Three candidates filed for two seats on the Oxford Board of Education Tuesday.
Challengers Sue Tombrella and Alan Weber will face incumbent Colleen Schultz in the Tuesday, May 2 school election.
Up for grabs are two, four-year seats on the school board in a district currently plagued by budget problems.
The candidates in this race are as diverse as can be ? an Oxford High graduate attending college, the vice president of a health care company and a mother of three who does Christian outreach for a local church.
‘My major goal is to look at the challenges the district has from a business perspective,? said Tombrella, 44, who’s employed as a vice president for Ajuba International, a health care management company. ‘I think it’s an opportunity to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.?
Tombrella has lived in Oxford Village since 1992. She’s been married to Stan Tombrella since 1991 and the couple is raising one son, Nick, a freshman at OHS.
Since her days as a volunteer for the Lakeville Elementary PTO, Tombrella has remained active in the schools, most recently running the football concession stands for the Athletic Boosters.
As budget cuts continue to challenge the district, Tombrella believes it’s time to ‘put everything on the table that needs to be done and just figure out how we can get it done under the constraints we have.?
‘I think we have a lot on our plate, we just need to learn how to divide and conquer,? she said. ‘We have a lot of expectations from the school district ? educating our kids and maintaining extracurricular functions for them . . . I think sometimes trying to manage all of the expectations doesn’t give us the ability to do what we need to do.?
‘Sometimes we try to do too much with what we have. I’m a firm believer that when you spread yourself too thin ? you try to be good at many, many things ? you’re a master at none.?
Tombrella said her 25 years in the business world have taught her how to ‘multi-task? and ‘manage multiple challenges,? skills she believes will prove valuable as a school board member.
‘We have to look at what we have as far as objectives and the resources we have in place to do what we need to do, then get ourselves very focused on those objectives and try to accomplish them,? she said.
But Tombrella’s perspective isn’t all colored by her business experiences. She also draws personal insights into the world of public education from her husband, a 32-year teacher in the Romeo school district, and from her sister and brother-in-law, both of whom retired from the Romeo district after 30-plus years.
‘We come from a long line of educators in our family, so I’m very in tune with the challenges (facing teachers and schools),? she said.
‘I’m sure it’s going to be hard work. I’m sure it’s going to be political. I’m sure there are going to be challenges. But I think at the end of the day, it will be very rewarding.?
Offering voters a younger perspective on things is 23-year-old Alan Weber, a 2001 OHS graduate who will receive bachelor’s degrees in political science and philosophy from Oakland University in April.
‘I’m very interested in the way things are going. I know the school board has some problems,? said Weber, who was born and raised in Oxford. ‘I want to provide my input and my services.?
Weber doesn’t believe his young age will be an issue with voters.
‘I don’t perceive that being a problem because it just brings new opinions, a different perspective on the whole issue of the way kids are educated,’he said. ‘I’ve just got a different perspective on things.?
Education is obviously important to Weber as he intends to work toward his master’s degree in public administration at the University of Michigan ? Flint. From there, his ‘ultimate goal? is to attend law school ? a long way from his days at Clear Lake Elementary.
But as much as he values education, Weber is concerned about the future of sports in Oxford Schools, especially in light of continuing budget cuts.
‘Sports is important because it gets kids off the streets and keeps them in class. It redirects them,? said Weber, who competed on the baseball, football and cross country teams during his school career. ‘I want to re-establish the sports programs to be more competitive throughout the state.?
Weber’s parents, Mark and Becky, are supportive of their son’s candidacy.
‘They think it’s a great idea,? he said.
Weber’s mother has worked in the OHS cafeteria since he was a freshman there and before that she worked in the district’s daycare program.
‘She would like to see some changes (in the schools),? he said.
Rounding out the candidates is incumbent Colleen Schultz, 44, who’s served on school board since 1998 and is the body’s current treasurer.
An Oxford Village resident, Schultz and her husband, Tom, have three daughters in the school district ? freshman Bridget and junior Caitlin attending OHS along with fifth-grader Molly at Lakeville Elementary.
When she’s not volunteering at the schools or attending board meetings, Schultz works part-time at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church doing Christian outreach and serves on the board for Oxford/Orion FISH.
Schultz was encouraged to see others running.
‘I’m glad people are interested,? she said. ‘I think competition’s good. Keeps us all on our game.?
In addition to dealing with the ‘financial challenges ahead of ? the district, Schultz wishes to continue on school board so she can help implement the new high school curriculum being formulated at the state level. These requirements are expected to take effect with the freshman class this fall.
‘I think this will be a good thing,? she said of the new curriculum.
Although she worries about how the new requirements in math, science, social studies and foreign languages will affect ‘kids that maybe aren’t traditional learners,? Schultz views this as a challenge to become more ‘creative? in helping ‘those kids that have to take algebra.?
Schultz has continued her own education through the Michigan Association of School Boards by taking 35 to 40 hours in classes dealing with subjects such as curriculum, technology, policy and parliamentary procedure.
Looking back on her school board career, Schultz is proudest of her involvement in helping pass the 2001 bond issue which enabled the district to build the new high school among other things.
‘Not only did we add to the curriculum and the classrooms, we also added community spaces ? the (swimming) pool, the Performing Arts Center,? she said. ‘I think lots of community members use those.?
Schultz is hopeful voters will return her to office for another four years.
‘I hope that I’m reelected. I would like the support and the vote of the Oxford public,? she said. ‘I think I have a pretty good track record. I’m honest. I’m pretty straight forward. I have a vested interest in education. I’ll be a parent here for a long time.?