2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 10 candidates running to fill three seats. Vonck: Regular, accessible communication is key. 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. How to make school rigorous and relevant? Ive been a resident in Ada for nearly eight years and am the proud father of four amazing children. Forest Hills is the ninth-largest district in Southwest Ohio with just less than 7,000 students, according to the most recent state data. Data Driven. 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. The Forest Hills Council PTA/PTO is hosting the event and an outside moderator . I will continue to push for additional forums outside the monthly Board business meetings for community members to learn, ask questions and have them answered, and gain clarity on what is happening in their kids classrooms. I bring to the FHSD board a breadth of experience and connections regarding how school districts are operating and types of support needed. RELATED: Polarizing issues like COVID policies, critical race theory continue to divide Forest Hills parents. FHPS Board of Education Candidate Town Hall. 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. Parents, students and even just Anderson Township residents all seemingly want one thing, for . Allison R. Donahue is a former Michigan Advance reporter who covered education, women's issues and LGBTQ issues. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. One of the first things thenew board will oversee is the search for the district's new superintendent. 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. Three other school board members with terms expiring this year are seeking reelection: Suzanne Callahan, C.J. . November 15, 2022. It didnt. 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 will continue to push for respectful conversation and information transparency so we can rally around what we all agree on: helping our kids be successful. Michaud noted, 21% of Forest Hills graduates dont complete their freshman year of college. As a father of four children, I feel a responsibility for their future. 319 likes. Everyone should have a voice, especially the parents. It saddens me to see school board races being done that way. After protesting at the school board, Cross is now running in partnership with Ziemer, the self-proclaimed conservative candidates.. 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. The pandemic continues, and school boards need to continually monitor the risks. We all know each other. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. chool board races in the Nov. 8 election, according to Wotruba. I want to make sure the on-going dialogue between the Board and the community is productive. Total commitment to academics & extracurricular activities 4). 'Untrue and absurd' political mailer sent to Forest Hills Schools parents Justin Sheldon is the only publicly LGBTQ+ candidate for Forest Hills School Board. Covid-19 was disruptive to students and despite the heroic efforts of teachers and staff, student learning was detrimentally affected. Believe it or not, the FHPS Board of Education email addresses are NOT public. Lausten's two daughters, Khloe and Violet, are students at Wilson Elementary. Malorie Ninemeier. Looking at the wage imbalance; its no wonder why. The four candidates, Katie Stewart, Sara Jonas, Bob Bibb, and Linda Marie Hausfeld, ran together as "Four For Forest Hills" on a platform against critical race theory being taught in schools. Board of County Commission District 2; Board of County Commission District 4; County Court Judge; Circuit Judge, Fifth Circuit; School Board District 1; School Board District 3; School Board District 5; Florida House of Representatives 23; . Bowers came in after Craig with 18,490 votes, and candidate Gary Favors came in last with 12,040 votes. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. We are talking to as many Cincinnati Candidates as possible for this upcoming November 2nd, 2021 election! Spratke: I plan to continue to attend events for my children, and throughout the district, making myself available for questions and concerns. 22 in the country this year by Niche.com. Johns: I am a mother of three boys who have all grown up attending Forest Hills Schools. Its hard in a small town. The District 220 PTO Presidents' Council extends an invitation to the Barrington 220 community of voters to attend its School Board Candidates' Forum on Wednesday, March 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Barrington Area Library *.. I haven't lived in the Forest Hills School Six newcomers were on the Oak Hills school board ballot for three open seats. Shortly after he bought the paper in 2020, the editorial section published many columns against critical race theory. Contact Editor Susan Demas for questions: info@michiganadvance.com. 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. 2023 www.cincinnati.com. Gretchen Whitmer on Nov. 8. Unofficial results show Meade received 2,792 votes and Bothast received 2,545 votes. What strategies would you use to remain responsive and accountable to the public between elections? I have observed that there is an opportunity for improved responsiveness to community concerns and this is one of my priorities. "I think the real message in school should be kindness and being nice to everyone," said Katie Stewart, Forest Hills school board candidate. I was a trustee on the board that selected our superintendent in 2006, and I have participated in the interview process of numerous administrators, valuable experiences for our board. Cloud Times in St. It was ranked as No. Publishing of individual board member emails is a start. I wish it was the looming teacher crisis, so we could focus our entire energy on expanding FHPS reputation as a destination district where top-tier educators want to come and spend their career. Three newcomers Bart West, Rich Haffey and Mischelle Philpot were elected to Oak Hills' school board Tuesday evening. On April 4th, 2023, the citizens of Germantown Hills School District will have the opportunity to elect four new members to the District's Board of Education. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. The race for the Kings' boardhad eight candidates, tied with Springboro Schools for the most school board candidates in Warren County. 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. Boston College has a 1-2 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer. Michaud, and Mary Vonck. MADISON, Wis. The Republican-backed candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court provided legal advice to one of the state's leading anti-abortion groups, work that Wisconsin Right to Life and ATTENTION FHSD STUDENTS: YOU ARE NOW PERMITTED TO READ THESE E . I am enthusiastic about seeing teachers and students work hard and move forward, and administration can help by providing resources, clear policies, fantastic facilities, and moral support. Board meetings have become one-sided platforms for anger, not representative of a community that wants to work together. Olson said each of the questions were developed based on research of other forums conducted in the area. This means there are a wide range of interests that matter in the Boards decision-making process. 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. Wednesdays debate was moderated by Aquinas College political science professor Molly Patterson. The seven-member board has three, six-year seats and one partial term seat available Nov. 8. Committed to serve all the people of Forest Hills all the time 2). Bodenschatz will join three incumbents in. 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. Another 49 school board candidates are on the ballot in Butler County, 47 in Warren County and 47 in Clermont County. I look forward to the wider community - students, staff and community - committing to our existing mission and guiding principles and putting it into action. The latest Arizona headlines, breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, and local community stories that matter to you. Athletic League Permits Now Available, Forest Preserve Foundation 2022 in Review; Upcoming Events, and; Volunteer . The other two members of the boardMaggie Terryn and Kristen Fausonwere not eligible for recall as they had not served on the board for a full year. Voters instead chose newcomers Mary Wineberg, Kareem Moffett and Brandon Craig to join the board,along with incumbent Mike Moroski, according to unofficial election results. The Board should inform itself by listening to diverse views within the Board itself as well as across the community. I am the only candidate who has communicated with over 1000 community members to address questions and concerns. In a letter sent to the Michigan Press Association in March, a number of local journalists say Cotton has employed a malicious pattern of unethical journalism and an unwillingness to comply with even the most basic of journalistic standards.. The affluent community north of Detroit is a former Republican stronghold. Sheldon: Currently, our greatest threat is the polarized political time we are experiencing. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. Seven candidates were running for three seats on the Forest Hills' school board this year. Programs like SEL and DEI are a slippery slope. Wineberg received 35,672 votes; Moroski received 30,153 votes; Moffett received 29,303 votes; and Craig received 29,240 votes, unofficial results show. This school district is my home, these students are my kids, and the teachers are my friends. Michaud said the district needs to look at how it can help those students find their right path out of high school, whether it be entering the trades or obtaining certification at a community college. Gretchen Whitmer on Nov. 8. Always be attentive to the safety needs of the district 5). Many of the candidates alluded to the need for fiscal responsibility in their campaigns after voters passed the district's combined five-year operating levy and 30-year bond issue in May, costing the average homeownerabout $1,890 per year. [2] Michaud and Mary Vonck. , especially as national political leaders have focused on divisive and partisan issues in schools. Associate Professor of Political Science at NKU 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. I want to give back to Forest Hills schools and the community. Forest Hills parents and community members have spent the last two years divided over several polarizing issues like COVID-19 mitigation strategies, mask mandates, LGBTQ issues, critical race theory and parental freedom in schools over the last two years. I publish a monthly memo as the President. 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.' Three of the candidates on the ballot are incumbents who currently serve on the board: Suzanne Callahan, C.J. A national challenge that is also impacting FHPS is surrounding what we are doing to support and retain our teachers. 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. On the top row, pictured from from left to right is Brian Spratke, Holly DeBoer, Kevinn Donovan, Malorie Ninemeier, Doug Lee, Jessica Johns and Robert Cribbs. 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. Education is the engine for individual and community success. Sycamore Schools came in at No. The Michigan Advance is a nonprofit outlet featuring hard-hitting reporting on politics and policy and the best progressive commentary in the state. According to unofficial election results, West received 7,431 votes; Haffey received 5,139 votes; and Philpot received 5,078 votes. I believe open communication and transparent information are keys to getting us all on the same page and doing away with some of the misinformation that has unfortunately caused some to lose faith in the district we all support. Becky Olson, who co-founded Support Forest Hills Public Schools, to fight back against the far-right talking points that have infiltrated the discussion. Posts Comments Reminder: Barrington 220 School Board Candidates' Forum is Wednesday, March 1. I respond promptly and leverage district expertise to address stakeholder questions posed via phone or email or in person. The candidates spoke during a two-hour forum hosted by a parent group. In April 2019, Gogoleski, the most public of the Clean Slate candidates, posted on Facebook a picture of a flag representing the Three Percenters, which, according to the Anti-Defamation League. is a militia movement based on the idea of a small number of dedicated patriots protecting Americans from government tyranny. School board member Nicole Meloche-Gregory is not seeking reelection, guaranteeing at least one new face on the board that servers over 9,000 students. Two Sycamore school board candidates, Bill Laverty and Josh Wooley, raised exceptionally high donations for their campaigns this year compared to other candidates in the region. The forum began with short introductions of the 12 candidates, followed one-minute responses to four questions from Patterson. The candidates for the partial term for school board are Ed Aboufadel, Robert Cribbs, and Mary Vonck. Oak Hills is the eighth largest district in Southwest Ohio, serving nearly 7,400 students, according to state data. The petition sought to remove five of the seven school board members over concerns about transparency and transportation issues. As a Board member I would support continuing down the path of transparency. Challenge accepted! Eight candidates were on the Loveland City Schools ballot this year, running for three open seats. Cincinnati Public Schools serves more than 35,000 students and is the third-largest public school district in the state of Ohio. Meet 283, the new 513. This is something Dixon and top Republican leaders across the country have campaigned on. As a group of professionals and parents representing our community we need be able to come to the table and address key issues in a positive way. More:'I don't know where I'm at.' I wish it was student mental health, which has only been made worse by the social worker and counselor shortages. Eight candidates were running for three open seats on the board. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The JUST Education group has also pushed book bans, although they decline to refer to it as a ban, releasing a list of dozens of books to challenge. Spratke: The biggest challenge I see facing our district right now is that we are losing focus on what the schools need to provide. I see the value of a solid education and I see the damage a poor education has on a student in my classroom every semester. Critical Race Theory is a framework for understanding or analyzing society. (Illustrations by Lucy Chen/Pittsburgh City . Previously, she was a suburbs reporter at the St. Many candidates and education advocates say school board elections which are nonpartisan races statewide have become more political than they have ever experienced, especially from far-right candidates. Ginny Jeup, Grosse Pointe, small business owner, Sean Cotton, Grosse Pointe Farms, newspaper owner and attorney, Terry Collins, Grosse Pointe Park, finance supervisor, Clint Derringer, Grosse Pointe, program manager at Stellantis, Timothy Klepp, Grosse Pointe Park, partner at IBM Consulting, Valarie St. John, Grosse Pointe Park, public health consultant, Joseph Herd, Grosse Pointe Woods, retired deputy chief, Christopher Lee, Grosse Pointe, orthopedic surgeon, William Broman, Grosse Pointe Farms, patent attorney, Je Donna Dinges, Grosse Pointe Woods, small business owner. I will use my skills as a historian & educator to reach & render unbiased recommendations. County Clerk-Recorder-Registrar of Voters. MEA would like to congratulate the hundreds of friends of public education who won their elections on Nov. 8. In Hamilton County, Eilert received 1,531 votes; Washburn received 1,331 votes; and Schwetschenau received 1,307 votes. To face this challenge, I will use data to help determine what is in the best interest of students, parents and community (in that order). All four positioned themselves as anti-CRT, concerned about the finances of the school district, and suspicious of the current school board. All rights reserved (About Us). The Forest Hills School Board passed new legislation that will ban "anti-racism training and teaching" at a meeting Wednesday night. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Its enough for me to do what I can to fight for what I believe in, Moore said. Students: Our biggest challenge is and will continue to be anything related to students. Lexi Lausten is a proud wife, mother, nurse, public servant and member of the Forest Hills School District community. 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. Ill make sure that the district transports our kids to and from school consistently and on time, and that our drivers know that the school board has got their back regarding their safety and that of the students under their care. 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. For months, dozens of community members packed into monthly school board meetings to spend hours of public comment voicing their concerns. We heard about Orchard View Elementary and wanted our children to attend. 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. 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. I believe that Forest Hills has the ability to become a top 10 school district in the state of Michigan. I have met with countless teachers, parents, and community members in my 6 months on the Board and will continue to do so to understand our many perspectives that make up FHPS and to help be a bridge between the district and the community. Additionally, I will push for an annual district-wide survey that will allow the district to know what it is doing well and what needs improved upon. 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