School elections are Tuesday
by John Morris

TAWAS CITY - Two Iosco County school districts will have contested races for the election on Tuesday, May 6.

Three candidates will be on the ballot for the two vacancies on the Hale and Whittemore-Prescott boards of education while Tawas and Oscoda will not have races.
The newly-elected school board members will take office on July 1 for their four-year seats.

Three candidates are on the ballot for two Hale Area Schools board seats being vacated by Roger Houthoofd, vice president, and Kristine Rhein, secretary, who are not seeking reelection. They are Chad William Brandt, Sarah Catherine Heuss and Charles Dennis Parkinson.

Three candidates will also be on the ballot for the two Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools board of education seats. They are challenger Paul Arndt, incumbent secretary Vickie Barnes and challenger Dorothy Lehman. Incumbent trustee Patrick Henika is not seeking reelection.

Two incumbents are unchallenged for their four-year seats on the Oscoda Area Schools board of education. They are Sherry Lynn Clouse, the current treasurer, and Neal Elwin Sweet, current vice president.

Two candidates, including an incumbent, will vie for two uncontested seats on the Tawas Area Schools board of education. They are challenger Gary Paul Bushman and Constance D. O’Connor, a current trustee. Treasurer Jon Look is not seeking reelection.

Hale Area Schools

Brandt, of Hale, a youth pastor at Hale First United Methodist Church, has been married for seven years to his wife, Rachalle. They have three children, Kassandra, 4, Dawson, 3, and Marshall, three months.

A 1992 graduate of Hale Area Schools, Brandt attended the University of Detroit to study architecture. He transferred to Grand Valley State University in 1995 and worked part-time to pursue a degree in education.

Brandt returned to Hale in 1999, worked for Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools for nearly a year as a permanent substitute teacher in a fifth grade classroom. In June of 2000, he was hired by the First United Methodist Church in Hale to lead its youth ministry program.

During his church employment, Brandt said he has continued his education through Spring Arbor University and is nearing the completion of a degree in elementary education. He also has been employed by Hale Area Schools the past nine years as the junior varsity boys basketball coach.

Brandt, of Hale, a youth pastor at Hale First United Methodist Church, has been married for seven years to his wife, Rachalle. They have three children, Kassandra, 4, Dawson, 3, and Marshall, three months.

A 1992 graduate of Hale Area Schools, Brandt attended the University of Detroit to study architecture. He transferred to Grand Valley State University in 1995 and worked part-time to pursue a degree in education.

Brandt returned to Hale in 1999, worked for Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools for nearly a year as a permanent substitute teacher in a fifth grade classroom. In June of 2000, he was hired by the First United Methodist Church in Hale to lead its youth ministry program.

During his church employment, Brandt said he has continued his education through Spring Arbor University and is nearing the completion of a degree in elementary education. He also has been employed by Hale Area Schools the past nine years as the junior varsity boys basketball coach.

Brandt said he recently had the opportunity to serve on the committee that helped review and formulate new code of conduct regulations for students involved in extra curricular activities at Hale High School.

As for his philosophy of Education, Brandt said every student in Hale Area Schools should have the opportunity to learn in a safe, healthy and positive environment.

“It is our responsibility as parents and community members to help make this learning experience possible,” he said. “Though our state’s educational system and funding is partially driven by how well our students perform on standardized tests, let us not forget that we should also be equipping our kids with the ability to think, communicate, and solve problems, not merely to retain facts and information.

“This can only be accomplished by engaging our students in the learning process early on, and by inspiring them to dream, set high goals, and to work hard in achieving these things. As the landscape of our state’s job market continues to change with the economy, so too should our philosophy of what defines a quality education.

“The nature by which we choose to educate, will now more than ever determine the success of our children and their future. We must be flexible enough to adjust with times, yet rigid enough to keep our values, morals, and integrity.”

Brandt said the reason he has chosen to run for a school board seat is that as a member of this community, he would like to have an opportunity to be a leader and take “an active part in establishing the best possible learning environment during our children’s educational experience. I believe there is still work to be done and areas where we can improve as we work toward being a school of excellence.”

Heuss, 34, of Hale, a homemaker, has been married for eight years to her husband, Rick. They have four children, James, 16, Kevin, 15, Tyler, 12 and Emily, eight. She has lived in the school district for 18 years.

“Having four children inside of an eight year time period made it difficult to work outside the home,” she said. “I am fortunate enough to be able to stay at home with my children.

“I am happy to say now I am working for myself and have the flexibility and time to devote to a position on the board of education.”

Over the years, Heuss said she has been a volunteer in sports and in the classroom. A 1992 high school graduate, she has coached soccer, softball and assisted in baseball.

As for what prompted her to seek a seat on the board of education, Heuss said she would like to take a more proactive role. “These are challenging times and we all need to adjust to these more sophisticated educational demands on our teachers, administrators, and most importantly, our students,” she said.

“I am eager to be more involved and devote my time and energy to providing the best possible education and environment for our children.”

If elected, Heuss said her priority would be first and foremost “to see our community come together for the greater good of our children. We need to offer the best possible educational opportunities for our children.

“I think it starts with open communication and discussion. United, we can bring new students to our district and this area and offer the best possible opportunities to our future leaders. The more people who get involved, the better.”

Parkinson, 62, of South Branch, is a retired from General Motors where he worked for 33 years and has lived in the school district for the past 17 years. He previously sat on the Millington school board for six and a half years, the Hale Area Schools board of education for three and a half years and served as Plainfield Township supervisor for seven years.

A 1963 graduate of Rose City High School, Parkinson went back to school in 1978 to study skilled trades at Mott Community College. He is a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 4217, Hale Knights of Columbus Council 7623, Hale Lions Club and St. Pius X Church.

Parkinson said his 10 years of school board experience and seven years serving as Plainfield’s supervisor is the qualifications he would bring to the board of education.

As for what prompts him to seek a seat on the board at this time, Parkinson said he enjoys working with people. If elected, Parkinson said his number one priority would be to work on the district’s MEAP scores.

Budgeting also is a concern to Parkinson, “so we have money to work with the board, teachers and administrators to improve our Meap scores. To resolve his concerns, Parkinson said he “must build trust with all of the above and the public.”

Whittemore-Prescott

Area Schools

Arndt, 82, of Prescott, has lived in the school district for 65 years. He is retired from American Hoist and Derick as a blueprint interpreter and consultant. Arndt and his wife of 60 years, Margaret-Ann, have two daughters, Linda (Roger) Dahn and Monica Harper (Jim), six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

“My life has been all about family,” Arndt said. “The population of Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools is made up of families and not just names and numbers. I want to be the voice of those families on the board of education.”

Arndt has severed as president of the Village of Prescott for seven years and spent a total of 10 years on the village board. Arndt said he headed the group to rewrite the village charter and to acquire grants for a pavilion and hall.

A graduate of Heimdal, North Dakota Schools, he is a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge No. 440, served as a volunteer fireman and performed in minstrel shows in Whittemore and variety shows in Prescott.

Arndt said his years of life experience in the community are the qualifications he would bring to the school board. “As a lifelong supporter of Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools, I want to do my part,” he said.

“I value education and feel that it is often taken for granted today.”

Arndt said his number one priority if elected would be “a quality education for all our children. We need more community and parental involvement in our schools.

“Once I am elected, I will be happy to talk to any individual at any time to meet the needs of all involved. I will do whatever it takes to make sure our schools work for everybody.”

Barnes, 38, of Prescott, has lived in the school district for 26 years. Widowed, she has three children, Megan, 21, Rachel, 15 and Andrew, 14; and one granddaughter.

A registered nurse, Barnes is the clinical director for Serenity Home Health Care. She has been a registered nurse since 2003, a licensed practical nurse since 1999 and is taking continuing education credits and seminars.

She has served on the board of education for two terms, serving as board secretary and has sat on the personnel committee during the past four years of negotiations. She is a Lions Club member, a CPR and first aid instructor and is a member of the West Branch Chamber of Commerce.

As for what qualifications she brings to the board, Barnes said it is experience and knowledge “of occurrences over the past eight years” and the “true desire to help our students and the community.

“I believe in the future of the children. I graduated from Whittemore-Prescott in 1988 and the interests of this school are dear to my heart. I am a loyal member to the community. I am open-minded and understand that all kids are different.”

If reelected, Barnes said her number one priority is listening to the staff and public to get input and suggestions on balancing the budget. Her second priority include changing “policies that are set forth where the punishment does not match the crime.” Her third priority is student enrollment.

Barnes said she will address the issues by revisiting several policies, make recommendations for changes and address the rest of the board. “Advertise and Young 4’s program are two areas I believe we need to focus on to increase student enrollment,” she said.

Lehman, 80, of Whittemore, has lived in the school district for 62 years. Widowed, she has five children, Kay, David, Richard, Mark and Matt.

She retired from Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools on July 1, 2007 and Lehman says she is “semi-retired.” She previously worked in the beverage business for 32 years and with an oil company for six years.

A Hale High School graduate, Lehman has served as the City of Whittemore clerk since 1995 and she previously served on the Whittemore-Prescott board of education for 21 years from 1975 to 1996. She has served as treasurer of the Whittemore Chamber of Commerce for 14 years, WRCWA and as its treasurer for two years, is a 30-year member of the American legion and as 25 year member of the Hale VFW.

As for what prompted her to seek a seat on the board at this time, she said “to try and make a difference.” Asked for the qualification she would bring to the board of education, Lehman said it is her “love of children”, which, if elected is her number one priority.

Other issues she sees with the district include lowering classroom student numbers and a better rapport with the staff and administration.