Recently we posed a series of questions gathered from the community to the folks running for the Newaygo School Board. This week we attempted to do the same with those running for the Grant School Board. Of the three candidates running for the two positions consisting of 6 year terms, only Jim Renney agreed to participate with no response from the other 2 who are current board members. There are also two partial terms up for a vote and of the three candidates only Lindsay Mahlich responded. The other two are current board members. A lone candidate is on the ballot for the another partial term and we did not include unopposed candidates. With the GPS board having been through a tumultuous couple of years we are disappointed that the other candidates chose to sit this one out when communication with the community was one of the primary issues that led to a recall attempt earlier this year. We appreciate the time Mr Renney and Ms. Mahlich took to better inform voters of their viewpoints. After the late-in-the-game mailing that smeared challengers to the incumbents during the recall election, it takes real courage to step forward and run for these Board positions. Lindsay Mahlich Why are you running for the school board? I am running for school board as I believe a strong public school system helps build a stronger economy and community. I want to be part of the solution that makes our school system a great place for families and staff to excel. How would you describe your leadership skills My leadership foundation is built on listening, learning, and advocating for those who need it most. I move forward in life with the intention of steadiness and consistency. I focus on what we can do versus what we can't and figure out how to reach the goal. My career is based on advocating and building strategic plans for my customers to ensure we deliver success in the technology sector. I have been in the technology sector for 20+ years. I am a Christian, a wife, a mother, and a sister; this roots my leadership skills with compassion and love. What challenges do you see ahead for GPS? Public schools face daily challenges of teacher/staff burnout, lack of accountability for students/staff, and a polarizing social climate. Grant is no different and faces these challenges daily. More specifically for Grant, we continue to see an exodus of students and staff that impacts funding and the overall morale of those remaining. From a leadership standpoint, the board and administration must partner with the community to understand where there are still outstanding gaps of lack of trust and transparency. Our district needs to gather feedback from our community and analysis before we can lay out a plan to move forward. What is your vision for GPS? I want to see Grant provide a quality education for all students, but more importantly, I want every student who graduates to have the skill to use critical thinking in their next phase of life. Students are equals but not the same. I know some might think our lack of size may be a weakness, but in many ways, this allows us to work 1:1 with students and determine a more personalized education path to help them achieve their success. A school board must partner with the community to gather feedback and understand the district's needs. All decisions must be made with one thing in mind: "How will this help our children achieve academic success?" School Board members must advocate for our communities and students' needs to drive positive change. Grant has not passed a millage in several years despite several attempts. In your opinion why has this been such a challenge and what can be done to gain support in the community? A millage approval has been a challenge as there is no clear direction on our district's north star. As a district, we have not done our part to build a strategic plan that aligns with our district's needs or clearly explain the current state of the school's budget needs to meet basic necessities. Some schools are moving to sinking fund millage vs a project-specific millage. If on the board, I will explore the pros and cons of both. My initial thoughts may be more in favor of a sinking fund, giving our district the ability to pivot and apply funding in areas most in need. For example, at the recent board meeting, it was shared that our fire safety systems are significantly outdated and need updates. With a sinking fund in place, the board and administration could take care of this issue quickly instead of trying to figure out where to get the funds from other portions of our budget. Some of the decisions by the board regarding the Health Center have contributed to division in the Grant school community including losing some students. Do you have any strategies that might help heal this rift? As a board member, I will focus on the board's key responsibilities, governance, and leadership within the school district. I will work to get a Code of Ethics in place for all board members, which is required by the school's bylaws but is not in place. Fortunately, the board and the CAHC were able to come to an agreed-upon contract, but with a negative impact. If allowed to represent the community, I will propose we evaluate the agreement to open the CAHC back to all youth, not just geographically specific to our school district. Security measures are in place and documented clearly in the contract. I believe in helping all. Healing starts with leadership. I am willing to collaborate with all board members, and I know that, at times, we will not agree. I am comfortable with not agreeing and moving forward with the majority if I know decisions are being made with all students in consideration and not on a foundation of deception by fellow board members. As a board, we must understand the community's needs and figure out how to achieve them. I do that; I figure things out and get things done. Why should people vote for you? If you are looking for a board member to advocate for our community and students' needs and to drive positive change, vote for Lindsay Mahlich. I will listen and learn, and I am willing to fight for the needs of our students or when someone's actions affect their success or well-being. My only intention is to help lead the school district to be a place built on academic success and student/staff well-being, not a political agenda. Jim Renney Why are you running for the school board? I am a proud 1994 graduate of Grant Public Schools, attending Kindergarten through 12th grade. Teachers and support staff saw something in me, and from the beginning gave me opportunities with computers and advanced math and english classes and were a huge part in being who and where I am today, an IT Manager in a local health center, helping to provide vital medical, dental, and other critical services to any and all who need it, regardless of who they are or what they have. Last year, when the school board attempted to close the school based health center, effectively taking away medical and mental health care for reasons that made no sense to me and many others, I could not stand back and let a huge benefit for our students and our district as a whole be torn apart. I believe that the current board does not have the students’ best interest at heart, and want to help lead the district in preserving and restoring the district back in a positive and collaborative direction. How would you describe your leadership skills? Even though we all like to think we personally know the right path forward, I know that we can only truly be at our best with a variety of mutually-respected voices who can set aside their egos and work toward a common goal, taking the best from each of us and making us all stronger. What challenges do you see ahead for GPS? We have many challenges ahead of us. Two major challenges are dwindling enrollment numbers and inadequate funding, each reinforcing the other in a downward spiral. With our buildings crumbling, heating and cooling systems failing needing urgent replacement, and students fleeing to neighboring districts, we need serious reassessment of our current overall direction. We have a great educational staff, eager students, and we need to focus on restoring the district’s reputation as a great place for all students to grow. What is your vision for GPS? I want to make the operation of the district transparent to the community again, with better opportunities for feedback from the entire community and actually take it to heart. I want to build mutual respect amongst the community, the administration, the staff, and the students by listening to the needs and concerns of all stakeholders. GPS can be a much stronger district when administration and staff can trust each other and when everyone shares a common goal - to provide the best education possible to every single student in the district, regardless of their background. Grant has not passed a millage in several years despite several attempts. In your opinion why has this been such a challenge and what can be done to gain support in the community? I believe there are a variety of factors that have made passing a millage difficult over recent years. We need to do a better job at explaining to the voters how much a bond or millage will actually cost to them. We need to do a better job at explaining how the funds will be spent, and how exactly they are vital to the operating budget of the district. I believe that reaching out directly to voters for feedback on their concerns before the proposals are set in stone for a vote will be a huge help in developing a plan that voters will understand and support. Some of the decisions by the board regarding the Health Center have contributed to division in the Grant school community including losing some students. Do you have any strategies that might help heal this rift? Going forward, we need to be open and honest about our intentions and the reasons behind the decisions made as a board. We need to actively seek real feedback from parents and the community as a whole to help make decisions that satisfy the entire district, not just one group or another’s personal goals. If we can actually work together, talk honestly, and sincerely listen to each other, we can form a vision for the district that every parent and student can be happy with. Why should people vote for you? I pledge to be open and transparent with my decisions, listen to, respect, and take into account all voices, even from those I disagree with, to have no hidden agendas, and ensure the board acts responsibly. I believe that the roots of our community are strong, and with proper care, tending and a little pruning, we can blossom back into a district that welcomes ALL families as a truly great place to grow again.
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