Karen Foyteck gives a relatively short answer when describing the role of a school board president.
“I always laugh and say I’m a traffic cop,” she said, “which really means I run the meeting.”
Foyteck was elected president of the Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education last month, succeeding outgoing president Kurt Shanks. Now beginning her 12th year on the board, Foyteck has served as president before, as well as secretary and vice president.
During those years, she has noticed a misunderstanding she hopes can be clarified.
“There are some ceremonial things where you’re asked to represent the board,” she said. “But I have no supernatural powers, and I only have one vote like everyone else.”
Further, there are limits as to what those votes can do, she said.
“Most people do not understand that school boards don’t micromanage the district. We’re a governance board that sets policy.”
Foyteck’s duties include meeting with Superintendent Al Roberts to determine items to be placed on each meeting’s agenda, then ensuring each board member has agenda materials in advance.
That leads to more efficient board meetings, she said.
“Our board members are prepared,” she said. “You don’t see them reading their packet when they come in.”
Foyteck was a teacher before she had children, and a concerned parent after she quit teaching. Participation in PTA/PTO and athletic boosters was a springboard to elected office.
“I’ve always been active in school events,” she said. “That grew into an interest in board activities.”
Foyteck echoes concerns voiced by others in public education. Among those are funding, both sources and amounts. She credits the board’s budget planning, begun three years ago when officials said the district’s fund equity needed to be increased.
“It was too low, should there be a disastrous need,” she said, and that was prior to rumblings of budget cuts from Lansing. “From that standpoint, we were ahead of the game. We’re in good shape, but we’re still concerned [about the future].”
The issue of standardized tests is also on Foyteck’s list. She called the Michigan Educational Assessment Program “a tiny snapshot” which does not necessarily give the big picture.
“I understand the need to measure, but I think we need to be cognizant of what we’re looking at,” she said. “We all want all of our children to read and read well. We don’t mind being held to the mark, but we would like it to be a fair and equitable mark.”
The new president doesn’t expect her style of gavel to be much different than past presidents. She has some goals, however.
“We’ll conduct business in a professional manner, with civility and respect for each other’s opinions,” she said. “It will be thorough, and I’d like to think user-friendly.”
Foyteck also believes the school board has a track record of being professional and cordial, even when there is controversy or disagreement.
“When the vote is taken and the meeting’s over, everyone still respects and is friendly with everyone else.”
A particular challenge this fall, she said, is the arrival of new trustees Tony Miller and John Koval. It is the first time in years for the board to have two new trustees.
“It takes some time for people to be comfortable, to feel confident,” she said. “That’s one of my challenges this year is to help those two gentlemen integrate themselves into the board and the administrative team.”
Both new and veteran trustees are gearing up to settle details on the new grade configuration to be implemented in the 2004-2005 school year. Foyteck said that will be a big item in months to come.
Although school board meetings are not considered “public hearings,” they are open to the public and there are opportunities for public comment. In addition, school trustees’ telephone numbers are public record.
“The public is always welcome,” she said. “I’m always happy to hear from people.”
School board members earn only a per-meeting fee, so money is not seen as the reward. For Foyteck it is, “…a great personal pleasure when I’m fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be in a classroom or at a student performance or read to a group of children. It’s exhilarating. That’s one of the big payoffs for me.”
In her spare time, Foyteck is a self-described voracious reader, with a particular interest in books dealing with history (both fiction and non-fiction).
“I’ll read a cereal box if that’s the only thing available,” she said.
With three children having graduated from Clarkston schools, Foyteck now boasts of “three wonderful grandchildren,” and she also enjoys her flower gardening.
“I have a tendency to either dry things out or drown them,” she said, “but I’m getting better every year.”
Above all, she said she enjoys people, and that’s part of why she enjoys being involved in Clarkston schools.
“I would be very unhappy if I were stuck in a cubicle with no human contact.”