The Enquirer's website. Our board has frequently relied on my history and experience in addressing opportunities and concerns. But it did convince Forest Hills resident Becky Olson, who co-founded Support Forest Hills Public Schools, to fight back against the far-right talking points that have infiltrated the discussion. This community means so much to me. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Staff: The dwindling teacher pipeline and an aging teacher population coupled with staffing pressure felt across all industries is a challenge that has been looming and is intensifying in magnitude. . Voters will see two sections on the election ballot regarding the Forest Hills Board of Education. So my passion, energy, and determination to help FHPS continue to succeed is unmatched. I support in-person conversations to gauge if we are meeting our overall objectives. 4 in Ohio and No. We had a SUPER FANTASTIC experience raising our children in Forest Hills Public Schools. Loveland mainly serves families in Hamilton County, though it also includes some families in Clermont and Warren counties. Elections Office. Nickel: I believe in the power of education to change a life. After protesting at the school board, Cross is now running in partnership with Ziemer, the self-proclaimed "conservative candidates." I desire to put the focus on making our district a top tier district by working with fellow board members, administration, teachers, and parents to make sure students are receiving the best education possible. 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