The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Five to vie for two school board seats
PUBLISHED: April 10, 2008
Five candidates are vying for two seats on the Saline Board of Education. A Meet the Candidates Night will be held 7 p.m. Thursday at Saline Middle School. Candidates will make opening remarks and answer questions from the audience.
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The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 6. Below are brief profiles on each of the candidates who filed nominating petitions to appear on the ballot.
Name: Daniel Krus
Age: 49
Family: Married 22 years to his wife, Linda; three daughters, Kelsey, 13, eighth grade; Hannah, 10, fifth grade; Kaitlyn, 10, fifth grade.
Education: Master's degree in analytical chemistry, University of New Hampshire; bachelor's degree in chemistry, the University of Michigan; and a degree in clinical nuclear medicine, George Washington University.
Occupation/Career: Adjunct faculty, Washtenaw Community College, Department of Math, Natural and Behavioral Sciences, Chemistry. Nearly five years teaching chemistry at the college level. Also a substitute teacher in the Saline Area School District. Consultant/founder of Krus Technology Consulting, LLC. Since 2002, Krus Technology Consulting has been designing, planning, building and maintaining technological infrastructures.
Community Involvement: With teaching four nights per week this semester at Washtenaw Community College and with his three daughters active in band, orchestra, travel soccer and travel softball, and pursuing interests in field hockey and track, he says he doesn't have a lot of time for community involvement outside of their activities. He is finishing his second season assisting coach Kristin Pedersen with his daughters' soccer team as team manager.
What strengths and/or significant perspective would you bring to the school board?
A major strength I bring to the board is one of not being beholden to any single group or idea. I am an independent thinker and can manage large situations. I am willing to listen to all ideas and bring the best to the table to help solve school district's problems and assist in guiding them into the future.
What do you consider to be the primary challenges facing the Saline Area School District?
The budget is still one of the biggest issues for the board to get its hands around. We must continue to work toward bringing our spending in line with our revenue. It's not an issue of pointing fingers of who did right and who did wrong. It is an issue of realizing that the economy is not what it used to be. We have to bring our spending in line with a new reality.
Name: Chuck Lesch
Age: 46
Family: Wife: Jean, and daughters, Amy, a freshman at Hope College, and Megan, a junior at Saline High School.
Education: Bachelor's degree in biology, University of Iowa.
Occupation/Career: Research scientist in internal medicine/rheumatology at University of Michigan; formerly a scientist at Pfizer Inc. in Ann Arbor.
Community Involvement: Volunteer assistant coach, Saline girls' cross country team; Pastoral Council and various commissions at St. Andrew Catholic Church, Saline; and Saline Council 6674 Knights of Columbus.
What strengths and/or significant perspective would you bring to the school board?
Perhaps the greatest strengths I would bring to the school board are my understanding and appreciation of excellence in education, as well as an ability to approach problems as a scientist would, with an open mind and no preconceived solution.
My background in science education will help me understand some of the challenges that are faced by increased graduation requirements and the increased demands of modern technology that our students will be expected to know.
What do you consider to be the primary challenges facing the Saline Area School District?
The primary challenges for our district relate to maintaining and improving academic achievement in our schools in the face of the possibility of declining revenues and enrollment. Scenarios must be addressed that allow us to retain our outstanding faculty and staff, provide a conducive environment for learning for all our students, and provide a means of parental and community involvement.
Name: Mark Morsfield
Age: 48
Family: Married for more than 21 years to Valerie, who is a nurse at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital. Three children, Mark Jr., a 2006 graduate of Saline High School; Julie, a high school senior; and Greg, a freshman. Has lived in Washtenaw County for 45 years.
Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing and a master's degree in business administration from Eastern Michigan University.
Occupation/Career: A portfolio company executive with North Coast Technology Investors, LP, acting as treasurer and chief financial officer of Nephrion, a life sciences company developing medical devices, and sitting on the board of directors of Nematron Corp., an original design manufacturer of global industrial automation products.
Previously served as president and co-owner of Laurel Healthcare Inc., a provider of medical equipment and a full-time non-tenure accounting and finance faculty member at the University of Michigan.
Community Involvement: More than 10 years coaching various Saline youth sports, including soccer, baseball and basketball; Character Counts Scholarship Award participating founder and donor; committee member for inaugural Kicking for a Cure Breast Cancer Research 2007 event; chairman and president of Vineyard Church in Milan; former member of capital campaign committee for Hope Clinic in Ypsilanti.
What strengths and/or significant perspective would you bring to the school board?
Significant successful executive financial management expertise and leadership in both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. More than 15 years of parental involvement in the areas of academics, athletics and the arts, and educator's perspective and understanding.
What do you consider to be the primary challenges facing the Saline Area School District?
Returning the district to excellence.
Name: John Mullins
Age: 49
Family: Wife, Tanny, married 24 years; sons, Michael, a Saline High School alum, University of Michigan engineering; Chris, a SHS alum, U of M general education; and Daniel, a SHS freshman.
Education: Accounting/finance from William Patterson University.
Occupation/Career: Owner/agent of Divine Realty. Twenty-five years of corporate experience in local, national and international business, including areas of banking, engineering, international franchising, marketing, publishing, construction, metal trading, and health and fitness.
Community Involvement: Current officer/treasurer of the Saline Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking; coach, administrator and founder of youth community sports programs, including soccer, baseball, softball, wrestling, football, karate, racquetball, fitness.
Youth mentor, senior advocate and marriage counselor at church. Community volunteer, event organizer, and fund raiser. Political campaign organizer and volunteer; grant assistant and volunteer for historical committee; served as substitute teacher, teaching assistant, coach, member of prom and graduation committees; assisted with float building, and chaperoned 24-hour relay.
What strengths and/or significant perspective would you bring to the school board?
I am passionate about the physical, mental and emotional well being of our students. Academics and extracurricular activities are a part of a well-rounded student. We also have to be concerned about our students and families. The issues of special education, bullying, church, family, nutrition and the community also need a voice.
What do you consider to be the primary challenges facing the Saline Area School District?
Saline has to establish guidelines for responsible spending. We must come into compliance with special education laws. Parents' and students' rights need to be addressed. We have to correct the deficiencies in the current governance model to properly manage the day-to-day operations. The school must become more flexible to compete with charter schools/academies and home schooling to maintain enrollment. We have to continue to enhance the teacher's ability to diversify curriculum.
Name: Lisa Slawson
Age: 44
Family: Husband, Greg, and two children, Katie and Sam.
Education: Bachelor's degree in public affairs from Indiana University, juris doctorate from Indiana University.
Occupation/Career:Attorney
Community Involvement: President of the Saline Board of Education, board of directors at Summerfest, longtime Saline Area Girl Scout volunteer and former Service Unit manager, Woodland Meadows Parent-Teacher Association volunteer and former PTA president; and graduate of the Saline Leadership Institute.
What strengths and/or significant perspective would you bring to the school board?
I have been a board member for four years. I have learned a tremendous amount about how school boards work. I have held all of the board offices, and am currently serving as president. I believe I have demonstrated leadership during calm and turbulent times. I have significant experience in board policy-making. I have taken nine classes from the Michigan Association of School Boards. I believe my legal background is beneficial to the board.
What do you consider to be the primary challenges facing the Saline Area School District?
Not only maintaining the level of excellence of a Saline schools' education, given shrinking revenues from the state, but at the same time, moving this district toward even higher goals for our students, and becoming a 21st century world-class school district. Also, providing a safe, challenging and rewarding work environment for all of our employees.
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