Board of Education - WKTV Journal

By K.D. Norris

On the back side of a very crowded ballot, one local school bonding issue and several school board races were up for vote Nov. 3, with Godfrey-Lee Public Schools’ $17.8 million bonding proposal gaining approval and the only local contested school board race decided.

By a margin of 1,505 to 730, in unofficial (uncertified) results, voters in the Godfrey-Lee school district gave the district a 1.67 mill increase in local property tax rate which will allow it to borrow as much as $17.8 million over 30 years to modernize portions of its middle and high school that are nearly 100 years old, make repairs and improvements to a portion of the building which collapsed last year, and fund other district infrastructure work.

“On behalf of the Board of Education, staff, and students, I express sincere appreciation to our community for supporting the bond proposal to renovate and restore Lee Middle and High School,” district superintendent Kevin Polston said in a statement. “Quality schools are vital for quality communities. The investment and trust our community provided to Godfrey-Lee Public Schools will create a better learning environment for our students.”

The district statement detailed that a “major transformation” of Lee middle and high schools that will include air conditioning, accessibility for disabled, safety and security upgrades, new classrooms, a community wellness and resource center, and a new band room. (More information can be found at glpsbond2020.com/.)

“Godfrey-Lee takes the responsibility of being good stewards of taxpayer dollars seriously, and look forward to making good on the promise of enhanced school facilities for students,” Polston said. “Our students deserve the very best learning environment to allow each and every student to live out their hopes and dreams through the education they receive at Godfrey-Lee. The improvements at Lee Middle and High School will transform our classrooms, provide flexible learning space, make the school more accessible, and enhance our performing arts program.”

Also in the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools district, the Board of Education had three candidates, two already serving the board, running for three full 6-year term positions. Reelected were David Blok, current board vice president, and Tammy Schafer, current board secretary. Cheryl L. Slaughter will be new to the board.

Other school board voting results

While nearly all the local public school districts had Board of Education candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot, only the Kentwood Public Schools board had contested seats to be voted on.

The Kentwood Public Schools Board of Education had five candidates, four of them incumbents, running for four positions, all with 4-year terms. And all the incumbents won re-election. Mary (Mimi) Madden, current board president and the longest serving member of the board at 17 years, gained the most votes at 13,799. Angela Hovermale, current board trustee, gained 12,797 votes. Allen Young, current board vice president, gained 12,599 votes. Angie Forton, current board secretary, gained 12,703 votes. Leonica Riley Erwin, who was running to unseat one of four incumbents running for re-election, gained 11,366 votes.

The Wyoming Public Schools Board of Education had four candidates — two of which would be new to the board — running for four positions, three 6-year terms and one partial term. The two new-to-the-board candidates elected to full terms are Shannon Frick and Jessica A. Hanselman. Craig P. Popma, current board treasurer, was elected to a full term while Jeff Norton, current trustee, was elected to a partial term ending in December 2022.

The Kelloggsville Public Schools Board of Education had five candidates, all current board members, running for five positions, three 6-year terms and two partial terms. Marie Groters, current board vice president, and Tim Pomorski and Laura L. Tanis, both current trustees, were elected to full, 6-year terms. Debra Sellers, current trustee, was elected to a partial term ending December 2024, and Crystal Reidzans current board treasurer, was elected to a partial term ending December 2022.

The Godwin Heights Public Schools Board of Education had two candidates, both currently on the board, running for two full 6-year term positions. Re-elected were Ken Hornecker, current board treasurer, and Allen E. Johnston, current board president.

By Erin Albanese

School News Network

If Kentwood Public Schools Board of Education Vice President Allen Young was standing in front of a classroom, he would tell students to never give up. He would tell them to use the “Kentwood grit” for which the the district is known, and which he himself has used plenty of.

“I would love for them, whatever dream they have, to make sure they follow it,” said Young, a board member since 2012. “I would have to be really honest with them because I would have to tell them that life brings about changes. There are going to be hills and valleys and curves in the road, but stick to it.”

Kentwood is all about the growth mindset, meaning that people can get smarter through hard work and practice, he said. “Keep exercising that brain. Don’t let it go soft, and also don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Young, a maintenance coordinator for Linc Up, a community development organization in Kent County, grew up in Arkansas. He remembers being an average student who struggled in some classes. “I had to throw in a little extra grit,” he said.

But his goal was to graduate with honors, which he did in 1973, and enrolled in a trade school. He then worked in the metal distribution industry for many years before working in maintenance.

He and his wife, Johngerlyn Young, have one son, Austin, a 2014 East Kentwood graduate and now a sophomore at Morehouse College, in Atlanta.

For Young, serving on the board has always been about giving back. “I’ve always had the desire to help. I followed my son all the way from kindergarten through graduation, so I have a passion for education and for young people to improve themselves.”

He said the biggest challenge of the job, which requires about 10 hours of work per week, is dealing with the limits of the budget.

“You want to try to not cut anything, but sometimes you have to do that. We try not to do it so it’s going to be a detriment to the students. It can be painstaking.”

Boards of education are the frontline for parents and community members to address issues they feel strongly about. Young said he’s happy they come to him. “I don’t really accept those as complaints,” he insisted. “I accept them as concerns.”

When asked how much the stipend for board members is, Young had to ask a fellow board member. “I didn’t have a clue!” he said about the $40 per meeting rate.

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.