The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Six to vie for 2 seats
Voters to cast ballots May 8 in school race
PUBLISHED: April 26, 2007
Six candidates are running in the May 8 election for two open seats on the Saline school board. A public forum was held Wednesday night to provide voters the opportunity to meet the candidates and ask questions.
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The Saline Reporter invited the candidates this week to provide brief bios and to answer two general questions.
Terrance Bertram
"I am 51 years old and widowed with two daughters. My youngest, Chelsea, 18, will graduate from Saline High School in June and Murphy, 24, graduated from Saline High School in 2001. We have been residents of Pittsfield Township since 1989.
"I am an attorney with a private practice in Ann Arbor where I specialize in elder law and estate planning. I grew up in Traverse City and received my undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University. I then received a master's from the University of Michigan in guidance and counseling before receiving my juris doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
"Most recently, I served on the Saline schools long-range planning committee. I have previously served on the Pittsfield Township Planning Commission and the Washtenaw County Metropolitan Planning Commission. I have previously been appointed by former governors Milliken and Blanchard to statewide groups dealing in the area of disability advocacy. I also served as the statewide President of the Michigan Association for Retarded Citizens."
Q: What strengths and/or significant perspective would you bring to the school board?
A: Having recently served on the long-range planning committee, I know the issues and the players concerning Saline schools' financial stability. I would bring to the board an independent perspective while ensuring that we communicate honestly and transparently with parents, community leaders, administrators, teachers and staff, while seeking their help and input as we find solutions to our structural deficit.
Hard financial decisions must be made while ensuring that our children receive the quality education necessary to be successful.
Additionally, as a business owner I know how to stretch a dollar, think outside the box, and can focus on practical problems with creativity.
Q: What do you consider to be the primary challenges facing the Saline School District?
A: The most pressing issue is the structural budget deficit and the long-term financial uncertainty facing the district. Clearly, Proposal A is not working as a means to fund our schools. We must concurrently lobby Lansing for changes while working with the current state revenue realities.
We will not be able to close the budget gap with just new revenue ideas or just with budget cuts. It will be painful to the stakeholders, but during this process we must make sure we don't lose focus and understand that our objective is to provide a quality education that will allow our students to compete worldwide. As such, we must balance any funding recommendations with the education priorities of the district.
This makes it all the more imperative that we communicate openly and honestly with all of our stakeholders, the parents, teachers, administrators, staff and business/community leaders. With a chronic budget deficit, dwindling funds and no relief in sight, we need the involvement of our community to work through these challenges.
David Friese
"My wife and I, Diane, have been married for more than 37 years. We have resided in the Saline School District since 1979. Our son, Michael, is a 2002 graduate of Saline High School and is currently approaching graduation from the University of Michigan.
"I retired from a 37 1/2-year public school teaching career in June of 2005. I earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1968 and two master's from EMU."
Q: What strengths and/or significant perspective would you bring to the school board?
A: As to what strengths and perspectives I would bring to the Saline schools would be those of a career educator. As a classroom teacher, my No. 1 concern was always the welfare and self-esteem of students placed in my charge. This belief would weigh heavily on every decision I would make regarding the children in our community.
My involvement in education has not only been confined to the classroom. I have been a coach, class sponsor, administrator of employment programs for financially disadvantaged youth and a union representative. Hopefully, I can put these years of educational experience in service to the community as a member of the Board of Education.
Q: What do you consider to be the primary challenges facing the Saline School District?
A: The most obvious issue facing our school district is financial. Saline, like most districts in Michigan, is faced with the uncertainty of the possibility of cuts in the 2006-07 foundation grants due to legislative inaction. It is for this reason that I strongly support the current board's adoption of the sinking fund millage proposal. Its approval will provide revenue for the maintenance of the physical plant and alleviate some of the pressure on the general fund.
These funds only can be used for brick-and-mortar type issues. If elected, I will work in conjunction with my fellow board members to adopt a sound fiscal policy based upon the current realities that exist in the state of Michigan.
Janice Kiger
Q: What strengths and/or significant perspective would you bring to the school board?
A: I have a strong background in business. I have been the controller for a family-owned trucking company for the past nine years. My father and I started the company in 1998 and I have served in many capacities during that time.
I have been forced to implement many different plans and initiatives in order to succeed in the volatile business environment of the past decade. I have experience in startup, expansion and downsizing. I feel that this, along with my experience in initiating cost savings and tracking methods, will be a strong asset to the board.
I am also a Realtor and I have extensive knowledge of Washtenaw County. I have worked with many clients who have chosen to locate in Saline because of the quality of the school system. I moved back to Michigan almost six years ago and chose to live in Saline for the same reason. I believe in this district and know I will be an asset to the board.
Q: What do you consider to be the primary challenges facing the Saline School District?
A: There are several issues facing the district. The No. 1 issue for me is the budgetary crisis we cannot seem to resolve.
The state of Michigan is in complete turmoil and ranked last in the country in terms of economic outlook. People are leaving the state at a rapid rate. After this school year, we will be in a negative growth position further lowering the dollar amount coming into the district. We cannot continue on our current path. We need to band together and find the necessary cutbacks to bring the budget in line.
The other issue for me is maintaining and improving our current level of education. Our future and the futures of our children are at stake. We must strive to maintain the same standards we currently have with the hope of raising the bar. We need to stay competitive in the world marketplace. In order for this to happen, our children must have the best education we can give them.
Dan Krus
Krus, 48, has been married to his wife, Linda, for 20 years. He has three children, Kelsey, 12; Hannah, 9; and Kaitlyn, 9. He is the founder and owner of Krus Technology Consulting. He received a degree in clinical nuclear medicine in 1983, a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Michigan in 1988 and a master's in analytical chemistry in 1993 from the University of New Hampshire. He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1983.
Q: What strengths and/or significant perspective would you bring to the school board?
A: A major strength I bring to the board is one of a school outsider. I am not beholden to any one or any single group 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 guide them into the future.
Q: What do you consider to be the primary challenges facing the Saline School District?
A: At this point, the biggest issue is the budget. And, although there are many other important things we could discuss, the budget absolutely dwarfs them. We have to bring our spending in line with our revenue. Pure and simple. The Saline School District is not the federal government.
Also, it is not an issue of pointing fingers of who did right and who did wrong. It's an issue of realizing that the economy as a whole is not what it was even five years ago. We have to bring our spending in line with a new reality.
David Medley
Medley and his wife, Karen, have three children, Natalia, Andrew and Landon, all of who graduated from Saline High School. He received a bachelor's degree in education from Eastern Michigan University and a master's in educational leadership from EMU. He expects to retire as a teacher in Belleville in June.
Q: What strengths and/or significant perspective would you bring to the school board?
A: After spending 36 years in education, I have gathered a wealth of experience and knowledge. Not only has my educational training greatly benefited me, but also I have had the opportunity to serve as a department head, the president of our education association, a contract negotiator, and as a member of many committees dealing with a great variety of issues.
This has allowed me to develop a good understanding of not only the many different aspects of a local school system, but also of school funding, and requirements set forth by the state and federal government.
I have been witness to a myriad of problems and successes that have occurred in many school districts, which has enhanced my knowledge of how school districts should function. A successful district occurs as a result of reasonable response to changing situations while some of the successes are the result of truly enlightened leadership.
Sadly I have also witnessed many examples of poor judgment. As a whole, I have a broad philosophical base from which to approach decisions concerning our schools.
Q: What do you consider to be the primary challenges facing the Saline School District?
A: No reply.
Sarah Slater
Slater grew up in Chelsea and moved to Saline in 2003. She is married to Paul Bunten Jr. Her son, Richie, is a sixth-grader at Heritage Elementary School and her two step-daughters attend school in Ann Arbor. She has taught second and third grade in Chelsea for the last 10 years, where she has served on various curriculum committees.
Slater earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Eastern Michigan University in 1988. She is a member of the Leadership and Design Team through the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, union building representative and vice president of the Chelsea Education Association. She is also a member of the current union negotiations team.
Slater was a Saline City Council member from 2005 to 2006 and served on the Saline Historic District Commission and the Environmental Commission. She currently serves on the Saline Parks and Recreation Committee.
Q: What strengths and/or significant perspective would you bring to the school board?
A: I think that what makes me a unique candidate is my diverse experience within the Chelsea School District. I have had the opportunity to work with nearly every type of school district employee and understand a variety of perspectives. I have a good grasp of the big picture, and, at the same time, am thoughtful and considerate of each individual's concerns.
My service on City Council has provided me with experience in dealing with a budget, decision-making, and working productively with city staff and council members to make sound decisions for our community.
Q: What do you consider to be the primary challenges facing the Saline School District?
A: Providing a quality education to every student, even in an economic crisis, is paramount. While school funding is not just a local issue, we have to do what we can at the local level to maintain what we have until the statewide funding problem is under control. We have to live within our means, and keep further cuts out of the classroom.
Another challenge facing our district is declining enrollment. Quality of life and excellent schools are what keep people coming to and staying in Saline, and it's important that we keep focused on that as we work cooperatively with local government and other organizations in our community to keep Saline one of the best cities in the country to live.
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