There have been numerous signs on the side of the road for school board candidates and other elected representatives. Seeing all of those signs begs the question, what is the school board, and why is it important to vote on it?
The school board is a committee of elected officials responsible for most of the actions taken by the school or those that affect the school. Some things the school board does are levy taxes for school income, set the current curriculum, enforce safety for students and staff, employ staff, superintendents, administrators, and more. That being said, this November, the school board will be elected on the 5th. The board members run for six-year terms, from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. There are a total of seven candidates running for positions, and each voter may vote for two. This article is dedicated to giving a background and information about each of these candidates, and why or why not you should consider voting for them. All information provided is sourced from fhps.net.
Shawn Colley
Shawn Colley currently lives with his family in the Eastern Forest Hills area. He says he is running to “ensure that all decisions made are ones that put the students’ interests first.” Colley also says he’s running to support the current long-term success the district has achieved and to focus on the district’s future. He’s lived in the Eastern Forest Hills area for nine years, so he’s familiar with many of the expectations and the area in general. He’s been in a professional career for years now, and, at least from his perspective, he brings a very fact-based and data-driven approach to decisions.
Kristen Covelle
Kristen Covelle and her husband have lived in the district for 20 years. She’s taught English for 21 years, directed plays, coached, and served on the school board for the past term. In an interview with her, conducted by fhps.net, she said, “I am passionate about education and helping students grow—it’s my life’s work!” She’s worked with the Forest Hills Community Services and likes to volunteer. She says she would be a good candidate for the school board due to her many years of experience in the district and on the board.
Robert Cribbs
Robert Cribbs and his wife have lived in Grand Rapids for 22 years and are parents to two FHC graduates. He’s been involved with FHC for many years, whether it be as a substitute teacher, basketball coach, scoreboard operator, or even a bus driver. He said in an interview that he’s attended every meeting from financial to school board to many of the surrounding township meetings. He’s very familiar with the way things work in Forest Hills, and as a long-term Grand Rapids resident and Forest Hills community member, he’s familiar with the students.
Kevin Donovan
Kevin Donovan and his four kids have lived in Ada for about ten years. He says his kids often keep him involved within the district, whether it be in athletics or in-school activities. He has 26 years of professional experience in Construction Science and stated that with this degree, he “had the privilege of being part of iconic projects that range in cost from $5M to $2.2B,” and later went on to mention they were worldwide efforts. He also says he’s inclined to join the school board for his children, as he feels a responsibility for their future. He says these skills will be highly effective in solving budget issues as the district faces declining enrollment.
Mike Keast
Mike Keast was raised in Michigan by his father, who was a board member, and his mother, who worked in food services. By growing up in this environment, he inherited a “strong sense of purpose and community service.” These merits were accurately reflected during the Sept. 11 attacks, as he served in an Anti-Terrorism Task Force located in London. He was also an Infantry Squad leader in Iraq and eventually decided to settle down in Ada, working as a commercial banker with his wife. He graduated from Grand Valley and did volunteering. He exhibits many quality traits, like leadership and community engagement.
Kelly Kermode
Kelly Kermode currently owns two businesses, one in the arts and one in the technology industry. She’s had over 20 years of experience with corporate clients in major industries, so she’s good at communicating with clients and other people with concerns about the district. She’s worked as a cloud architect for Google and Amazon for multiple years and is very experienced in problem-solving positions. She says she brings a unique lens to the school board, and she “equips teams with growth and skill development.” She currently has two kids attending FHN and is familiar with the district and area. Having a more globally connected world demands a broader range of people and perspectives, and as someone who’s worked to train teams in places like Bolivia and South Africa, she believes she’s the right fit for the position.
Heather Tichon
Heather Tichon and her husband have been involved in the Forest Hills district for around 15 years. She has volunteered in classrooms representing Jr. Achievement for multiple years, supported the Ranger Marching Band, and encouraged enrollment in KCTC. All of her children went to the Forest Hills Schools. She has a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and owns and operates a private practice. She’s also been a Sunday school teacher for multiple years and leads a women’s group in her home. She envisions herself as a “liaison between [Forest Hills citizens] and the school administrators.” As someone who prioritizes giving back to the community and listening to the voices of others, she thinks she would best fit the position.
Overall, all of the candidates have their merits. Each one brings a unique perspective to the job and an experienced skill set. Each voter will get to pick two candidates whom they think fit the position best, but the predicted outcome is unclear.
