GPS School Board Candidates: Q & A

With five contenders vying for three positions on the Grant School Board we at N3 thought it might be a good idea to give voters a little glimpse at the candidates and perhaps provide a forum for prospective board members to share their views.
We came up with fifteen questions based on community interest and these were sent to each of the candidates. Here are their replies.
This is a lengthy read to be sure, but we believe a worthy one.
And please take time to vote. Whether in mail or in person. Your vote matters.
-Near North Now

---

Damon Arsenault
What motivates you to run for the board? 
My motivation is the students and giving back to the community. 

What do you see as your responsibilities as a board member? 
As a board member, my main responsibility is to create an environment for  students and the district as a whole to safely thrive.  

How long have you been in the district? What school activities have you been involved in? 
I have been in the district about 24 years. Over the years, I have supported and encouraged the high school soccer team as well as the AYSO program, the performing arts program, the 8th grade wax museum, school improvement  committee, chef for 7th grade Christmas breakfast each year, contributed to the  elementary reading program, contributed to the high school marching band hats, and supported the youth basketball program, as well as serving on the  school board for the past 3 years. 

What skills do you bring to the board? 
I bring to the board business skills I've developed over the last 25 years working in high level leadership roles in the business field. For example, I've  been responsible for large budgets, interpersonal relations, and an environment that fosters continuous improvement.
 
Can you tell about a time you made a decision that turned out to be the wrong way to go and how you handled it? 
Like anyone else, I have made some mistakes that have resulted in an outcome that was not anticipated or desired. My philosophy is to make a  decision based on the best information you have, and if it becomes apparent you made the wrong decision, you alter the course to correct the situation.  

What is your own experience with public education?  
I attended public schools, K-12, as well as a public university. This education has provided many positive fulfilling opportunities for my family. 

What do you see as the priorities for the coming years? 
My priority is structured around a safe and quality education. 

What do you see as strengths in the school district? 
Mr. Zuver strives to provide a positive and realistic approach to linking the community and schools. The committed staff strives to provide a quality education to all learning levels.  

What do you see as the primary challenges ahead?  
In the short term, navigate the current health crisis in a way that keeps our kids safe as well as showing respect to the community with differing beliefs. Long term we'll need to focus on bridging any learning gaps that resulted from the altered school year last spring. 

What is your vision for GPS? 
I am honored to play a role in fostering continuous growth in students and staff that creates a foundation for the children, enabling them to be successful in society. 

Has the last year influenced your thought process about schools and the role they play in our community? If yes, explain. 
This pandemic and the closing of schools has provided perspective for the  entire community as to the critical role the school system plays in society. The  methods of how children learn remotely vs. in person has been challenging to  say the least. As a community, we are learning and changing daily, striving to improve based on our findings. 

Describe your experience with conflict resolution and consensus building. 
In order to navigate a complex business environment, I'm continually challenged to resolve conflicts. My guide to this resolution is based on fairness and equality. 

As a board member making key decisions who might you seek advice from?  
My mentor, stakeholders, board members, my family, my moral compass. 

Do you ever question your decision making? If not who provides your checks  and balances? 
It's a natural tendency to question my decisions to ensure gaining perspective. I learn from past experiences and strive to continually improve.  

What book you’ve read has influenced you the most? 
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, by Jocko Willink and Leaf Babin

---

Kelly Brown

What motivates you to run for the board?
I grew up in Grant and graduated from Grant High School in 1982.  I love my school and felt that Grant was a wonderful community to return to and raise my children.  My 4 children graduated from Grant High School which is a particular point of personal pride.  We have always been proud to be Tigers!!!  After being involved in the school system as a parent, volunteer, and employee, I feel that the school board is a place where I could continue to dedicate my time to our community, and most importantly, have a positive impact for the children of our community.

What do you see as your responsibilities as a board member?
A public school board member has a vast number of responsibilities as listed on the Michigan Association of School Boards website (MASB.org).  In addition, I believe it is a school board member’s responsibility to keep up with what is happening in our community and understanding the challenges the young people of our community might meet when they are going out into the world after their local education.  In keeping up with the pulse of the community, I believe the school board is better equipped to make decisions in the best interest of the local population they represent.

How long have you been in the district? What school activities have you been involved in?
I was raised in Grant until the age of 18 and then joined the United States Air Force.  After starting my family, I left the USAF and eventually returned to Grant in 2000.  I have been a volunteer in the school system for many years primarily in athletics.  I have also been an Athletic Boosters member/Treasurer.  I retired from Grant Public Schools March 31, 2020 after 18 years as a support staff employee in the positions of Office Aide, Special Education Aide, Special Education Secretary, and the last 8 years as the Middle School Building Secretary.  I have also served on the Executive Board of the Grant Education Support Personnel Association.  

What skills do you bring to the board?
My USAF background is in technology and troubleshooting.  I really believe I can bring a fresh and knowledgeable perspective as we advance our school into the virtual learning arena.  I also have years of experience in writing and interpreting policy.  I can bring a real strength to reviewing, understanding, implementing, and monitoring compliance where policy is concerned.

Can you tell about a time you made a decision that turned out to be the wrong way to go and how you handled it?
I am sure, if I really thought about it, I could give you several examples of not-so-great decisions on my part.  More importantly is what we do after.  I believe in owning my mistakes.  Admitting when I have done something wrong, doing my best to make it right, learning from it, and trying to not repeat it.  Personal responsibility is essential in learning and growing.

What is your own experience with public education?
I had a very positive experience with public education as a child.  When I was in high school, 1979-1982, I recall that there were many budget challenges.  We had years where we had only 5 hours of class a day, yet we still had a wonderful high school experience.  The administration and staff kept a positive attitude and atmosphere for the students.  Though we had fewer activities, school spirit and participation were remarkably high for what we had.  I now realize how much effort that must have taken on the staff’s part, and I really appreciate that the community and children meant that much to them.  

What do you see as the priorities for the coming years?
I believe that our 1st priority has been, and should always remain, providing the families of our community a quality educational opportunity for our children.  To achieve that goal moving forward, I believe we need to focus on technology infrastructure, software, data management, and quality training for all staff members to effectively and efficiently deliver that opportunity to all students.

What do you see as strengths in the school district?
I believe the greatest strength in our district is our people.  There are wonderful staff and community members who really care about raising good people to go out into the world.

What do you see as the primary challenges ahead? 
I believe our biggest challenge will be utilizing the budget to effectively provide the quality education our children deserve.  It will take an enormous amount of cooperative work to effectively manage our budget to produce the best outcome.

What is your vision for GPS?
My vision for GPS is to provide a quality education and prepare our students to successfully move forward with their lives after graduation and provide a positive experience that entices them to bring their families back to our community.  

Has the last year influenced your thought process about schools and the role they play in our community? If yes, explain.
This last year has absolutely influenced my thought process.  I have known for quite some time that technology would continue to advance in the delivery of education.  I believe this last year has accelerated the timeline for that process and we need to get on board with that advancement so that our students can compete outside of our community.

Describe your experience with conflict resolution and consensus building.
I find that conflict resolution is best achieved with an in-person exchange of information and a willingness for all parties to listen and review evidence.  This, along with reasonable discussion, will usually allow for a consensus.   

As a board member making key decisions who might you seek advice from?
There are many places for board members to access to seek knowledgeable advice.  The Michigan Association of School Boards have attorneys on staff to which board members have access. They also have a mentoring program that will pair board members with other experienced board members around the state. This allows a connection with others around the state that may be dealing with like situations to learn how the situation was resolved and if it would apply in our case.  There also needs to be an atmosphere of open communication amongst the board, and between the superintendent and the board, so they may work together so the best outcomes will be achieved.   

Do you ever question your decision making? If not, who provides your checks and balances?
I tend to do a lot of research on a subject before making a decision.  I try to find information regarding all aspects to be as informed as possible before weighing in with a decision.  I try to project what outcomes might be for each decision to avoid as many pitfalls as possible.  As a school board member, I would look to the other school board members to provide the checks and balances.

What book you have read has influenced you the most?
The Bible

---

Kris Lesley

What motivates you to run for the board?
The continued desire to give back to our community and try and help provide the best educational and overall school experience for our kids.

What do you see as your responsibilities as a board member?
To continue to serve as a representative and advocate for our community and all stakeholders . Also to continue to try our best collectively to put the needs and interests of our students first and foremost. We as a group continue to try and govern areas including policy, budgeting etc still in a way that most benefits our kids, staff and community.

How long have you been in the district? What school activities have you been involved in?
I have been in the district my whole life. I attended Grant Public Schools, participated in numerous sports and extracurriculars and received my high school diploma back in 1988. After receiving my college degree from Aquinas College I returned home to live in the Grant area and have raised two sons both who have attended GPS. During these years I have volunteered my time coaching youth athletics, was a member of the local Lions club before that ceased along with many other activities, events etc.

What skills do you bring to the board?
I believe I bring a positive, common sense approach to duties associated with the school board and have always tried to put the best interest of kids and stakeholders as the top priority.

Can you tell about a time you made a decision that turned out to be the wrong way to go and how you handled it?
Probably without doubt one of the hardest things we are entrusted with is making important decisions and using the best intentions as we try to make the best possible decision. Difficult to pinpoint one specific event but can only say when things need to be adjusted or corrected, we have always tried to do so with compassion and integrity.

What is your own experience with public education?
As previously mentioned I was a public education student and have served on the GPS board since 2004. My wife has also been in public education for over 25 years serving as an educator at another district.

What do you see as the priorities for the coming years?
Of course with this recent pandemic much has changed and has forced all parties involved to re­ evaluate priorities necessary to navigate through these difficult times. Looking to the future I believe we still we need to remain proactive with conservative budgeting as well as striving to continue to provide the best educational and extracurricular activity experience for our kids!

What do you see as strengths in the school district?
We have a very strong community with wonderful people and a great staff from top to bottom that all share the same common goal and that is to continue to put kids first.

What do you see as the primary challenges ahead? 
School funding has and seems always will be one our biggest challenges . We are really at the mercy of our state legislature and their budgeting and funding of which changes from year to year . We continue as a group to try and best use these resources to provide our most important stakeholders our kids the best educational experience possible.

What is your vision for GPS?
I would say the vision going forward mirrors our long standing phrase associated with GPS and that is to continue to associate Grant Public Schools as "A Great Place to Grow and Learn".

Has the last year influenced your thought process about schools and the role they play in our community? If yes, explain.
This year has definitely been challenging to say the least as we have literally had to rethink and redevelop almost every aspect of public education with our main focus being on keeping our kids as safe as possible but also trying to provide them with as much of the educational experience as possible. What we continue to learn is that much of what we are tasked to deal with continues to be mandated from powers higher and that continues to make decision making more difficult for our members.

Describe your experience with conflict resolution and consensus building.
I can say that I have been blessed over my 16 years as a GPS board member in that I have had wonderful board members to work with and have always had a common vision and goal of working together in solving any conflict and other aspects as a team.

As a board member making key decisions who might you seek advice from?
When making decisions we consult with our board as a whole and most often times our Superintendent and administration . There are also times we need to reach out further to seek advice from school counsel as well as resources made available from MASB (Michigan Association of School Boards) etc. I can also recall communication with other neighboring districts getting input from them on common issues, topics etc.

Do you ever question your decision making? If not, who provides your checks and balances?
I don't think the proper word would be questioning our decision making, rather hopeful that the decisions we make are made with careful thought and consideration.

What book you have read has influenced you the most?
In all honesty I have not spent much time reading books as a hobby etc...however thinking back there are actually two that I have enjoyed over the years and both written by Mr. Mitch Album and those were Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

---

Danette Obenauf

My name is Danette Obenauf and I am a candidate for the Grant School Board. I have lived in the Grant/Bailey area all of my life. My husband Dean and I are graduates of GPS, as are our four children and many of our thirteen grandchildren will be.. Because my roots go deep within the Grant School System, I would like to be a part of the success and continued positive growth of the students and community and their vision for the future. Times have changed, but our vision for excellence for our students never changes. I would be proud to be a part of the Board which strives to give our students the education and values that have always been representative of GPS.
When my children became students at Grant, I often volunteered in their classrooms. As my children grew, my volunteerism did as well. I was part of the Parent Involvement Program, who, as a group, raised money for school room activities. I was one of the three mothers who planned, organized and conducted the very first all night after prom party, to ensure the safety of our students. I was on the committee of persons who were chosen to seek support from the community for the current Middle School. I also served on the committee to study the pros and cons of going from half day kindergarten to an all-day kindergarten. We sought the counsel of other school systems regarding the advantages of an all day/alternate day versus an all day kindergarten. I am a former employee of the Grant School System, having served in different schools and in different capacities. 
One challenge all school districts are experiencing and providing consistency of education and a clear vision for excellence during the current economic and health crisis in which our nation now finds itself in. We must remain steadfast in our hopes and goals for the future of GPS. The future success of our schools is crucial for the success of each individual student's success in life. 
I believe that a successful Board will seek to communicate with each other and seek legal counsel when needed, in order to present the best resolution and consensus to represent the community at large.

---

Rob Schuitema

What motivates you to run for the Board?
Two main factors led to my decision to run for GPS school board.  First, my passion for education.  I have been involved in education in one capacity or another my entire life.  From my family's involvement when I was a child to my own professional career of over 17 years working in various aspects of formal and informal education. Second, my commitment, and appreciation for the Grant community.  I was given many opportunities to excel in education because of this community and I would like to give back and help the district excel.  Schools are the foundation of every community, Grant is no different and being involved with the board would be a privilege.

What do you see as your responsibilities as a board member?
As in any organization, the key to success is communication. An integral part of communication is to listen.  Listen to the staff, listen to the students and listen to the community.  From there, a good leader will research all the possibilities for success, have an engaging dialogue to exhaust the options and then work together to ensure the community is getting the most from their school district.  This is the best way to ensure long-term success of everyone in the community.

How long have you been in the district?  What school activities have you been involved in?
I graduated from GPS in 1991.  I then moved away from the area but returned in 2003.  From 2003 to 2006, I was a regular and long-term substitute teacher in the Grant School District.  I also taught summer enrichment classes and worked with the afterschool program.  From there, my path led me to work for NCCS (now TrueNorth) as the Cultural Enrichment and Youth Programs Director where I oversaw the counties Music Scholarship program and Regional Art Contest for Newaygo County middle and high school students.  With my current role as Director of Public Programs at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, I have worked with the district to have Grant students come to the Museum for field trips, extended programming and helped right grants to provide bussing for Newaygo County students.  Additionally, I have two children in the district (10th and 6th graders) and have actively supported the choir, art club, the Spanish immersion program and the Spanish immersion after school program.  

What skills do you bring to the board?
I have worked for over 14 years in the nonprofit world with a focus on enriching the lives of children, families and the community.  With that experience, I have grown my skill set to include: (1) Grant writing - personally accounting for over $400,000 in funds received for education programming. (2) Community relations - personally serving on and leading various steering committees, governing boards and community collaborations including most recently a partnership with Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital to provide distance learning opportunities for children unable to physically experience the Museum. (3) Collaborating with other education leaders and community partners on school policy and procedures including writing curriculum, hiring committees, program partnerships, afterschool programs and community engagement projects throughout West Michigan.

Can you tell about a time you made a decision that turned out to be the wrong way to go and how you handled it?
As an educator, I feel I have experimented and failed often.  This is how we grow.  One particular time that stands out is when I was the art teacher for the summer enrichment program at Grant.  I had been asked by the Primary Center principal to work with a group of 1st and 2nd graders to paint a mural in the PC similar to what Kathy Streng had done in the Elementary.  Well, unlike Kathy, I decided I was going to give some artistic license to these young artists and see what they could come up with.  She had created stencils for them to use which was great, I wanted to go in another direction.  Well, as many of you know, there are no murals in the primary center.  Unfortunately, my lack of direction did not turn out so well.  I felt terrible for both the school and the students I worked with.  We did many great things that week; the mural was not one of them.  My take away from that situation was to be prepared to generate success from your students.  To understand whom you are working with and make sure you are leading them.  I have used this failure to learn and be better prepared, not to assume anything, and adapt plans to my audience.  That philosophy has translated into many successful projects over the last decade plus, but I always remember that one and what not to do.

What is your own experience with public education? What do you see as the priorities for the coming years?  What do you see as strengths in the school district?
My experience with public education - As I mentioned I am a graduate of Grant Public Schools.  My parents worked in public education, so our livelihood was dependent on public education.  Currently, members of my family continue to work in public education, so the legacy continues.  My college degree is from Arizona State University and most of my professional career has focused on helping public schools succeed.  I am an advocate for public schools.  Without them, so many children and families would not have the opportunity to succeed educationally and personally.  Public schools not only provide the education platform, but for many, it is the place where they go for food, safety, personal growth experiences, counseling and lifelong friendships.  The public schools are so much more than an education system they are hope and opportunity.

What do you see as the priorities for the coming years?

With my role at the Museum, we have made our mission to be inclusive.  That is, opportunities for anyone, no matter what their learning style or challenges are. I feel the same is true for public education.  Each learner is different, providing the best practices to ensure inclusion is paramount for success.  With that, flexibility, quick adaptation and compromise are the keys to making that common practice.  This starts with communicating -especially listening-to staff, students and community members.  Change is constant, and successful districts prepare for this and respond quickly. 

What do you see as strengths in the school district?

One of the biggest things that I have noticed since I graduated in 1991 is the expansion of opportunities.  There are more class options, in all departments and subjects now, then there were when I was a student.  This is also true with extracurricular activities. There is more athletic and enrichment related programs.  This has been demonstrated by the growing success of our students in competitions, locally, regionally and statewide.  As a parent of two students, I also see the strength of the district through the passion and dedication of the staff, especially but not limited to, the teachers.  As is often in successful public school districts, people are going above and beyond to offer every opportunity imaginable to students.  

What do you see as the primary challenges ahead?  What is your vision for GPS?
With every public school, especially one in a rural community, budget expenses will pose as one of the biggest challenges. Responsible spending will be necessary, especially as the entire country faces economic challenges due to the pandemic.  Strong relationships within the district and community will be key to navigating these financial challenges in order to plan a successful future.  

My vision for GPS is to continue to grow and provide enriching opportunities for everyone.  To be a strong voice and leader of the community.  To inspire learning, acceptance and diversity from staff and students and to adapt and grow with the ever changing trends in education.  I envision GPS to be the gold standard of public schools and to be a welcoming place for every learner. 

Has the last year influenced your thought process about schools and the role they play in our community?  If yes, explain.
In my experience, current education trends - especially remote or distance learning, grant funding for program expenses, and innovative curriculum for the 21st century learner  - was already occurring, well before this last year.  The education department budget is not sufficient to support every initiative so districts, and cultural institutions like the Museum, have to get very creative to provide pivotal learning experiences for their students, oftentimes with less resources.  Additionally, support from the community is imperative and that has been amplified throughout this last year.  We are all in this together and need to research ways to ensure the district is doing everything they can to provide the platform for success.  From my own interactions and conversations with colleagues, the role of the public school is as important as it has ever been.  A great example is what the district, along with community partners,  did this spring and summer to provide meals, books and more for families that were not able to get this support anywhere else.  

Describe your experience with conflict resolution and consensus building.
Throughout my career, I have been given the task to work with the community.  Whether it be with an afterschool program, a long-term substitute program, summer camps, etc.  As part of that task, I am consistently working with people to figure out the best way to handle the situation and encourage growth and understanding.  As a director, I am constantly working with staff, as an educator I am constantly working with students and community members, as a collaborator I am constantly working with board members, committee groups and funders.  Each of these responsibilities come with inherent risks as everyone is trying to navigate the best situation for all involved.  Again, this is where listening is vital and an ability to compromise on the solution must be applied.  

As a board member making key decisions who might you seek advice from?  Do you ever question your decision making?  If not, who provides your checks and balances?
I am fortunate through my career to work with so many people who have worked on school boards across West Michigan.  I have already reached out for advice and will continue to if elected.  I also work with educational professionals that I not only call colleagues but friends.  They are some of the brightest minds in education and I respect their abilities to communicate and collaborate.  

I am someone who likes to look at the situation from as many perspectives as I can.  I try to ask myself, how would my decision affect those who I am asked to represent?  I also like to have dialogues with as many people as possible, to listen to all sides to make informed decisions. I think questioning is a natural part of learning and I do it often.  That being said, I am confident in my core beliefs - being a kind and considerate person, someone who listens and acts with everyone’s best interests in mind - and will stand by my final decisions as decisions that are in the best interest of the community not because I am right, but because I have listened and responded appropriately.  
 
What book you’ve read has influenced you the most?
When I first started at the Grand Rapids Public Museum in 2008, we had recently had an exhibition about Ernest Shackleton and The Ill-Fated Journey to Antarctica.  The exhibit was gone, but one of my mentors was so inspired by the story that she shared everything she could with me.  One of the things she gave me was a copy of Shackleton’s Forgotten Men by Lennard Bickel.  This is the story of the Aurora - the second of the two ships that was charged with going to the Ross Ice Shelf and making the north journey to the South Pole and charged with laying out supplies so that Shackleton could be the first person to cross the entire continent.  Just like Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, the Aurora became stuck in the ice and was ripped apart, stranding the crew without hope of rescue other than from Shackleton, who they had no contact with.  Despite the peril they faced, they attempted to complete their task, losing members of the crew to frostbite, starvation and hypothermia.  They were stranded for nearly two years before Shackleton was able to rescue them.  Shackleton himself was quoted as saying “No more remarkable story of human endeavors have been revealed than the tale of that long march.” This is a story of triumph and the human spirit, something that goes beyond inspirational.