Whitehall has five candidates vying for three, six-year terms on the school board; Melissa Moore, Doug Ogden, Chris Mahoney, Tim Cross and Tom Ziemer. Kings serves more than 4,600 students, according to state data. 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. Like the other districts, there is an opposition group in Hartland: the Hartland Truth, which has shared support for Bugni, Gentile, Glabach and Hemeyer. Michigan has about 1,400 school board races in the Nov. 8 election, according to Wotruba. 62 in the country this year, A large donor to both of their campaigns was Zachary Haines, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Moore said she wanted to join Ogden and Mahoney after watching them handle the last couple years on the school board, which included a heated protest at a meeting in June 2021 over the high schools. My experience working at Dematic will benefit me in supporting the district. All of the "chalkboard sign candidates" like Cribbs who are running for FHPS school board are of the book burning crazy right variety. As polling began for the Meghalaya Assembly on Monday, the first five voters received mementoes in a bid to encourage robust turnout and voting in the early hours. Always be attentive to the safety of the district 5). 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The unfortunate reality is that the school board and issues relating to public education have been weaponized for political objectives by vocal members of our community. The Michigan Advance is a nonprofit outlet featuring hard-hitting reporting on politics and policy and the best progressive commentary in the state. If theres a public comment period, its one-way communication, and pretty much everyones frustrated. Holder, 29, had a 3.56 ERA in his first three years with the New York . Sycamore Schools came in at No. Information on other state, county and local primary races can be found at Vote411.org. As a graduate of Grand Valley State University, she has previous experience as a freelance researcher for USA Today and an intern with WOOD TV-8. As a manager in financial reporting, I have a unique skill set that I can bring to the Board during the budgeting process and to help others in our community understand where our funding is spent. Twelve of the 13 candidates running for four open seats on the Forest Hills Board of Education in the Nov. 8 election participated in the Wednesday, Sept. 21 forum. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Candidates Running for the Board of Education September 29, 2021 6:30 p.m. Nagel Middle School Come listen to Q&A from the candidates running for the Forest Hills School District Board of Education. A candidate for Forest Hills superintendent withdrew his name Thursday morning after the school board passed a resolution against critical race theory and anti-racism practices being implemented in the district. That makes for a total of 262 candidates running for local school. The event, which was hosted by political action committee Support FHPS, took place Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Roselle Park building in Ada. Donovan: Im Kevinn Donovan and Im your candidate for the FHPS Board of Education. 24 upsiz 4 mo. Aboufadel: It is hard to identify one challenge that is the greatest, so here are a few to consider. Forest Hills School Board approves CRT ban in schools. School board candidate Doug Lee was the only candidate who did not participate in the debate Wednesday. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Loveland mainly serves families in Hamilton County, though it also includes some families in Clermont and Warren counties. All four positioned themselves as anti-CRT, concerned about the finances of the school district, and suspicious of the current school board. Devenski was an All-Star reliever with the Houston Astros before a pair of surgeries cost him most of the past three seasons. I recognize the tenets of good board service, including governance and accountability, and I am equipped to support our inexperienced board in mastering these skills as we support the districts vision, its students, and its staff. 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. 22 in the country this year, voters passed the district's combined five-year operating levy and 30-year bond issue in May, U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel was escorted out of a school board meeting, Enquirer investigation into two candidates' possible campaign finance law violations, Sycamore Schools came in at No. Hi, I'm Justin Sheldon, and I am running for Forest Hills Public Schools Board of Education. The forum, held in the Roselle Park Building in Ada, attracted an audience of about 50 and was streamed online. Moore said she wants to help return Whitehall back to its small town charm and patch up the political divisiveness that has crept into the sleepy lakeshore community. Michaud, and Mary Vonck. The latest Arizona headlines, breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, and local community stories that matter to you. I will use my skills as a historian & educator to reach & render unbiased recommendations. DeBoer: Being transparent, building stronger community relations and checking in to see how we are doing. New area code coming to Cincinnati next month, CEO and president of Beech Acres Parenting Center, Tianay Amat has stepped in as interim superintendent, 'I don't know where I'm at.' Candidates for 4 year term. [2] The Forest Hills Council PTA/PTO is hosting the event and an outside moderator . Candidates also answered how they would help build consensus in the Forest Hills community. June 22, 2022, 11:14 PM. Gentile, who is endorsed by the MEA, echoed Moores concerns about the divisiveness impacting the community. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. Rachel Baker, School Board Candidate in Forest Hills. (Critical Race Theory), a 10 year decline of in-district student enrollment and school budget wastefulness. It is important that our schools are safe for students and staff, in a variety of ways. Contact Editor Susan Demas for questions: info@michiganadvance.com. Michaud. There should be more use of textbooks, and teachers interaction challenging students. MLive/The Grand Rapids Press partnered with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide candidate information for readers. 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.. Results Oriented. In April, Lee hosted a petition signing event at his coffee shop, which was decked with a Patriot Ice Cream sign that month, to gather signatures for three right-wing petitions: Unlock Michigan II, which would strip local health department powers during emergencies; Secure MI Vote, which restricts voting rights; and the Let MI Kids Learn school voucher initiative. 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. 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. The parent group tried to keep things nonpartisan at the event and stayed away from getting into hot-button issues, instead focusing on questions about how each candidate would fulfill the role of a school board member. Johns: As a school board member one of the roles I would play is helping parents and students to understand who they can connect with in order to get their questions answered. Spratke: The biggest challenge I see facing our district right now is that we are losing focus on what the schools need to provide. Lakota is the second-largest school district in the region with nearly 16,000 students, according to the most recently released state data. A working definition of CRT can be found in an article emailed to . . 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. On the bottom row is Suzanne Callahan, C.J. To bridge the legacy and tradition that has made Forest Hills successful since its founding in 1956 with the dynamic and exciting future that lies ahead for K12 public education is energizing. Whitehall has five candidates vying for three, six-year terms on the school board; Melissa Moore, Doug Ogden, Chris Mahoney, Tim Cross and Tom Ziemer. We are parents of diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, religious and political ideologies. 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. I believe that the success of our school moving forward will take a collaborative mindset in order to continue to pursue excellence in education. 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. Voters elected newcomers Isaac Adi andDarbi Boddy and incumbent Kelley Casper to the Lakota Local Schools' board of education Tuesday evening. News and Commentary for Barrington Hills Residents Since 2009. . A national challenge that is also impacting FHPS is surrounding what we are doing to support and retain our teachers. Council races and judicial elections: A candidate rundown to help you at the polls Nov. 2 in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. It could also be beneficial to have a social media presence to showcase events and programs within our district as a part of our open communication effort. Unofficial election results show Adi received 8,515 votes; Boddy received 8,363 votes; and Casper received 7,938 votes. Lastly, I want to create an inclusive environment for those parents and community members that want to be involved in our district. It is important: Employers, students, staff, families demand rigorous and relevant learning experiences to build meaningful and productive lives. FHPS Board of Education Candidate Town Hall. Looking at the wage imbalance; its no wonder why. Submit Question. On Oct. 16, Cross joined Dixon, GOP attorney general nominee Matt DePerno, GOP U.S. House nominee John Gibbs and Ryan Kelley, a former GOP gubernatorial candidate and accused insurrectionist at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, at a church in Muskegon for a. , where they discussed school boards/curriculum/CRT. Gibbs is facing Democrat Hillary Scholten in the 3rd Congressional District and DePerno is trying to oust Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel. It didnt. Forest Preserves of Cook County February 2023 Newsletter. I want to make sure the on-going dialogue between the Board and the community is productive. It is exciting: I love school! The first question was about whether Forest Hills students are on track for postsecondary readiness, and how that should be measured. Voters elected incumbent Deb Cowan and newcomers Janelle Groff and John Skerl to Kings Local Schools' board of education Tuesday, according to unofficial election results. The event was hosted by Support FHPS, a parent-based political action committee that launched in 2021 in response to a recall effort against five members of the Forest Hills Board of Education. Lee did not respond to a request for comment. Another 49 school board candidates are on the ballot in Butler County, 47 in Warren County and 47 in Clermont County. This community means so much to me. Vladimir Kogan, an associate professor of global politics at Ohio State University, said public interest in school boards ebbs and flows. It will also be live-streamed on FHSD YouTube channel. Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 4 in Ohio and No. What is the long term range of students when they graduate from Forest Hills?. One has to do with physical safety. GOP gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon, whos facing Democratic Gov. At a personal level, I am committed to always being available for service which is why the phone number I publicly list is my personal cell phone. This would exclude personnel files and student files which should be confidential. This is an action plan - not a binder on a shelf. Three of the candidates on the ballot are incumbents who currently serve on the board: Suzanne Callahan, C.J. Jeup, who claims to be a former educator, pushed back on Facebook, sharing her Massachusetts teaching certification from 1993. During most school board election seasons, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, candidates campaigned on specific issues within the district: the budget, transportation, test scores and more, Kogan noted that national and local interest in local school boards increased after former President Barack Obama adopted the Common Core st. ate standards for K-12 curriculum and when former President Donald Trump denounced the 1619 Project on the history of racism in the U.S. here are 10 candidates running for three open positions for a six-year term and three candidates running for one special election to fill a two-year term ending in 2024. Unofficial election results show Bitter with 5,135 votes; Balent with 4,781 votes; and Stieger with 4,019 votes. Make a conscious effort to follow MLS Code 380.10 stating: it is a natural & fundamental right of legal guardians to determine & direct the care, teaching, & education of their children to develop their intellectual capabilities & vocation skills in a safe & positive environment. Ninemeier: I believe the Boards current challenge is a perceived lack of communication within our community. 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. The Forest Hills Board of Education works collaboratively with the superintendent in crafting strategies to execute the district's mission and vision. We look forward to working with lawmakers to ensure every Michigan student gets the great public education they deserve! I will be attentive to emails and messages sent to me, and work with the concerns that are raised in our district. (530) 886-5650. Nine candidates, all cross-filed on the Democratic and Republican tickets, are seeking four at-large positions on the Greater Johnstown School Board. In the Nov. 8 election, voters will see two sections on. Cross, a Whitehall parent and the senior pastor at Living Word Michigan, was one of the leaders opposing the GSA club, saying the material sent to students from the club was pornographic. Cross also argued last June that the GSA club receives special attention from the district compared to the religious club he leads, the Men and Ladies of Honor. Having served on the board throughout the creation of virtually every differentiated learning opportunity in Forest Hills, I am energized to support our staff in delivering rich K-12 experiences to our students that prepare them to live healthy, productive lives. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. Bowers came in after Craig with 18,490 votes, and candidate Gary Favors came in last with 12,040 votes. Residents of the Forest Hills School District lined up out the door last month for the first FHPS school board candidate forum, waiting to get past security and have their state I.D. Utilizing the Parent Advisory Council and Student Advisory Council or a town hall session similar to GRPS are additional tools. One for the three open seats for 6-year terms, in which 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. Former superintendent Laura Mitchell resigned last spring to take over as CEO and president of Beech Acres Parenting Center. 2023 www.cincinnati.com. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. There is a potential leadership opportunity for qualified candidates. Katie Stewart, Sara Jonas, Bob Bibb, and Linda Marie Hausfeld made up the group, all with no prior political experience. The district also has facedbacklash from alumni since changing the Anderson High Schoolmascot last summer from the Redskins to the Raptors. The other candidates include two incumbents, Mary Vonck and Suzanne Callahan, the current school board president; Jessica Johns; Jackie Nickel; Justin Sheldon; and Brian Spratke. Forest Hills Local School District residents voted out incumbentboard president Forest Heis Tuesday evening, according to unofficial election results. As a father of four children, I feel a responsibility for their future. Malorie Ninemeier. Serving on the school board means that I will work together with administration, teachers and parents to provide support to all of our students - so that they can continue to achieve their individual potential. http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-380-10. Michaud noted, 21% of Forest Hills graduates dont complete their freshman year of college. Doug Lee, Cascade Township., small business owner, Holly DeBoer, Grand Rapids, former daycare manager, Ed Aboufadel, Ada, Grand Valley State University mathematics professor, Mary Vonck (incumbent), Grand Rapids, engineer, Suzanne Callahan (incumbent), Grand Rapids, businesswoman, Jessica Johns, Grand Rapids, co-founder and director of a local nonprofit, Jackie Nickel, Grand Rapids, martial arts school owner, Justin Sheldon, Grand Rapids, Professor at Grand Valley State University, Brian Spratke, Grand Rapids, software engineer. Total commitment to academics & extracurricular activities 4). 10 candidates running to fill three seats. Justin Sheldon for Forest Hills School Board Education Focused. Hartland also has a slate of candidates running together. Parents and the public heard from twelve of the thirteen candidates for the Forest Hills Public Schools Board on Wednesday. County Clerk-Recorder-Registrar of Voters. Meet 283, the new 513. The Forest Hills community has prioritized education in our district shown by our unwavering monetary support. Unofficial results show Meade received 2,792 votes and Bothast received 2,545 votes. DeBoer: I am running to put kids first, give parents their voices back, support teachers and refocus on academic excellence. Updates at Board meetings and District communications, such as emails, the website, newsletter and other vehicles, should be used to update parents and our community. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Incumbent Michael Pearl received 7,572 votes, according to unofficial results. I will work with the board encouraging teachers to promote an inclusive and diverse learning experience for all students challenging students to perform to the best of their ability and not lower academic standards. Posts Comments Reminder: Barrington 220 School Board Candidates' Forum is Wednesday, March 1. I have heard from parents who believe information isnt always presented timely. Spratke: I plan to continue to attend events for my children, and throughout the district, making myself available for questions and concerns. 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! This can be accomplished by bringing true transparency to residences of Forest Hills. is a militia movement based on the idea of a small number of dedicated patriots protecting Americans from government tyranny. That work will never be done because teachers ARE students and will always want to improve. Athletic League Permits Now Available, Forest Preserve Foundation 2022 in Review; Upcoming Events, and; Volunteer . It is a path to educated and engaged citizenship. 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.. Duties of the board include: Adopt District bylaws and policy Employ and evaluate a superintendent We must promote how parents and community members can be involved in their individual schools, PTOs, booster groups, etc as there does seem to be a lack of across-the-board participation. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. For months, dozens of community members packed into monthly school board meetings to spend hours of public comment voicing their concerns. I would bring this collaborative view to the board and make sure to listen to all points of view while working towards solutions. All community members are invited to learn more about the candidates running for the Forest Hills School Board. Data Driven. Current term: 2022-23 (Originally elected in Nov. 2021) Sara Jonas serves as the Board's Vice President, Chairperson for the Human Resources Committee and Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC) Representative. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The affluent community north of Detroit is a former Republican stronghold. candidates have had to spend more than expected to keep up with the rallies, the large street signs, the mailers and the text messages sent from Cross and Ziemer. . The four candidates, Katie Stewart, Sara Jonas, Bob Bibb, and. Sheldon: Improved communication and transparency are big opportunities for FHPS. On Wednesday, Martha Atwater, or. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. There are 13 candidates seeking election to four open seats on the Forest Hills Public Schools Board of Education in the Nov. 8, 2022 election. Callahan: Public schools = students and teachers. I want to be a school board member because I want to support Forest Hills in preparing its students for success. Gretchen Whitmer on Nov. 8, has made these issues the centerpiece of her campaign. I think people tiptoed around for a longtime not wanting to somehow end relationships with people they may have known since high school, Moore said. Alongside this, there are myriad of factors from social pressures to economic realities facing a family or uncertainty about what they want to be when they grow up and the purpose of school. Being responsive and accountable to our community as the board president during the pandemic was an incredibly valuable experience and one I will continue to replicate. The ideal candidate would be a native Spanish speaker; candidates who have achieved a minimum of ACTFL Advanced Low language proficiency will be given . For Forest Hills School Board: Rachel Baker Wendy Strickler Biederman Andrea Granieri For Sycamore School Board: Sara Bitter For Finneytown School Board: Jelicia McMullen Lindsay Lee This is an incredible slate of candidates. 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. 'Untrue and absurd' political mailer sent to Forest Hills Schools parents Justin Sheldon is the only publicly LGBTQ+ candidate for Forest Hills School Board. I want to give back to Forest Hills schools and the community. I am the only candidate who has communicated with over 1000 community members to address questions and concerns. About Me Critical Race Theory is a framework for understanding or analyzing society. And most of all, I will ask myself on every decision if I feel that my actions, comments, and decisions are what I think is best for all the students of our district. Jeup said in the affidavit that she was not allowed reentry into the TCF Center where she was serving as a poll challenger. Be respectful to all in the district & their ideas 3). Please click on each candidate's name below to view his profile. The Forest Hills School Board passed new legislation that will ban "anti-racism training and teaching" at a meeting Wednesday night. The former Rich East High School in Park Forest, once hailed by US News & World Report as "One of America's Best Schools," sits unused on its 56-acre site fronting Sauk Trail. The forum began with short introductions of the 12 candidates, followed one-minute responses to four questions from Patterson. In every conversation, we moved forward together; we need to continue to implement such activities to continue to move forward together as we do whats best for all kids in Forest Hills. One of the first things thenew board will oversee is the search for the district's new superintendent. I have collaborated with teams across the country and around the world. 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). 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. Washburn received 1,029 votes behind candidate Al Juram. But the dozens of raucous school board protests that have happened over the last few years in Michigan have given some reason to be cautious. There were six candidates running for two open seats on the Lebanon school board. The first question was about whether LGBTQ students and educators should be able to identify as such at school. Forest Hills School Board: Suzanne Callahan. Unlike any other time in my 18 years of service, our board could be extremely inexperienced in January, with a potential total tenure of eight years. Pittsburgh City Paper October 20, 2021. In Warren County, Schwetschenau received 45 votes; Eilert received 33 votes; Elizabeth Mason received 32 votes; and Washburn received 30 votes. Wednesdays debate was moderated by Aquinas College political science professor Molly Patterson. Theyve expanded the attack to educators who talk about sexuality and gender identity in their classrooms or provide LGBTQ+ resources to students. Pittsburgh City Paper compiled this voters' guide to the 2021 election to help you get the information you need to cast your ballot. Three newcomers Bart West, Rich Haffey and Mischelle Philpot were elected to Oak Hills' school board Tuesday evening. Elections Office. One student's first-day-of-school Metro journey. candidate Ryan Kelley turns school board meeting, Right-wing groups focused on winning local school boards, After years of misogyny, racism and threats in Lansing,. The Chalkboard Four which includes Doug Lee, Robert Cribbs, Kevinn Donovan and Holly DeBoer, have the support of Forest Hills for JUST Education and have been endorsed by far-right parental rights group Moms for Liberty and the two Republican State Board of Education members, Tom McMillin and Nikki Snyder. The Forest Hills race is among several highly contested school board races in Kent County this November. Voters elected Roy MacCutcheon and Jennifer Daulton to the Lebanon City School board on Tuesday, according to unofficial election results.