The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
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Seats on board up for grabs
Trapp and Phillips will not seek re-election to Saline school board
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 1, 2007
As of Tuesday, no one had expressed interest in running for a pair of open seats on the Saline Board of Education, including the two incumbents whose terms expire this year.
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Trustees Art Trapp and Dave Phillips announced this week that they will not seek re-election in May.
Both men will have served two four-year terms, helping guide the district through hiring two superintendents and the construction of a new high school.
Trapp served three one-year hitches as board president. He made his decision not to seek a third term about six months ago when he realized he would be more than 70 years old when the term ended. Trapp said he also realized he had become somewhat disconnected from the schools after his stepson graduated in 2001.
"My connection to the schools has diminished since my kid has been out of school," he said. "It's time to let someone else who has connections inside have an opportunity."
Trapp said he was particularly pleased with his contributions in helping to pass the bond issue for the construction of a high school and Harvest Elementary School.
"I've enjoyed it," he said. "There were a lot of challenges, and there still are — maybe even more now than before."
Phillips has lived in the district since 1984. He was a teacher at Saline High School from 1988 to 1992 and is now the principal of Centennial Middle School in South Lyon.
He said he decided not to run again because of time constrants.
Phillips enrolled two years ago at Michigan State University to pursue his doctorate in education administration and the time demands are significant.
"Eight years has been a pretty good commitment and a pretty good ride," he said. "What I wanted to contribute, I believe I have."
Phillips said he had considered stepping down from the board in mid-term as more of his time was taken up with his studies, but he chose to stay because the district was struggling with numerous issues surrounding the budget and the search for a new superintendent.
He is confident he is leaving the district in good hands, expressing strong faith in Superintendent Beverley Geltner's leadership.
"She understands what it means to have and maintain a high-achieving district," he said.
With the departure of Trapp and Phillips, the most veteran member of the board becomes Trudy Driscoll, who was elected to a second four-year term in 2005 and was named the board president this year.
Phillips said he was hopeful there would be qualified candidates for the board, despite no one filing with the Washtenaw County Clerk's Office as of Tuesday.
"I hope that someone who has objective concerns and interest in the district will step up," Phillips said.
Candidates have until 4 p.m. Feb. 13 to file an affidavit of identity and a nominating petition with the county clerk's office. A non-refundable $100 fee may be filed instead of a petition.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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