Residents in the Lake Orion school district have a chance to visit the polls on Tuesday, May 6 to elect two members to the school board.
School Board Vice President Mary Jo Burchart and Secretary Tina Peterson both have terms expiring and are seeking reelection. Newcomer Ken Grant has also thrown his hat into the race.
To introduce the voters to the three candidates, The Review has supplied profiles for each.
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Mary Jo Burchart
Age: 46
Lives on: Talon Circle
Family: Husband of 18 ? years, Ralph; children, Nick, 16 and Elise, 13
Employment: Oakland Community College, Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Natural Sciences for seven years.
Education/Background: BS and MS in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Oakland University
Clubs/Organizations: Board liaison for the Lake Orion Education Foundation; Michigan Association of School Boards
Why are you running for the school board?
I am committed to serving the community by improving education for our youth. This serves everyone by making the community a desirable place to live and work. And while I have two children of my own in the district, I count every student in Lake Orion as important when making decisions.
What are the important issues facing the district next year and beyond?
Moving forward during financially troubling times – We need to find ways to improve student achievement that do not involve increased spending.
Improving communication among our stakeholders – We can do a better job of this and I would like to make myself more available to each of the groups.
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Ken Grant
Age: 42
Lives on: Cedar Bend
Family: Married to Cindy with three children, Tyler, Connor, and Hayden.
Employment: Senior Business Development Manager for NUS Consulting
Education/Background: BS in Business Administration from Ferris State University
Clubs/Organizations: President of Lake Orion Dragons Youth Football & Cheer, Board Member/Coach in the Orion Chargers Baseball Club, Vice President of the Northern Youth Football Organization, and Field Liaison for the NOBF and Orion Township.
Why are you running for the school board?
I am running for school board because I want to help make a difference for the young people of Lake Orion.
What are the important issues facing the district next year and beyond?
Currently, it’s financial. With government funding becoming less stable and the state of the economy, we need to plan for now and, most importantly, for the future.
Hiring a Superintendent that is qualified will be instrumental in our ability to continue as one of the premier educational public school districts.
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Tina Peterson
Lives on: Ridgeview Circle
Family: Two daughters, Lauren and Brianna
Employment: mjm Creative Services
Educational Background: Eastern Michigan University ? Design/Marketing
Clubs/Organizations: LO Fireworks Committee, Costume Chair for Avon Players
Why are you running for the school board?
Public education is something I am passionate about! I believe I’ve served the district for nine years with dedication, integrity and vision, always putting kids first.
I’ve worked hard to constantly improve academic achievement for ALL students and to make LO public schools a great place to learn and work.
What are the important issues facing the district next year and beyond?
Budget is always a concern. Understanding funding and designing a sound fiscal plan to maintain and improve programs is a key issue. Planning ahead for the future is important. Having a new superintendent and working thru that transition will be a priority.