January 30, 2020… Residence: 2425 Law Ave., Kalamazoo MI 49008. In my time here, I’ve seen so many acts of kindness and compassion. Gretchen Whitmer’s campaign. He works at the Bureau of Finance and Accounting Overpayment Verification. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and certifications from WMU. “Our students’ voices are not being heard, bullying is still prevalent and we are not addressing the race issues we have in our schools,” he said. An icon used to represent a menu that can be toggled by interacting with this icon. Two newcomers, who are both endorsed by the state teachers union and LGBTQ advocate organizations, are looking to bring a new perspective to the board. Candidates seeking election to the Kalamazoo Public Schools board in the Nov. 3 election are, (top, from left to right) Jason Morris, Patti Sholler-Barber, TiAnna Harrison and (bottom, from left to right) Megan Maddock and Marshall Kilgore. Harrison, 43, is a graduate of Loy Norrix High School and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Maddock, 29, is a special education teacher at the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home. She will advocate for educational practices that are culturally competent and responsive toward racial, class and social inclusivity. It is obvious that the people of Kalamazoo have a lot of pride in their city and this school district. Grand Rapids Public Schools to supply all students with devices this fall, Kalamazoo schools will start the year online-only. employee groups. This year’s edition is newly revised and edited to be easy to use. Another candidate that was seeking to upset an incumbent, Brionne Fonville, announced she was ending her campaign Wednesday, Sept. 23. These will be available on the Kalamazoo County website, www.kalcounty.com. Now is the time to step in. She said she is seeking reelection after her first six-year term because she is “caring, competent, culturally-responsive” and “committed.”, “I understand that there is power in knowledge,” Harrison said. Harrison, 43, first joined the school board as a 2014 appointment and is currently serving as vice president. Please Vote November 3, 2020 to KEEP KPS SCHOOLS STRONG. Kilgore said many parents believe the schools are not safe for all children or conducive to learning. Kilgore is also endorsed by Kalamazoo County Commissioner Jen Aniano, Kalamazoo Township Trustee Jen Strebs, the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party and Uplift Kalamazoo, an organization fighting systemic racism and uplifting the Black community in Kalamazoo. Fonville said she has observed the sitting board and believes it is lacking representation and experience. Kalamazoo Public School Board Meeting January 30, 2020. February 25, 2021 KPS Board of Education Feb 26 2021. Listed below is the first day of work for the 2020 - 2021 school year for the following. announced she was ending her campaign Wednesday, Sept. 23. Morris, 43, was appointed in 2018 to fill the remaining term of Trustee Lauren Freedman, who resigned because she was leaving the state. July 25, 2019. Incumbent Ken Greschak, whose seat is also up this year, chose to run for the partial term instead. Board president Lisa Godfrey and Jannie Williams, … Schools are … . The Gretna Breeze sent the candidates a questionnaire and asked them to respond to “I can’t begin to tell you all of the hard work they’ve done together to help our children to achieve success in their lives as they take on the promise of Kalamazoo. Philip Allmen. But in Michigan, plans are ultimately local. Harrison also said will work to close the gap for internet access and help minority students explore postsecondary education options, including skilled trades by implementing an easily accessible path to the district’s Early Middle College program. View Comments. Greschak, former board vice president and its current board treasurer, initially announced he would not seek reelection, but later said the pandemic and the killing of George Floyd made it necessary for him to stay engaged. Election 2020: Northville school board candidates address issues, concerns in district . RE: First workday for 2020 - 2021 School Year. E-Mail Treasurer Greschak. Kalamazoo's 2016 school board elections featured more candidates per seat than the district's 2014 elections. Greschak said he hopes to develop a “true social-emotional support program” in the district and develop a new parent navigation system to help parents access information. Hoadley encouraged voters to support Kilgore’s campaign in a Facebook endorsement. She wants to increase mental health support, evaluate suspension and expulsion policies and employ restorative practices with fidelity. Morris, 43, was appointed to the board in 2018 to fill a vacancy left when Lauren Freedman resigned. If elected, she also hopes to create a parent advisory group and increase parent volunteering. Whitmer and Trump have different ideas about if and how to reopen schools. Voters in the Kalamazoo Public School District saw three candidates per seat up for election in 2016, while the 2014 ballot featured 1.25 candidates per seat. As a result, a two-year partial term (the remainder of Freedman’s term) is up for election in 2020, though Morris chose to instead run for election to a full, six-year term on the board. Kalamazoo Public School District is located in southwestern Michigan in Kalamazoo ... Rita Raichoudhuri became the superintendent of Kalamazoo Public School District on June 1, 2020. She is also a member of the Community in Schools board. Freedman was elected to the board in November 2016 and would have served through 2022. Incumbent Ken Greschak is the only candidate running for a separately elected two-year partial term on the board. He said he wants to make KPS “a career-ready society by ensuring all students have access to quality education that sets them up for success with a an emphasis on career and technical training.”, He also hopes to “foster an inclusive safe, secure learning environment where all of our student’s needs are met and where every child feels seen and heard” and “create pathways to success for Black and brown young men through strong social-emotional support with a focus on cultural competency.”. Hometownlife.com. All are seeking seats on the KPS Board of Education, according to the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s office. Since becoming superintendent on June 1, my experiences getting to know the people of Kalamazoo have been nothing short of inspiring. I support these three individuals because of their experience, their integrity, their history with our district and results.”. As an educator, parent, and library patron, I appreciate the services and programs KPL provides to our community. “Our students, parents, teachers and administrators need a school board that is up to the difficult work at hand in this historical moment,” Greschak said in a post announcing his decision to run. The three incumbents were also jointly endorsed by UAW Local 2150, which is the union representing assistant principals at KPS. Term expires: Dec. 31, 2022. The list of endorsements for Morris also includes current board members Jermaine Jackson and Jennie Hill, Angee McCormick, the president of the KPS Supply Closet and Diana Walker, vice president of the Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Board of Education. Kalamazoo Public Schools' Board of Trustees is hosting their second round of interviews as they search for a new superintendent. © 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Board of Education Meeting Packets. Morris said he is running for reelection to continue doing work for the school district. The five candidates vying for three, six-year terms on the Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education. KALAMAZOO, MI -- From former Kalamazoo mayor Bobby Hopewell to organizations like Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, community leaders and groups are endorsing candidates in the run for Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education. See here to read more about the candidates and hear from them on important topics including coronavirus and community involvement. That’s why when I was asked to endorse Trustees TiAnna Harrison for Kalamazoo Public School Board, JasonMorris4KPS and Patti Sholler-Barber for Kalamazoo Public School Board of … DATE: August 10, 2020. School Board 2020: Candidate Questionnaire. Click the date for the meeting packet. School board members, who had earlier chosen seven candidates from 39 applications, further narrowed the list on Thursday to three people they'd like to invite back for second interviews. The election calendar is in a new … KPL has had many successful initiatives in the recent years and I am eager to help continue to build on that momentum of success. “As a board member, I will fight to address systemic racism that exists in education by working tirelessly to reevaluate current policies and multi-tiered systems of support, and increase all district staff’s understanding of anti-racist, anti-bias instruction and trauma-informed practices,” Maddock said on her campaign’s Facebook page. VOTE JasonMorris4KPS TiAnna Harrison for Kalamazoo Public School Board & Patti Sholler-Barber for Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education Welcome to Kalamazoo Public Schools! (Bottom right) Incumbent Ken Greschak is running unopposed for a separately elected two-year partial term. Coverage of the Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education Meeting on August 13, 2020 as they discuss and approve the district return to learn plan. It will be my pleasure to get to know the … The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Coverage of the Committee of the Whole Meeting of the Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education on May 6, 2020 Subscribe now. The partial term is open because of an appointment to the board in 2018. We have asked the candidates to introduce themselves by answering the following questions: Please tell us a little about yourself and your familiarity with the Kalamazoo Public Library. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. COVID-19: Vaccine news and outbreak updates. Sholler-Barber lists other endorsements on her website, including longtime KPS Superintendent Michael Rice who is now Michigan’s state superintendent and current local school board members Jennie Hill and Jermaine Jackson. Five seats on the Omaha Public Schools school board in Nebraska were up for general election on November 3, 2020.The filing deadline for incumbents in this election was February 18, 2020, and the filing deadline for non-incumbents in this election was March 2, 2020. “My daily practice of commitment to KPS families and my presence in our schools is what makes my candidacy unique.”. He also wants to place the district’s attention on academic outcomes, looking to provide the best education for students during the pandemic uncertainty and ensure that children learn what they need to “become the people to which they aspire.”, “Each of these initiatives, and more (like our soon-to-be-launched website), require pursuit and focus,” Greschak said. By streamlining communication, implementing a student advisory board and setting an anti-bullying agenda. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). “I am always willing to lend my voice and energy towards causes that will provide for a better future for our world.”. “I promise to be a part of a board-team that focuses on context specific leadership, vibrant parent and community communication, and culturally sensitive initiatives at all levels,” Sholler-Barber said. He was the president of Parkwood Upjohn Elementary’s parent-teacher organization for three years, and served as committee chairman for the special education millage and 2018 enhancement millage that collectively secured more than $200 million in funding for the district, he said in a statement to MLive. Fonville, 26, described herself as a “passionate educator and advocate for KPS youth and their families.”, “Each day that I go to work, I do so with loving intentions to create opportunities for our precious KPS students to grow and learn,” Fonville said on her candidate Facebook page. She has served as its president since 2011, and also served in the leadership role from 2007-09. She is a “positive, productive contributing member of society” and mother of three children, Harrison said in a statement to MLive. “I want to change that. Harrison, an incumbent and the board’s current vice president, was appointed to the board in 2014 and later won a seat in the election that year. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Five candidates are vying to fill three, six-year seats on the Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education in the Nov. 3 general election. candidates in the run for Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education. She also attended Western Michigan University (WMU). Rice also endorsed Harrison and Morris, Harrison said. Here are the candidates who have filed to run for those four seats on the local school board: Kilgore, 21, is the advocacy director for OutFront Kalamazoo and a former staff member for Gov. Rice resigned as Kalamazoo superintendent when he was named state superintendent. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Five candidates are running for four open seats on the Kalamazoo Public Library Board, including two incumbents. Stay connected to your local school district with coverage of the Kalamazoo Public Schools Schools Board of Education meeting held on February 25, 2021. Board of Education Training Meeting February 17, 2021 Feb 19 2021. St. Croix Valley Gifted will not host a 2020 Family Friendly Candidate Meet & Greet. She is endorsed by the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Western Michigan University college Democrats, the Michigan Education Association and Advocating for KPS LGBTQ+ Students, a group of parents, staff, and allies of LGBTQ+ students attending KPS. Marshall Kilgore, Megan Maddock and Brionne Fonville will join incumbents Patti Sholler-Barber, Ken Greschak, TiAnna Harrison and Jason Morris on November ballots in the school district. She is a retired social studies teacher for Otsego High School. “As an elected trustee, I will be a servant-leader that maintains the public trust, listens first before moving to an educated answer, and keeps 13,000 students and 850+ staff championed by working for better state and national funding, encouraging team work on equitable and student focused policies and more socio-emotional supports in the classrooms,” Sholler-Barber, 71, said in a statement to MLive. 2020-21 Smart and Safe Start Plan; COVID-19; Kalamazoo Virtual Learning Path (KVLP) KPS Equity Cohorts and Community Learning Hubs; KRESA Virtual & Innovative Learning Collaborative (KVIC) Meals; Schedules; Tools & Strategies; Trimester information; Communications Workspace" Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. S:\Personnel\AA --- Denise\GROUPS\Work Schedules - All Groups\2020-2021\First Day of Work Letter 2020-2021 School Year.docx. Morris is a KPS and Western Michigan University graduate and a parent of both former and current students in the district. July 11, 2019. School board. She has a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in special education and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in special education administration. Subscribe now. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. His endorsements include the Michigan Education Association and Kalamazoo Education Association, the LGBTQ Victory Fund, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan and state Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, who is himself a candidate in Michigan’s 6th Congressional District. (Photos provided to MLive by candidates). “These are three amazing people who care so much about our children, our educators and our schools,” Hopewell wrote in a Facebook post. He said he will earn a bachelor’s degree in 2021. “Indeed, now is not the time to step away. Former Kalamazoo mayor Bobby Hopewell endorsed Sholler-Barber, Harrison and Morris together. “I use my knowledge of my personal experiences to provide a view of empathy in every project I take part in,” Kilgore said. During this time, we have completely rebuilt our website, events calendar, and catalog. Sholler-Barber said she will keep an “open mind to innovation and best practices while non-politicizing our students and their needs.” The current board president said she will encourage inclusive policies that “respect all children’s truth” and promote the academic standards they deserve.