Clarkston Board of Education will have at least one new face this summer.
Challengers Michelle Beck of Davisburg and Rosalie Lieblang of Independence Township join incumbent board President Stephen Hyer on the May 5 ballot, running for two open seats.
“It’s time for a change,” said Beck, running for elected office for the first time. “I work in classrooms as a classroom aide. I’ve seen the cuts and how they’re affecting kids.”
Her biggest issue is the budget, she said.
“Class sizes have increased,” she said. “I’d like to get inside the system to better understand how the pieces to the puzzle fit together.”
Trustee Ron Sullivan, who has served 12 years on the school board, is not seeking reelection.
“I want to give a chance to others who have children in the district to be on the board,” said Sullivan, whose two children graduated from Clarkston High School. “I felt this was the right time. There are other things for me to focus on in my life.”
He wants to focus more on his job as a senior data base administrator, he said.
“I learned a lot from the time I served on the board,” he said.
Hyer has been on the school board for the past eight years, and is running for his third term.
Lieblang did not return calls for comment.
Look for candidate features in April.