001Trusty Herrer >> here. Ras >> here. >> Trustee Spencer >> here. >> Trustee AMT >> here. >> Trusty Joseph. >> I'm sure we'll be here. >> Thank you, Tracy. Um, we don't have any um public comments. So, I will turn the meeting over to >> Oh, my bad. Sorry. We need to do the consent agenda. I knew that and I wrote it down and I promptly forgot it. I do apologize. Um, trustees, can I get a motion to move consent uh the acceptance of the consent agenda resolution 53 forward, please? >> I move to accept the consent agenda. Um, resolution 53. >> Second. >> Moved by Trustee Ashoon, supported by Trustee Wrath. All those in favor, please raise your hand and say, "I." >> I. >> Thank you. Um, I'm going to turn the meeting
002over to Dr. Robersonson, but she is going to move seats. And so while she is doing that, trustees, I would just like to note that in the red packet, would you please double check that you have the list of interview um of candidates and times? And then for each particular um candidate, you have a um packet that has their information and also a uh question um questionnaire that you can take notes on as we complete the interviews. And we'll just do a roundroin um of the questions. So each time you'll ask um the same questions. We'll start um the questions um with Trustee Ashoon and then move around the table from there and I think that's it. Dr. Robertson. Thank you. I just would like to give an overview of the process um just so
003the community is also aware of of the of what occurred. Um we had a an open board of education seat uh vacated by trustee Jason Tajani. Uh the application process was um sent um out the notice of it through our e-news and also through a couple of local papers as well. Uh we received 24 interested candidates into the position. the board trustees at that time uh read all of the applications of those 24 applicants and also scored them. Uh those applicants who received a 14 or average score of 14 or higher are being interviewed today. Um we have nine candidates being interviewed today. Uh we have asked uh those nine candidates um while this is a public meeting not to sit in on the interviews until after they have already gone through the interview process
004just to not give any particular applicant any unfair advantage. At this time I would like to turn uh the meeting over to Dr. Smith. uh she's going to go over a little bit about interview um protocols and and information so that again we can make sure that we're running a a process that is fair for all. >> Good morning everyone. >> Good morning. >> Morning. >> Thank you for having me. What um I wanted to share with you is um a universal process that we put together for any of our district interviews. And so we thought it'd be applicable to the work that you're doing here today to um find um a person to fill your open board seat. So something that we stress with all of our interview panels um is to approach every
005candidate with an open mind. So we remind people that um you're coming to any sort of interview process with you know an idea of who you'd like to add to your team. And so what we want to make sure that people who sit on interview panels do is avoid things like stereotyping, right? Like that you've had something in your mind that a specific gender or race or economic status is something um that you are looking for um prior to even hearing any of the answers to um the candidates's questions. We want to avoid affinity bias, which would be trying to put someone onto your team that is exactly like you, right? We we naturally are drawn to people who have the same interests that we do or same ideas and and as all of you
006know the best teams have a diverse um you know diverse in in all types of ways and particularly um you know you want your team to be complete. So you know be thinking of that. Avoid things like um looking for people who again just share a lot of your own characteristics and then avoid contrast bias. So what that refers to is um you know comparing candidate to candidate, >> right? That's that's not approaching each candidate with an open mind. That's saying well this candidate doesn't have what this one. So it it creates deficit thinking. Um so instead we tell all of our interview panels really make sure that you are honed in on what the candidates are saying, right? What are they sharing with you? Um and we call them listen fors. So instead of
007look fors because that would be something that's that you can see, you're going to listen to candidates um answers, you're going to see how does th do those answers align to what our board believes in. What are our board priorities? What are our district priorities? And so again, approaching with an open mind, but also making sure that you're listening um to what the candidates are sharing with you is most important. And then the other bias is when you have um what's called the halo and horn effect. So the halo effect is if someone on their resume or in their first answer says something that you really connect with. The halo effect would be you would apply that, you know, your excitement about that answer to all of their answers and you kind of stop listening
008because like that first answer or one piece of their resume really makes you think this is the person and you kind of stop listening. And the opposite of that would be if the something on their resume or their first answer is something you don't connect with or don't think matches exactly a listen for or a board priority, then you kind of disregard the rest of their answers. So, we want to just make sure again that we're approaching it with an open mind and really using those listen fors as you go through each of your candidates. And then we just remind people of expectations of an interview panel. So, we want every um candidates's experience to be similar. And so, just making sure you're present and engaged for each candidate. You guys are seeing a lot
009of candidates today. So, it might you might have a tendency as the day goes on to, you know, be less engaged. You want to just make sure you're giving that same experience to each candidate. Um, you know, obviously put away uh cell phones and laptops, anything that would distract the candidate as you're working um through the questions with them. And then be welcoming, right? I know that sounds silly to have to um you know to have to say to interview panels, but we remind people that people are very nervous as they come in, right? And um you know, doesn't help this is televised and things like that. So um just remember to be welcoming and smile. Um take notes, but also make sure you have eye contact. I don't know if any of you have
010been interviewed before and everyone's just writing everything you're saying and you're like, "Do they like, you know, you get in your head about it a little bit." So, just make sure you take notes, but have eye contact. And then make sure that in your in your notes, you're not writing any sort of commentary, right? Because all of this is is public record. So, we remind our interview panels of that as well. >> And then if someone says something you really like or don't like, you have to kind of still have the poker face, right? So, the candidate isn't distracted. If something they say you don't connect with and your face shows that, that might be distracting um as you go through the rest of the questions. So just kind of keeping your your poker face
011on as you go through is important as well. And then making sure that and it sounds like your process is very defined and and very equitable for all candidates. That's very important. So just make sure that all of the candidates are asked the same set of questions which I know you will do. But also making sure that um they're asked the questions in the same way. So even missing a word or changing an inflection um could change their answer, right? Or change their response in some way. So you want to make sure every question is read the same way to each candidate so there's equity in their um ability to respond. Um you can repeat questions, but you can't add any context to it. So if somebody asks you, "What do you mean by that
012question?" You're just going to want to respond by saying, "I can repeat the question for you." because context would again influence their answer. So you have to just say the same questions to each candidate in the same way. Um very important so that there's you know universality among uh each of the candidates and that um everyone will be given the same amount of time is really important. Again all of these things help to um have a fair and equitable process um you know that we just ensure that everyone's keeping an open mind throughout the process um and that the candidates have had the same experience. Any questions? Now I'm nervous. >> Okay. I don't think so. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Smith. >> Can everybody look at their packets and just make sure that you
013have packets for all nine. >> Do we this this mic is different on on this side? Can everybody look at their um in their folder and make sure that they have packets for each of the nine candidates as well as a um >> sheet >> note sheet for each of those candidates as well. >> Did we divide up the questions? I I know you said I'm doing the first one, but there are >> Yes. So, we will um if you could start with the questions and then um >> Oh, just continue around. >> Trusty Zamut will ask the next one. Got it. Uh, >> Trusty Hokr the third. I'll ask the fourth, fifth, sixth, and then we'll circle back around to you. So, there are a few of us who will end up with two
014questions and a few of us who will only ask. >> That's fine. Just wanted to make sure. >> Yes. And we'll just carry that um throughout the process so that we're all asking um the same questions each time. >> And the other piece is I would ask that whatever question you're supposed to ask that you read over it right now. in that way if you have any questions >> it would be great to know those questions um prior to us you guys asking the first candidate. Mhm. Mhm. >> So, it would look like per that that um Lori, you'll have question number one, Colleen. Question two, Amy, question three, I'll ask question four, Jen will ask question five, Luke, you'll ask question six, and then Lori will circle back to you for question seven. Colleen,
015question eight. Amy, question nine. and then I'll finish up with question 10. That sound like a good plan. >> Sounds like a good plan. >> Great. >> And that's the same order for every person. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> We'll follow that same um same for everyone. So, if you wanted to make a note on each of the packets, the questions that you'll ask, that would be now would be a fine time to do that. We have our first candidate at nine. >> At 9. Yes. >> Okay. Okay. So, we have a few minutes to look everything over. >> You do. >> Okay. Great. >> The other thing I would just state is at um on your note sheet just to kind of help you um look at each candidate for who they are. There
016is a um the last sheet uh it says, you know, I do not want to advance this person forward. I I may want to consider advancing this forward with more discussion or I I definitely want to advance this candidate forward. >> And that's just so that um you're not waiting till 2:30 because that's when we're ending today to try to remember the first and second candidate, but you can do that as >> as you go along. >> Did we write our name? >> You don't need to. >> So this one we submitted is going to be anonymous. It's going to you're going to keep those notes until the end of the process, >> but it's for you. >> All right. >> Great. Thank you, Dr. Robertson. >> Does anybody else have any other questions? Okay.
017>> At this time, the board will take a 15minute recess until our first candidate arrives at 9:00 a.m. >> Thank you. The board has returned from recess. Welcome and thank you for being here today. We truly appreciate your time and care you've taken to prepare for this process and your interest in serving our district. The interview will consist of questions from the board. Each member will ask at least one question and a few may ask two. In total, there will be 10 questions and you'll have approximately 25 minutes to respond. A clock is visible over um in front of Mrs. Jones right over here um to help you um with your pacing. You'll also find a bottle of water in front of you. Um please feel free to pause and take a sip at any
018time. Um and we'll begin. Trustee Ashoon, will you please ask the first question? >> Good morning and welcome and thank you for coming. So my question to you is please tell us about yourself, your background, and why you want to serve on the board. Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me. I am incredibly humbled and honored to um be here and I'm so grateful for all the work that you do um and for, you know, our students and our community. Um a little bit about me. I try to make this as entertaining as possible as you guys are going to be s sitting through this all day. Um I am local. Uh, I grew up in Bloomfield Hills. I graduated from Lasser High School. So, I'm aging myself a little bit
019here. Um, I studied public policy at Wayne State University where I served as the vice president of government affairs for uh the student senate um that oversaw a student body of 30,000. Um, in my time at the student senate, I um helped uh organize voter registration drives, uh medical amnesty legislation, um as well as increased funding for financial aid and uh and to lobby uh government officials to um increase uh the percentage of aid per student at Wayne State University. Um, I also lobbyed with the Student Association of Michigan, which essentially had representatives from each public university in Michigan, um, where we would research and discuss, um, public policy affecting higher education and students and student outcomes. Um, you know, that spirit of public policy never left. Um, and I still follow higher education and
020and just K through2 education in general as well. Um, and you know, I tripped and fell into mortgages uh when I interned at a company my senior year of undergrad. Um, and it's a it's a public policy job as much as it is a finance job. um with guidelines that are constantly changing in mortgages, it's important to um be a breast of public policy. Um and I've also kept relationships with um policy makers locally and federally um to lobby for my clients um and the guidelines that they're facing, which is making home ownership very difficult uh as of right now with e current economic conditions. Um uh fun fact about me, I also usher at LCA Pine Knob Fox Theater um every once in a while and uh it's a great job if you ever
021get the chance to do it, but um it's just once a month, so it's not like a big time thing or anything. Um I have two children in the district and that's why I'm here. Um, my two children are seven, um, and well, going to be two on Groundhog's Day. And they're my why. They're why I get up in the morning. They're why I want to do this because their education, their friends educations, um, their teachers. I I want to do everything I can to support them and create an environment that's already exceptional as far as I'm as far as I'm concerned and know. Um so I think building on that um you know to be an asset as opposed to a liability. Um, that's kind of how I try how I try to roll
022is just to be helpful and diplomatic and um, you know, help build consensus as opposed to division. Does that answer your question? >> Great. Thank you. >> All right. Question two. What are the biggest challenges facing public education today and how do they affect our district? Great question. Um, so I think there are a lot of challenges facing public education, but I would say the biggest one is is funding. Um, I think there every day educators and school districts are being asked to do more with less. Um and all of that is creating a lot of pressure and that pressure can you know impact you know students ability to learn and students and teachers abilities to teach um whether it comes to classroom sizes whether it comes to you know materials and opportunity and things
023like that. So I would say um that is uh one of the biggest issues. Uh the second issue I would say is and again like my my background is in public policy and mortgages not educational development and psychology. Um but I would say a big part is the is the phones. Um, so how are like social media and distraction um and also mental health? Um, so I'd say okay, how do I word this in a way that makes it a single coherent answer? Um, but I would say overall social emotional well-being and I think that se segues into you know cell phone usage like over extension of screen time um and also overall mental health and I think you know solutions to these potential problems are working together um to show the importance of funding
024um and also the importance of well-being. So just the more community resources we can use um and kind of make people aware of also um in a way that is diplomatic, in a way that is kind um I mean that's how I would look at that. >> Um again thank you for being here. My question is, if you were faced with a tough issue as a board member, cutting staff or programs, what kind of data would you need to help you make your decision? It's a great question. Um, I don't think anybody likes making tough decisions. Um, but I think sometimes the medicine comes at the end of the needle. Um, I help my clients make tough decisions all the time. uh when it comes to home mortgage financing and um I think the most
025important thing is stakeholder management. So really making sure that everyone is heard. Um I also believe in using the lens of equity um to make sure that we don't marginalize people. Um and I also believe in using as much evidence-based information and data as possible because I think a lot of decision- making can come down to emotions. I mean, when it comes to loss of income, that's one of the most devastating things that can happen to a person. And, you know, as someone who graduated in 2009 when my dad wasn't working and laid off and you know, we had I had to ask if Walmart took the bridge card. Um, I take that very seriously and I think just really looking at the human being aspect of those decisions is very important, but also I
026believe in like reaching out to those around me. um reaching out to people who are smarter than me, reaching out to people who know more about these decisions than I do because I want to make the most informed evidence-based decision possible with the least amount of harm possible. >> So, thank you. >> Thank you. The next question, what would you like to see changed in the district and how do you envision your role in that change? >> Okay. Um, so first of all, I I think the district is doing great. I mean, I read up on on you guys all the time. I'm like one of your biggest fans. Um, so I think uh one of the things that the district is doing great is, you know, using equity and using that lens to um
027really uplift our students and making sure that, you know, not only that we're complying with federal and state standards, but also going above that. Um, and that's something that I think is is a great thing to do. Um, as far as changes go, um, I am a competitive person. Um, I am in sales at, um, and so I would love to see what kind of partnerships we can develop, um, to, you know, be be even more competitive than we already are. Um, so whether it's, you know, guest speakers, whether it's, um, you know, things like additional resources, like I love the the labs that just opened, um, from VW. So I think, uh, building relationships with with companies like that where, um, we can partner with them and then have them, uh, potentially come into
028our schools and give lectures. And I think all of that is good for the school district because um that generates learning at the end of the day, right? And then also it creates more community partnerships and then maybe these students might work at Volkswagen or something like that. So it creates this whole opportunity for our students which I think is very very important. >> Great. Thank you. >> Good morning. The next question is, "An average month for a schoolboard member includes between three and five scheduled meetings and several other school or community related activities that you're invited to attend. In addition, there's daily email correspondents, required reading, and district updates. How will you fit this into your schedule?" >> Sure. Um, so I ha am very fortunate to have a career and support system that
029allows me to put more on my plate. Um, I work from home in a flexible schedule. Um, and with a team that, you know, allows me if I need to take an hour or two during the day to attend a meeting or an event, um, it's no problem. I actually spoke with my, uh, director at this at length. um like if this happens. Um and I have his full blessing to do whatever needs to be done for the district. Um and then I also am a huge reader. Um I love reading. It's one of my favorite things to do. Um and I study and follow public policy already anyway. Um so I think it would just be narrowing that focus a little bit more for me. Um, and then you know I'm like I said
030I'm very very lucky to have the support system that I have that is in full support. Um, but also like with my husband um you know we both work from home. We both are you know have our child care managed. We have um we give each other full support to do you know help the community and do the projects we need to do. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh our next question is as a board me excuse me as a board member you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put aside what's best for you your family your friends and your school to do what's best for the students and district. What does that mean to you? >> That's a good question. Um, so I would assume in any board situation and
031as someone who has sat on previous boards myself, albeit not on this board of education, um, not everybody can agree on the same pizza toppings. So when it comes to uh you know agreeing on policy and things like that of course not everyone is going to agree um on certain guidelines but I think it's the relationship that you have with the board and the community and stakeholders. Um it's important to maintain that and I think bu being a team is huge and teamwork whether it's you know a difficult decision or or something you don't agree with. Um you know there are going to be things that I don't agree with. There are going to be things that I'm sure you guys disagree with each other. But I can see through your relationships with each other
032that you care about students. And I think caring about students and with them being the focus at the end of the day though we have different facets of you know how that might look um I don't think there's a single person here that doesn't care about students and put them first and so I think just really focusing on student outcomes you know that's it that's what you got to focus on. Okay, thank you. Back to me. So, if you are appointed to the board, would you seek reelection when the appointment expires? It's a six-year term. >> Yes. Um, one of the things that I I didn't realize I wanted to do um until I sat at the meeting the other day with uh with Trusty Ras and Trusty Spencer and I think Trusty Zamit, were
033you there? I don't know. There were there were a few people there. I'm sorry. I'm still learning everybody's names. Um, but Trusty Ras talked about how her goal was to uh give her child their diploma and I want to do that too. But I mean obviously I I want to serve the board and the district to the best of my ability. Um, but I firmly believe in, you know, I would be honored and would love to be a part of the board as long as my children are going through school within the district. Um, I think it's important, you know, for for their development. I think it's important for, you know, our friends and neighbors. Um, if I am lucky enough to be reelected, um, that is definitely something that I would seek re-election because
034the way I see it, I'm in it for the long haul, not just a not just to go in and out. Um, and that's, you know, make what's more important than the than your kids's education, if that answers your question. >> All right, question eight. Describe your response if a parent cornered you in the grocery store and asked for your support on a particularly hot issue. >> That's a fun one. Um, so a little bit about my background. Um, I as an usher at LCA and the Fox and Pineob and all that stuff, we go through extensive training um on how to interact with the general public. And um one of the biggest takeaways I ever got from the training was how to win by losing, right? And um like if someone is very upset,
035if someone is I rateate um what that means is like if they're angry, you just say, "Hey, I'm really sorry that happened." And you'd be amazed at how much that deescalates and just the act of hearing someone can bring the temperature down. And so I believe in using tactics like that where people feel listen. It doesn't mean I agree with them. It doesn't mean that I'm going to do what they say, but just the act of genuinely listening to them and hearing what they have to say. um and being tactful in a response like okay well you know I'll look into this I'll consider it um things like that um I think people being heard is the most important thing I think with any issue with any um you know but being cornered in a
036grocery store I mean the things I've seen at concerts I I mean it doesn't really scary. Um, and then working with the general public and dealing with like a difficult finance market. Um, if they want to if they want to talk at Papa Joe's, I'll listen to them. >> Okay. Identify a recent board decision that you felt strongly about and describe how you would balance community concerns, student needs, state and federal law, staff considerations, and your personal value and beliefs to determine how to vote on the issue. >> Sure. Um, so a recent board decision and I'm not Can I ask a question? Um, so there was um an article about funding for mental health and safety and um there were 12 districts that rejected the funding because there um there would have been like
037an investigation in the event of a mass casualty. Was that a board decision or was that like uh Dr. Robersonson who made that decision? They did ask the board. >> Yeah, >> They did ask the board. >> Oh, okay. Cool. Sorry. Thank you. I just I wasn't sure the article didn't really go into it. Um, so I applaud your decision for that. Um, I think it was uh the right call and from what I read in the article and what the other districts did, there was a lot of fear of liability of what could open them up to liability if they opened up to an investigation and things like that. Um, but a from a public policy standpoint, god forbid something like that were to happen, an investigation would already be happening. you know, the
038foyer requests would be through the roof, I'm sure. Um, and I think sometimes the best defense is offense, right? So, accepting the funding that would help with safety and mental health um is a great call. And you know, the while liability is a very real thing, I think the liability from rejecting that funding would have been greater. And so I I really applaud your decision for that. And uh I think you know serving you know talking to parents, talking to students, talking to you know educators and stakeholders. Um I can't imagine a large number of people that would be against that. Um but you know they're they're still out there like 12 districts voted against it. Um, but I think just really it's the listening. You know, we have two ears and one mouth for
039a reason. So >> the last question, um, any additional information you'd like to share or any questions for us? >> Um, yes. Um, so for for sharing information, I just want to say thank you. Um, thank you for having me. Thank you for all of the work that you do. I know it's hard. I know it's it's hard. I know that, you know, people can get rowdy. Um, and I appreciate you guys every meeting, you know, every every email, every like still getting up and doing it. And I'm very proud of you. Um, and I just want to thank you. Um, you know, as as far as it when it comes to me, I, you know, just want to help out and give back any way that I can and use a very niche skill
040set that I have that would I feel benefit with my degree in public policy and my MBA and my work in in finance. Um, but my question for you guys is what is your thought process when it comes to difficult decisions? >> I think that as a board we look at what's best for students. Um, that's our driving factor and so I think every choice we have to make always looks um towards what's best for all the students in our district. Trustees, anything else that you would want to add to that statement? Well, yes, I I do. This is this is one body. This is one body that makes a decision together regardless of um differences. And once that decision has been made, it is an automatic um assumption that other trustes will get behind
041that decision. And it's always the guiding force of children and safety first. Thank you. Awesome. >> Thank you. Um I did just want to Dr. Robersonson, can you clarify the term um for the the um Sure. the term um would end in November and anyone who ran for this particular seat in November, it would be a four-year term ending in December of 2030. So, it would be >> um actually taking over Trusty Tenjani's term and since that's when his term would end, that's when this particular seat would end. So, just a clarification, four, not six, >> just to be sure. Thank you. And I should have um for the general public, I should have introduced you as you walked in. I do apologize um for not saying your name. So, um Keymando, thank you for
042being here today. We really appreciate it. Thank you for having me. I'm just so grateful to even be here. >> Thank you. Appreciate your time. >> Um, thank you for being here today. Um, we have uh candidate loose Lton. We really appreciate the time and care you've taken to prepare for this process and your interest in serving our district. The interview will consist of questions from the board. Each member will ask at least one question and a few may ask two. In total, there will be 10 questions and you'll have approximately 25 minutes to respond. A clock is visible over here in front of Mrs. Jones um to your left to help with pacing. You'll also find a bottle of water in front of you. Please feel free to pause and take a sip at
043any time. Let's begin. Trustee Alooney, will you please ask the first question? >> Thank you for coming and welcome. Thank you. Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and why you want to serve. >> Um, so as I stated in both the um answers to the application, and even on my resume, I have been a long-term resident. I've lived in the district since 2009 when my oldest started kindergarten at West Maple. Um I have three children and while Isabella was at West Maple, I decided I was offered a position on the West Maple PTA. And so my husband sort of suggested that I take it and I did. And then what I found is that I started to kind of follow Isabella through the system. And so I guess to describe me
044is that I when I put my resume together, it was interesting to see that my course of where I started to where I am now and that is serving on the Michigan PTA board. It's clear that I'm a service um oriented person. Um I believe in the district and I like, you know, I just like what I've been doing. And so when this opportunity arose, I just thought, you know what, I think the time is right for me to go ahead and apply. Thank you. Okay, question two. What are the biggest challenges facing public education today and how do they affect our district? >> So, you guys have a lot of challenges. Um, in serving on the Michigan PTA board, I'm becoming more increasingly aware of how much of the challenges you face. A lot
045of the challenges stem from sort of the top, right? And then and then they trickle down. And so when you look at like what we're facing today, you have and I and I don't know really but you know I'm watching the news and I'm watching children deal with ICE and I'm watching so so there's those components right and then you have I think in regarding our district I don't know if we've ever and one of the things I said about myself is that I've really built community. I think our district has been tasked with uh community in some regards. I think in COVID we became two divided um sets of groups, right? And so when I look at public education, you have to look at how do you meet the needs of all the students
046with with two sets of two sets of parents that have two totally different beliefs, right? And that's what you're tasked with and that's what we all have to look at. It's very hard to make those decisions. And so to be honest, while I am on the Michigan PTA board, I kind of wish I had a little bit more experience with that because they are at pushing advocacy and all of the issues that are coming, they're asking us to step up and to speak out and to advocate and that's what we are, right? Mission, the PTA is one of the national PTA is one of the largest adv advocacy groups in the nation. And so that's what I I don't have all the answers and I don't know all the things specific, but I do know
047from what I hear from parents working with what I do and I do know what I'm hearing at the at the state level and like funding is an issue. You know what I'm saying? There's tons of things and you guys are tasked with a very difficult decision on how to how to address those needs. If you were faced with a tough issue as a board member, for example, cutting staff or programs, what kind of data would you need to help you make your decision? >> Um, LE, can I interrupt you for a second? Can you just move a little bit closer to the microphone? Thank you. >> You know what I can do? >> Okay. I'm sorry. >> No, it's okay. >> Um, Can you repeat the question? >> Yes. >> Sorry. >> Um, if
048you were faced with a tough issue as a board member, for example, cutting staff or programs, what kind of data would you need to help you make your decision? >> I guess I can answer this based on sort of what happened to me in my situation with my with with one of my children. So, one of my children had an LRC teacher and she was um moot to another school. And so, I had inquired about the why. You know, why did this happen? It was her favorite teacher. She meant a lot. We were cheerful. It impacted us. And when you looked at why this teacher was moved versus perhaps another one, this teacher did have more credentials or more certifications that allowed her to make that move. and I understood that. So whether I agreed
049with it or not, I understand that decisions have to be made on still what is the best situation for the entire district. So it did impact my family. We were sad. We were tearful. But when I had to step back and hear the reasoning and look at the why, I can't argue that. And that's what I think that you have to look at. We have to make the best decisions on not necessarily our own needs or or what maybe my friends might come to me about, but what really is going to help this district be still be successful? That's that's what I would say. >> Thank you. Thank you. Question number four. What would you like to see changed in the district and how do you envision your role in that change? I've been working
050in the district a long time, just not in the capacity that you have, but I have. I've been working a long time. And I think I don't have one specific thing. I thought a lot about what you guys might ask me and how I might answer these questions. But the truth of the matter is I don't I don't have there's not one thing. What I can tell you is that whenever I've taken on a new position or a new role within the district, I sit back, I watch and I learn and then I decide kind of the route I'm going to take. And that's especially what I did with council. I didn't have an agenda. I didn't have anything that I knew I was going to come in there. But when I saw what needed
051to be done, then I focused and I worked with those women on that. So for me with this situation, I have I have a large connection with a lot of community members, right? I mean a lot of PTA leaders but you have to sit back and you have to look at you have to sort of designate like this is something we can do in this and there's a lot of times where I have to learn and so the first thing I have to do is I have to really learn what it is that you guys are doing but I also know that there are certain things that the that I think the community wants especially even me as a PTA leader like they expected me to do things but it wasn't my lean like I
052don't do I don't do that. And so that's the sort of thing is that I have to learn more about what it is that the that you do as a board. And I understand that that you you set policies, you don't administer, you know, you you know what I'm saying? So to be quite honest, I don't have one thing that I would change. I mean, I know that you guys are working toward doing the best that you can do for the district. So >> thank you. >> Good morning. Uh the next question, an average month for a schoolboard member includes between three and five scheduled meetings and several other community school or community related activities that you are invited to attend. In addition, there are daily email correspondents, required reading, and district updates. How will
053this fit into your schedule? Well, so I'm a stay-at-home mom, so I don't work, and that's kind of why I've been able to do all of the volunteering and all of the PTA work that I've done. and given it more. I've always treated, to be honest, all of those positions as if they were a real paying job. Um, and so I'm very cautious about what I take on because I don't like to join something and then not give it my all. It's just my nature. Um, so I don't think that I would have any problem with that. And I did check into that like I am on the Michigan PTA board. I wanted to look at your calendar and to see there issn't there isn't a conflict. >> Thank you. Um, the next question is,
054as a board member, you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put aside what's best for you, your family, your friends, and your school to do what's best for the students and this the district. What does this mean to you? I I for me, I've I feel like I've already been doing that. I've been doing that in the district council work. Um, like I said, when there was a personal situation that involved my daughter, I um, it's not about me, it's about all of us as a whole and what truly is best for the district. So, I support the decisions. I know they're not easy. Um, and my leadership as I was leading the PTA leaders, um, they're strong. They're strong and they don't always like what I suggested or or kind of the
055direction I was taking us, but I knew in the end that it was the right thing. so I'm able to make the hard decisions and um and deal with that. >> Thank you. >> If appointed to the board, would you seek reelection when the appointment or term expires? >> Oh, for sure. Because like I said, my leadership style is to kind of come in and watch and learn and and listen. Um, I think these these next few months would 10 month 11 months would be that. Um, so of course I'm sure that when I um run for reelection if I'm appointed that um, you know, I'll be ready to go. >> Yeah. >> All right. Describe your response if a parent cornered you in the grocery store and asked for your support on a particularly
056hot issue. >> Uh, that happens quite a bit already. Um, I learned early on when I was in my West Maple days that I couldn't go to Trader Joe's without being um, talked to about an issue at West Maple or I couldn't uh, drop my kid off at a school party. I was there standing there for 30, 40 minutes, you know, and I was a mom, you know what I mean? I wasn't the the PTA leader, so I understand um, what that is. But I I truly just listen. I think what it is is that people want to be heard and they want to feel like I care. They want to feel that that their their opinion matters. And so, while I wanted to drop my my child off and make a quick dash, I
057stood there and I listened and I gave them the time. I think it's important I think it's important to let people feel that they have a say. >> Okay. Can you identify a recent board decision that you felt strongly about and describe how you would balance community concerns, student needs, state and federal law, staff considerations, and your personal values and beliefs to determine how to vote on the issue. I think you guys have had a lot of So, I watch the board meetings. I don't attend, but I do watch, especially having been a PT, the district council leader, right? Because people ask me and they want to know what what you guys are doing or why you're doing it. And so, um, there's been several things that I probably could point out. Um, the going
058back to school during CO, the not going back, uh, most recently the teachers, um, contract. I mean, there's tons of things, right, that we could that that I could point out, but um I do pay attention. Most recently, I actually even pay a little bit more attention on social media. I think it gives me a good pulse on what the community is feeling, and I think that's important to know all aspects and all sides of that. And so, you're right, Amy. When a when a tough decision has to be made, you have to look at every factor. That's going to be your stakeholders, your community members. It's going to be what is coming down from the government, right? Then you're going to have to look at depending on what that situation is, whether it was
059for kids coming back to school or whether it's a teacher's contract, you're going to have to look at what what is the best decision based on what what is laid out in front of us. That's I mean I think that there's just no getting around it. Um, I know from PTA leader, from being a PTA leader and all the PTA work I've done, I've never made any any I've never made the entire school happy ever. I've tried. I mean, trust me, I've tried, but that's that's the truth. No one will ever be happy with whatever decision. No matter the stress that I take, the consideration I give to it, no one's ever going to be we're we're never going to make any anybody completely happy. But as long as we make solid decisions based on
060information that we're given, we are doing the best that we can do. >> Thank you. >> And the last question, is there any additional information you'd like to share or questions for us? >> Um, I want to say that I could join um I know that I could join and jump into any PTA within this school. I know that I could um I love doing it, but I also feel that I'm ready to grow and I think that's apparent in my resume, like I said, where you look where I started to where I am now. Um I want to take the next leap. Uh I appreciate the work that you do. I I said this, I know how hard it is. Um, and so I hope that you look at me um as a real
061worthy candidate because I am invested in the district. I've given a lot of years um to the district and so I just hope that you um give me a good chance and then I've asked all the questions. I did come a little late to the informational session and I asked Jen and Nicole some questions and um I've been on the websites. I've looked up all of the things. So I don't really have um anything but if you guys have something else to ask me. >> We are all set. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you for your time. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um welcome and thank you for being here. Um we have in front of us candidate Toy Bogen. Um, we truly appreciate the time and care you've
062taken to prepare for this process and your interest in serving our district. The interview will consist of questions from the board. Each member will ask at least one question and a few may ask two. In total, there will be 10 questions and you'll have approximately 25 minutes to respond. A clock is visible slightly to your left over in front of Mrs. Jones um to help with pacing. You'll also find a bottle of water in front of you. Please feel free to pause and take a sip at any time. So, we'll begin. Trustee Ashoon, would you please ask the first question? >> Good morning and welcome. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and why you would like to serve. >> Well, um, as you all know,
063my name is Toy Bogan. I am a sign language interpreter. Um, I own my own agency. Um, employee of one. Um, I am a recent new mother. I have a son who will be two in February. Um, which kind of led to my interest in serving in this capacity. Um, in my work as a sign language interpreter, I've done a myriad of things. um government, education, um employment situations. But that time in the educational system, I've seen a lot of challenges that parents experience um in regards to things like IEPs, trying to get um the things that they need so that their child can be successful in their education. Um, and so when I had my son, um, it just kind of connected for me, I guess, to and ignited a passion to want to
064serve in the when I saw the email anyway, um, to want to serve in this capacity because now that I'm a mom, I can I I feel like I can really empathize with the struggles that some parents experience. experience with trying to get the necessary accommodations and things of that nature for their children in the education system. >> Thank you. >> All right. What are the biggest challenges facing public education today and how do they affect our district? Um I think I would say one of the biggest challenges not just with the education system but just with our world in general is equity. um trying as I said before parents trying to get the things that their child needs um to be successful and that isn't those accommodations and those needs are not a one-sizefitit
065all and I think the education system our world we kind of struggle with providing and looking at things through an equity lens to understand that my needs may not be your needs and they may not be the next person's needs, but we need to be able to look at the situation from an all-encompassing point of view to to give each person what they need to succeed. I mean, that is what I would hope we all want from our education educational system is for the children to be able to succeed and become productive members of society. But sometimes um one person may need a little more or not even more but something different. So just because I need um a ladder to stand on doesn't mean that I'm given an advantage to be able to see
066what's happening. It just means I need something a little bit different. And so I think as educators and as an educational system, we just we kind of need to take a step back and not just lump everyone into the same group. We need to be able to stand back and look at what does this person need and do to the best of our abilities what each student or child needs to be able to succeed. Um for our district specifically, I can't really speak to that. Um again, my my son is only two. He's not started school yet. So, I um honestly am not really all that familiar with the struggles or the challenges of the Birmingham school district specifically. If you were faced with a tough issue as a board member, for example, cutting staff
067or programs, what kind of data would you need to help you make your decision? Um well first of all numbers but not numbers strictly from a financial perspective but we also need numbers and statistics from um the perspective of which programs have been proven to benefit our children the most. How long have these programs been around? Um, I would need as much information as possible. I believe data, information, those things are key when it comes to making those types of decisions. Um, because again, we can't just always look at things from a one-sided point of view. um we we need to take the whole picture in to try to figure out what is the best way to approach these situations. Um cutting staff is never easy. Um we can't serve the children without staff. Um,
068but sometimes in order to do what's needed, we have to look at the resources that we have and figure out how to appropriately allocate all of those resources so that each piece of this pie can get the things that they need to be able to do what it is intended to do. So, we may have to move some resources around. Um, if that means cutting staff so that we have more for whatever other piece like we may need additional um resources in the buildings. If we need to cut staff to be able to get this piece of technology that may that's something that we would have to look at to figure out how we can just kind of move the resources around so that we can adequately supply the need. >> Thank you. >> Question
069four. What would you like to see changed in the district and how do you envision your role in that change? Um, again, not having a child in the school district right now, I don't know enough about the program, all of the programs and services and how they are um run, how they are each of them are beneficial to the students at this point. Um, but as I stated earlier, that's part of, well, I'll say now part of my role in this is to become more familiar with all of the programs, services, activities, and things that the district offers so that I can figure out how I can be an asset to all of those pieces of the puzzle. So, um, to answer the question specifically, I don't have anything yet that I would want to
070see changed other than this very needed position to be filled by a qualified person who's willing to get in and do the work and figure out how to um, continue to support the work that you all have done and keep the district moving forward. >> Thank you. Good morning. Question five. An average month for a schoolboard member includes between three and five scheduled meetings and several other school or community related activities that you are invited to attend. In addition, there's daily email correspondence, required reading, and district updates. How will this fit into your schedule? Um, I again I own my own business, so I make my own hours. Um I would knowing that the time is required for this position that is something that I thought about prior to even applying for this position. Um
071so if those are the um if that's the time that's needed, I'm willing to give that time and effort barring any child illnesses or you know the things that we all deal with. But um I would have no problem dedicating my time to that's needed for this job. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. As a board member, you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put aside what's best for you, your family, your friends, and your school to do what's best for the students in the district. What does this mean to you? >> That means running a business. Sometimes you even as a business owner I have to not think about what's profitable for me and my business. Um because I serve a population um who is disadvantaged at many times. Um and it it's
072just something that goes along with it. I need to put aside what's profitable for me sometimes to make sure that this person has a sign language interpreter. I may not get what my normal interpreting rate is for this particular job because maybe this organization or this business just don't have the m the funds for that rate or that rate at that time. I have done pro bono jobs. I have gone to interpret for individuals without being paid. I have gone to interpret for individuals um and not earning as I said my normal rates but because this is what that individual needed that was something that I decided to do to make sure that their needs were met. Um also as a mom my needs don't come first anymore you know so making those decisions and
073putting myself to the side sometimes is not a problem at all. It's something I have done and will continue to do. I think at some point in our life, we all have to do that. We have to think about others before we think about ourselves. >> Thank you. >> If you are appointed to this board, would you seek reelection when the appointment expires? I thought about that when I saw that this was, you know, only for this year and um I have not made a concrete decision only because I'm not on the board yet and I don't fully know all of what this would entail. Um, and so again, I'm a person I like to have all the information before making a concrete decision. Um, and because I don't have all of that information, I
074have just come to the conclusion that I would be willing to. Um, but that would depend on other factors of learning this job and what it would entail. Um, of course, continuity is al always well most times a great thing when it comes to to jobs and progressing projects and things of that nature. So, um, if I and the board felt like having um me to continue um to continue the work that we've done, I would absolutely be open to that possibility. Thank you. >> Describe your response if a parent cornered you in the grocery store and asked for your support on a particularly hot issue. >> I'm sorry. Can you say that the beginning? Just >> the beginning. Yes. >> Describe your response if a parent cornered you in the grocery store and asked
075for your support on a particularly hot issue. Ah, well, I I would explain that I appreciate their um enthusiasm and their point of view on the issue. However, um I would also explain that it is not appropriate for me to side with anyone or have those sidebar conversations with a member of the public or a parent outside of our formal schoolboard meetings. Um, I would not dismiss them, but at the same time, I would not pledge any support or disagreement to whatever it is that they are trying to um get passed or expressed. Um, can you identify a recent board decision that you felt strongly about and describe how you would balance community concerns, student needs, state and federal law, staff considerations, and your personal values and beliefs to determine how to vote on the
076issue? I I do not have a specific board uh decision that I can speak to um from the Birmingham school district. Um as I stated in my work, I have been involved in other educational meetings, IEPs, things of that nature. And in other school districts, I have heard of instances where a deaf or heart of hearing child was not provided a sign language interpreter when requested by the parent. Um I'm I'm not even sure that those decisions even come before you all. Um however, if that were if that situation were to ever come before us again, you have to look at everything. I know the school the schools and the educational system, they like to look at, well, what does the test say? What does the test say? Some students behave in and react differently
077in testing environments. We need to ask the parent, what is this child like at home? What factors impact their behavior or their ability to communicate, their willingness to communicate? What factors are involved with um their their learning at home? We need to take the tests, the parents, their home life. Um a lot of times we don't know what p what children deal with at home. we don't know the things that are happening in that home environment. So those are things that we need to try to learn as much as possible so that all of those factors can be weighed while making a decision. Um even the costs uh the cost of a sign language interpreter. Is there a way that we can possibly have um although for educational purposes it's not the greatest but we
078can have VRI video remote interpreting versus an in-person interpreter in the classroom with that student all day. All of these things are things that we need to think about and consider and take into account when making these decisions. So again, I would just really want to be able to get as much information as possible so that we can make the best decision for that child. >> Thank you. >> The last question, is there any additional information that you'd like to share or any questions for us? >> Um, no. I can't say that I have any questions. I would first of all just like to say thank you all. Thank you for the opportunity to to be considered to even be considered to serve. I feel like this is a position of service and that's the
079mindset that I will have if I am chosen for this position. I'm going to come in trying to see where I fit so that I can best serve our students, our community, the schools, and that is what I would try to do. So, thank you all again for your consideration of me and for being out here on a Saturday in this cold weather. Yes, Michigan. But um no other questions at this time from me. >> Thank you so much for coming in. >> Thank you all. >> You learn from recess. Um, we are welcoming Art Jack. Thank you for being here today. We truly appreciate the time and care you've taken to prepare for this process and your interest in serving the district. The interview will consist of questions from the board. Each member will
080ask at least one question. A few may ask two. In total, there will be 10 questions and you'll have approximately 25 minutes to respond. A clock is visible over here to your left by Miss Jones. Um to help with pacing, you'll also find a bottle of water in front of you. Please feel free to pause and take a sip at any time. Um so we will begin. Trustee Ashoon, would you please ask the first question? >> Good morning >> and welcome. >> Thank you. So please tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and why you would like to serve. >> So a little bit about myself, uh, ArtJack. I've been in the community for 20 years. Actually, it'll be 20 years on August 6th. Um, all of my children went through the district.
081Um, and um, from Greenfield up to all my kids were BCS. Uh Jeremy went to Sea Home for one year, then he finished at Groves and then my last three uh went through Groves and all out in college. Uh I'm a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Um graduate of Southern University, undergrad in electrical engineering, masters in manufacturing from Wayne State. Um I've uh had a career in automotive. That's how I got to Michigan. Um through Ford Motor Company and worked in various capacities at Ford, General Motors, Deli, and Motorola. retired in 2022. Uh also uh during that year ran for the schoolboard position here, came in third place. Um and since then I've been in multiple capacities uh in in my life. One um I ran a campaign a friend of mine ran for the
082Taran County Sheriff which is in uh the Dallas Fort Worth area. So Fort Worth is a seat. So Taran County is about the size of Oakland County and Mcome County combined. So he won and then I backed out. You know, I was away from home for about a month and uh came back. Um then I eventually moved back to Louisiana uh going back and forth taking care of my grandmother. She's now 100 and a half and um and then during that time being a legacy of uh Southern University and and alums and engineering department started evolving I was asked to join as director of development. So I've been in that capacity since 2024. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. >> All right. What are the biggest challenges facing public education today and how do they
083affect our district? I would say the biggest challenge and I'm basing it on my experiences here and then being in Louisiana uh engaging uh with uh community districts across in in the different parishes. One is funding. That's that's an obvious one. And I think the other one is really a as the world is evolving really coming up with a strategic plan on how to compete and position students for jobs in the now in the near and afar and to prepare them for advanced studies which I didn't think about much until I started working in higher ed engaging with peers at uh Southern as well as LSU. how to really prepare them so so that as they get into the workforce be it workforce development or through education or advance so that they can be on
084a path to success from a public excuse me from a public education standpoint our mission is to really educate the public you know not not many families can afford Catholic well private schools down there's a lot of Catholic schools um to to have that those uh exposures or those networks works or those wraparound supports to be successful and then many families from a public and now I'm making a comparison to like I'm sure it's rural Michigan I hadn't been in much outside of camping and then in rural Louisiana these are like first generation their families they got different experiences different money they pay grants so you we still have to prepare them they have an ability but then how do we grow and I think that's the biggest challenge in public education how do you
085maintain that public centric and not try to pivot and be more public and private because that's your audience and then how to prepare them for the tomorrow and the today and then how do we as board and family members adapt because AI that's artificial intelligence not Arthur's ideas uh will create new opportunities going forward so I hope I answered your question >> yes >> um thank you. Okay. If you were faced with a tough issue as a board member, for example, cutting staff or programs, what kind of data would you need to help you make your decision? >> That's a hard one to uh answer because uh I I don't think there's like a secret sauce and everything and I'm basing it from being in a leadership role at Ford um and then in project
086leads. Uh I'd say the the hard conversation is really the open honest conversation and that is hard to do and uh especially in the education setting and and from my experiences in higher ed it's even harder because you have so many cultures and positions entrenched. So I would start with really where's the common ground? Where's the DNA? Where do we share a common agreement and focus? And if I could find that DNA that that common denominator using math and then understand where different individuals end up and it may be difference of opinions I would I could respect that but then also say now let's look at it from a different lens. So the second thing I would do and it's something I got from Steven CPY when I was at Ford. We all had to
087have this management whether it's leadership training and the seven the seven habits are highly effective people and one of my favorites is to uh seek to understand before being understood. That's something you can apply in personal life too. I I hear it every day at home but it's it's it's hard. And so as you're trying to make those decisions listen well look at the different scenarios. Understand the the pros and cons. understand the individuals because if you got a strategic plan or strategic vision and you know what that is then being able to plug and play individuals based on their fit and their in interest that's where you move forward. Now, if you have to make cuts, I would say the first thing to do before just doing it bluntly is to understand where they
088can fit in your organization because everybody got a life and there's a lot of stress out there, you know, and and I've learned to appreciate that being a way that uh we have different opportunities here in the Birmingham district compared to some other areas. and we want to be able to maximize because those are individuals that want to contribute and then have that hard conversation to say here's where we are but here's how we're going to help and then move forward. >> Thank you. >> What would you like to see changed in the district and how do you envision your role in that change? >> Well, I've been back and forth uh since 2022. I would say what I would see and because I still get the emails, I still get the blast about school
089closings and and and everything. I would say the biggest um I would what I would like to see changed is um and it's something I saw during the campaign trail. um how do we as a community because we cross about nine cities if I remember right >> and when you look at that whole bucket we are like the United Nations and I kind of shared that in my campaign from talking. So how do you balance all that? How do you balance those perspectives? Especially you have individuals that live in communities that uh are are more like them. So, um, not segregated, but more isolated with some and and to pull individuals out. So, um, I would like to see a change where we we're able to integrate more and cross lines into the communities because
090there's so much to learn from each other together than debating about topics of discussion. And uh, one of the ideas I had on a campaign, you know, I call it like a table of nine. I kind of had that United Nations thinking. How do we get individuals from different communities and really listen and understand what's going on and what's not because you won't hear everything. Many many individuals don't come to board meetings and have conversations. They talk privately, you know, >> and how do we get in those private conversations, you know, and I learned that working at Southern. Those private conversations happen at the state capital. They happen in the governor's mansion and then they happen at folks homes. And that's where we have to be able to learn what's happening. And I think as
091a district because we have that compared to other districts, I think that's the area we got to focus and I'd like to see changed here. And then to leave you with this, I had a friend that that was at Ford. He was an executive relocated from China and he reached out to him and said, "Hey, we we're looking to move. Tell me about this Birmingham district." All right. Because he grew up in Dearbornne. Um because we're looking at Bloomfield Hills looking at the houses. And his wife went online. We looked and did some comparisons, but they decided to go to Bloomfield Hills. And I didn't have a chance to really have a lot of conversation as to why, but it was something unique about what Bloomfield Hills schools offered compared to Birmingham schools, even though
092he saw the advantage of being in the Birmingham school district around the diversity and thought in the communities. And that to me, Nicole, Nicole, is where we had that sweet spot and advantage, but we're not maximizing it to the fullest. >> I hope I answered your question. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Good morning. Question number five. An average month for a schoolboard member includes three to five scheduled meetings and several other school or community related activities that you are invited to attend. In addition, there are daily email correspondents, required reading, and district updates. How will this fit into your schedule? >> It will fit well now because my last day at Southern University is February 13th. Um, and I will have the bandwidth. I'm an empty neester. Um, and then being back at home
093and not um, let's say having a full-time job per se like that. Um, I I know I will have the bandwidth to do it. And then now we're moving to age to work smart uh through zoom calls um um chats we can have that that's a tool but to be able to participate in meetings I know I could be here I know I could participate I know I have to be here because if I'm selected I do plan to run for in November so it it that in itself because of me um I know I have to have more boots in the um to be able to engage. So, I'll be able to support I'll be able to um travel the district with each one of you or with Dr. Robersonson or with the teachers
094and staff to let them know who I am because all those things outside of the meetings, there's so much work that happens uh be beyond just being in a meeting. Yeah. So, >> thank you. Um, as a board member, you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put aside what's best for you, your family, your friends, and your school to do what's best for the students in the district. What does that mean to you? That means what it means to me, Lucas, really that's the balance of life. Um and you have and and what it means to me is being able to understand the pros and cons and uncertainty of that decision and if there is a sacrifice how do you recover so you can bring balance um as in any job in any
095family those type of decision situation come up all the time >> you know I'll be 60 on February 1 and I've seen a lot as you could imagine in life and I'm sure you have too And the key, let's say if you're traveling with your job, you know, you have you have these if you had a if you have a plan and you quarter your plan and you have to get off track, you have a plan to get back. So that's what it means to me, sacrifice, but bringing a balance to the wholeness, not just imbalance in the end. >> Thank you. Okay, back to me. If you are appointed to board, would you seek reelection when the appointment expires? >> Yes, I think >> maybe I anticipated the question, but go ahead. Yes, I
096would. Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. describe your response if a parent cornered you in the grocery store and asked for your support on a particularly hot issue. >> That's happened a lot of times. Um because as you know I was the parent leader African-American Family Network and that's where I really started engaging deeply over those 15 20 years in that role. And I've been cornered many times in Target which is where I ran into a lot of families and at Planet Fitness. Um what I would do going back to that cubby and that's just me. Um instead of just jumping into advice really seek to understand where they are because what I have learned in this role there's a lot of emotion that comes out of a reaction because the greatest asset is that
097is their child and what they feel. And we we moved I say we my wife said we're moving to Birmingham because of his reputation. All right. And families want to see the district live up to that reputation and deliver on their kids, not in a mass, but as an individual, you know, it's almost like a precision type education. So, what I would do, Carlen, I after having that conversation in the grocery store, like you say, cornering, I say, "Now, let's just sit down and have a conversation about it and let's look at it from different lenses." And that's what I've done. And some parents, they don't want to hear. They're like, "What are you going to do about it now?" I said, "Well, what I'm going to do about it is we going to keep
098talking about it because whatever decision comes out of it, it's probably not the first time the district has seen it or or encountered it and it won't be the last. But let's talk about how we can make an impact for your child and anyone else that comes down that experienced that same situation and then move forward. And then I would um I would advocate for a conversation be it with a teacher or a faculty member or coach or whatever. Yeah. So >> Okay. Can you identify a recent board decision that you felt strongly about and describe how you would balance community concerns, student needs, state and federal law, staff considerations, and your personal values and beliefs to determine how to vote on the issue. H I want to take it back to when there was
099conversation about the African-American family network. I mean the African-American history class which I was heavily involved in and and uh created quite of um uh opinions and uh division even among African-Americans when we talked about it. Um, so it was and I guess just kind of take it back to and maybe to answer your question. Um, you know, we had the curriculum and uh there's a parent that came and shared with me how it was being taught in the class um and she had a different tact and approach and I said, "All right, let's just dial it down a minute and let's understand what's going on." Um and you know eventually through conversation and and communication, you know, it led to um speaking up at a board meeting uh where I spoke and some other
100parents spoke. Um and then it led to some actions that I'm so happy to have worked with Dr. Robersonson that led to a a great solution. um that we participated in and bringing in experts with opinions to do it. Um I think as her as superintendent um and talking with teachers and other faculty members that supported and understood what was going on. I think that was so powerful because it even though it was one of those things that felt like it ripped, I think it bonded us all better together to understand because that was African-American history class. There could be other classes as well um going forward and I'm sure there will be with AI and ethics. It's just a matter of time. I'm in a class at Harvard agendic AI and we talk about
101policy um that's going to come up and as board members we got to be prepared for that challenge too. Not just ethnic but um also ideology and freedom and fear of compromising our privacy. So those are the things as a board I and and I draw that parallel on how we move through the curriculum. It became a curriculum um and uh students enjoyed it from what I gathered to me that whole pathway if we were able to bottle it and be able to say here here's a recipe on how we get through those challenges I think that'll prepare us going forward. So >> thank you. And then the last question, is there any additional information that you would like to share or questions for us? >> Yes, I'm glad you asked. What's the pressing issue
102between now and November for all the aboard? You know, I mean, I've been in and out of the state and you know, I see the newsletters, but there's always more news behind what's in the newsletter. Can you share it with me? I think um personally I think that it's always um you know a concern for the board as to how we can best put students in um position to do their best in our district and how the funds that we get can be used to help all children succeed and keep that as our main focus. Can you give me an example of what you're encountering now? Um along with what you just said that in Can you give me an example what you're dealing with now? If it's okay to say here's what we really
103talking about, Art. >> Well, I think the one issue that I can bring up that we face is a decline in student. >> Oh, okay. >> Which is going to impact, you know, it's like a ripple effect. It's going to have this ripple effect >> on classrooms, classroom sizes, staffing, >> student decline. >> I think if I had to choose one thing, it would be funding. >> Not just currently, but down the road. Um, I know you're familiar with how Michigan funds our schools, but over the last five years, we've seen an increase in funds that come >> one time, meaning they're in the budget this year, they might not be in the budget, >> okay, >> the following year. >> Okay, >> that makes it very hard as a district for us to plan
104for continuity in programming and staff. >> Okay. Um, and I'm a huge supporter of being a very vocal advocate at the state and federal level. >> Okay? >> Because our education system without decent funding, I'm sure you know, doesn't work. So I I personally feel like that is something that board members need to um embrace and actively participate in. >> Okay. >> Trustees, anything else you'd like to add? >> Nothing else. Okay, that's it. Um I I like to be selected. I want to be selected. I know I could bring value to the table. Um because I I've met with each one of you and talked to you individually and I think each one of you we've talked about we've talked and laughed and I think I could make make a connection with with all
105of you and having worked with Dr. Robersonson and for many years I see where there's a need to really move forward with a good solid strategic plan. Um I've heard it and and now coming from higher ed believe me if you don't have a strategic plan there are some coming there with their own plan. All right, I think y'all keep up what's going on. Louisiana, um, so it's even though I don't have any children in the district, I'll be here. You know, I think I've talked to each one of you and said, "Yeah, I plan to go back to the South and live forever." You know, but things change in life. Um, and what keeps me going back is taking care of my grandmother. So, uh, I know from everything I've taken, I think now
106I'm more valuable to the board from what I've learned in my travels since 22 that I could bring even more value having seen things. And I like to see us succeed. There's still families that want to move into Birmingham district because of who we are, and we shouldn't let them down because of the brand we built. Y'all built it before I got here and I want to take it to the next level. So that's all I want to say. >> Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. Welcome and thank you for being here. Today we have Bers Arur. Am I pronouncing that correctly? Burch. >> Thank you. Thank you. We truly appreciate the time and care you've taken to prepare for this process and your interest in serving our district. The interview will consist of
107questions from the board. Each member will ask at least one question and a few may ask two. In total, there will be 10 questions and you'll have approximately 25 minutes to respond. A clock is visible slightly to your left over by Mrs. Jones um to help with pacing. You'll also find a bottle of water in front of you. So, please feel free to pause and take a sip at any time. Um let's begin. Trustee Ashoon, will you please ask the first question? >> Good morning and welcome. Can you please tell us a little bit about your background? tell us about yourself and why you want to serve. >> So nice question. Um well I'm originally from Turkey. Um I had um um I came to United States in 19 uh 97 to uh pursue my
108masters at Johns Hopkins University in Washington DC and that was a hard one battle because it's not easy to get the opportunity to come to us and for such a nice IV school and I had to beat up like um two million students my peers and back at home to get to that level. Um so I successfully completed my masters and came to Detroit to start working at Fort Motor Company. Um so um after that I um settled down here, married um my husband is German American so we have a little United uh nations at home. My son speaks three languages. Um so I start uh moving out my career in Detroit pretty much in um automotive sector tier one as well as I worked in um great companies like Bosch in Chicago um for
109two years in power tools and um also service sector. So my most recent company uh corporate role at GDI was vice president finance uh as an facilities management company headquarters in Canada but I was overseeing their um US operations f for the finance um and then I um decided to take two years off to do my masters in accounting uh in technical accounting um as well as getting my CPA that was very dear to my heart and I always felt that um you know having that credential as well as um like the license to do the professions um as a licensed person is makes difference at the executive level. Uh so I had the opportunity to go back and pursue my degree as well masters in accounting as well as get my CPA. So it
110was kind of a a challenge because I guess after so many years of experience in the sector industry and then like at this age going back to school and getting a degree and sitting on 16 hours of exam uh but um I I don't have personally I don't have any issues getting out of comfort zone and taking the challenge and pursue um for my goals um career goals. It was something that I had it always in my heart and mind. So um why I want this role? Um so I also went back to school uh to do my math MBA at Oakland back in 2006. So I've been to school in 1997 at Johns Hopkins and then 2006 and then here the most recent one I graduated um 24. So all this period I have
111seen how education has evolved um at the master's level but at the um you know university. Um so I seen basically I have this student view um rather than you know being an educator being a parent. I have a son as well who goes to Birmingham public schools. But um more like being on the sitting on the um chairs with our um students and our kids and you know who are the future leaders. I I see how things have evolved from where it was and how it was in 26 20 um 06 and then now in most recently I I see um some changes and I thought the best way to um contribute is to um get this uh role and be able to have a say in shaping the future um and to a
112point where I think there are some good things that happen and there are some things that I thought was better in the past. So I I want that ability to be able to influence the future leaders. So that's why I'm interested in this role. Besides, it's also my profession like I'm with the profit sector like having a finance oversight um with the um companies at um global companies midsize and um as small as a company with $40 million revenue I worked at. So financial oversight is discipline is being uh literate about reading budgets and making long-term decisions um for the outcomes for the uh mission and vision for the strategies. I'm familiar with all this concepts and I thought this is the same what I've been doing for years of years. is just on the
113nonprofit side for the community and that's the best way I can contribute to the community by applying my skill set to um an experience to an area where I am good at but more like serving the community this time so I don't have any other way to serve this is my only way I guess I will say >> okay >> thank you the best way that is sorry it's a long time and >> no not at all >> all right now question do. What are the biggest challenges facing public education today and how do they affect our district? I'm looking at more like a maybe global way like 20 feet over uh high um is more for me is the competition and the how US education has been going down and down uh compared to
114China and other countries and I seen personally I experienced that like even like going into the same school uh with 10 years apart I see how this has changed how our um students are dumb down. I I hate to say that but that's what I observe and how they've been discouraged to act and think like critically uh think critically and strategically not being um they don't lost that um uh intent or like um uh sense or urge to ask questions to challenge the teachers. Um so that was there back then 10 years ago and that's kind of uh went away. I see that in different sitting in different classes and different teachers sometimes even in the same teacher I had uh my one of my professor was in both terms it's just uh you know
115talking to them talking to the community like what has changed what did I miss I see that we lost that competitive edge that we had and I think uh at that the uh starting the seed of this is really in the uh primary and the high school education and that needs to be probably as more strategically po positioned to be uh to um create a more competitive uh school system and taking into account um you know how things are going with around the world not necessarily um having this um you know uh view where we only focus on like local community and local uh what's going on in their neighborhood just to please everyone. Um it's more like a I think having an international perspective will help how we locate the country as a um
116as a whole. Um that's what I think will I will focus on that. >> Thank you. uh if you were faced with a tough decision or issue as a board member, cutting staff for example or programs, what kind of data would you need to help you make your decision? >> Right. Um this is something that I've been doing years on the private sector. I will definitely uh make sure that the um decisions are uh based on data and not statistics or some kind of uh legitimate legitimization based on uh research and data and um you know the numbers rather than um going with the intuation and if the numbers are uh legit, if there is a um you know rationale behind it u that something that is not line up with our vision with our
117uh mission and where we are here. um and and it is not the best way of spending the tax hardearned tax dollars then um I would um I will I will um defend that policy uh or action and um do it in the most um uh less damaging way or I would say uh the most collaborative way to get try to get everyone's uh buy in even the people or the side that is impacted that um like sharing the rational and explaining why the uh why we are taking this action. Um I think it will help them to understand if we are not necessarily like policing or like dictating but more like bringing it that person or that site that's been affected and understanding like how cutting down that budget or um you know taking
118that action would in turn uh is for the greater good and is based on data and statistics not someone's arbitrary decision or feeling. that someone feel that felt that way kind of. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Question number four. What would you like to see changed in the district and how do you envision your role in that change? Um I think from outside so far I had not been to in the education uh side a lot but looking at how my uh son is going through you know starting with Harland and then Coington and others um I think um I will try to put more emphasis on technology. I know you guys are like great is already been done a lot on that side but I still like looking at how things are happening how
119AI is integrated into um you know day-to-day life and at corporate level I'm hiring people uh uh young kids out of college who has no experience hands-on experience with building up models on that skill level or they are not sure if they're in the right place so they made different or bad carrier choices So I think I will focus on the technology, how technology impacts their career decisions and upskilling them right at early age at at their age and then making sure that they're on the right career path right early on. So they make those decisions early on things that fit their um their uh passion or their that they are good at and then they pursue that very early on. So they don't end up being in the um places that they don't feel
120that they don't belong that they cannot contribute anything because then what happens is when they when we hire them at the corporate level they just keep changing jobs or they like cannot create that impact that they're hoping for because they're not in the right place. they haven't made that decision. So if we if we can uh bring more like a um um classes or like training programs early on um that gives them that perspective and then they can have an option to choose and have a luxury to switch if they don't like if they feel like they change their mind before it is becoming too late. So that carrier um related uh classes or training programs I would implement that and again like AI is a big thing and I haven't seen really enough done
121on that. I read in some um in the media like in China for instance students at primary school have so many hours of AI classes already. So I'm not sure if we are doing any uh anything about that. Um so that will be my focus to make them more competitive. That's that's all I would push for. Um, thank you. >> Everything else is working great, so I don't have anything to cont. >> Uh, question number five. An average month for a schoolboard member includes between three and five scheduled meetings, and several other school or community related activities that you are invited to attend. In addition, there's daily email correspondents, required reading, and district updates. How will this fit into your schedule? >> Um, I don't have an issue. I already um you know I have
122a flexible hours right now uh being in catalyst advisory. I'm working on my own schedule so I don't have any issues with that. >> Thank you. >> Okay, next question. As a board member, you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put aside what's best for you, your family, your friends, and your school to do what's best for the students in the district. What does this mean to you? I think the most precious time precious is uh thing is time. >> Um so that means like taking time away from uh my family activities or um my uh private life then putting more into towards the um supporting our district goal. Um for me uh more contributing and spending time with our community issues and you know we're are more like doing more like a
123ground work um you know getting to know the students um you know more like hand on the floor on the ground talking to um teachers and reaching it out to you know uh parents um so that will those are the things that will take time so I will engage more on those type of activities I will today. Um again spending more time on the uh community support and education support and family which I h it's not uh unknown to me. I've been doing that for my career and that's how I was able to advance. Um so now is for me time to give back uh in a place where I can contribute the most and value added and bring a different perspective. So I think um I I would I want to uh make that
124change um and um then I have to spend more time doing it. So that's what I will say. >> Thank you. >> Okay, back to me. >> So if you are appointed to the board, would you seek reelection when the appointment expires? Um, I I will seek re-election because I feel like I um have potential right now and I'm looking at long-term commitment and I want to retire in this community and I want to um you know um be able to um contribute and see where there are things that haven't happened that should have happened. then that long-term view was going to provide that uh opportunity to do that or revisit or maybe u build on things. So right now uh maybe other candidates have a better past with you know community involvement. my community
125involvement server was very limited that I am was a election officer but um joined some meetings with the PTAs and so on but I am here to start and I'm feeling very energetic and and um were someone at the beginning and at the start point that means I have a long way to go >> so uh that's why I am coming here with the long uh term stay possible Okay. Describe your response if a parent cornered you in the grocery store and asked for your support on a particularly hot issue. >> That's that's that will I will be very uh excited about that. I think it's a privilege first to be recognized and and then you know being able to ask questions which makes me feel like um you know that or giving them a
126feeling that she's empowered to ask questions is really exciting to see. uh it's a rewarding experience and the fact that this issue is hard I feel like I um have the opportunity uh the best opportunity that anyone can have to you know have a direct interaction with that person who is very uh strong about the things that should have been or would be and we are not doing so that's like a really great opportunity firsthand hands-on to be able to explain uh interact with that listen. Um so I will approach it welcoming and I I like to listen. Uh that's like one of my strengths like understanding and because if you listen and understand and give a chance and then people approach you differently rather than like if you approach with a bias it's like
127nope this is what we are going to do and so on. So um listening and getting um her uh um whatever she needs to say out of out there like let it out is going to also help her. is going to calm her down and she's going to feel better if you know one of us is listening. Um so maybe she is going to be more approachable later on or more understanding. And for me as I said like it's great opportunity for us to explain uh firsthand to um you know her. It's like a um I guess it's it's really great opportunity I will say and I will be very calm and very listening and and uh try to interact as much as possible and make the conversation as long as possible. I know it's
128probably very inconvenience place but um I will listen I will prioritize listening rather than like um going out there and then I will bring that to you. I will make sure that you hear that opinion. I think that's really important to have such a sincere feedback someone who's really strong about it to bring that and to share with the rest uh of the uh team and um talk about it and debate it and what I learned out of there. Then that's another thing like lessons learned is really important because like if you um you know um have lessons learned will help you to not to repeat the mistakes or give you a perspective and um let you know what works what not um and then you don't go over and do the same things again
129you look differently. though. Okay. Next question. Identify a recent board decision that you felt strongly about and describe how you would balance community concerns, student needs, state and federal law, staff considerations, and your personal values and beliefs to determine how to vote on the issue. Um that's a very long question. So many >> I can respond if you need me to. >> Yes, please. Because I I mean what I understood from the question I think I am not in the position to answer that to be honest because I don't have I didn't make any decisions regarding the students so far. Um so >> I'll reread it. >> Okay. Identify a recent board decision that you felt strongly about and describe how you would balance community concerns, student needs, state and federal law, staff considerations, and
130your own personal values and beliefs to determine how to vote on the issue. >> Okay. So, board decision, um, uh, I am I haven't followed the board decisions. Um so far I like I didn't go and read anything happened but um I guess um by looking at the action or implications how this decision that has been made at the board like cascaded down um one thing was probably um where this there was this covid time where everyone got locked at home. there was a decision to switch uh to online learning um that kind of just to keep the continuity um so that we don't fall behind um that must be a very um uh there that's a that's a tough decision I think for the board um because of the financial side of it uh
131that you need to support all the technology all the IT systems with it um you know um it will requires significant shifting making a big change or shift towards uh you know more like um finan putting together a financial budget in a very uh uh rapid uh environment and a fast pace um so that I think was a tough decision and the board made a decision to make uh the switch to online learning so that we don't um sacrify um the um quality of education or the um the continuity of the education but I think at that time I will think impersonally um quality has um has come down uh versus in-class learning. I kind of blame the decision uh or blame uh that that was kind of the triggering point for my son getting
132addicted to games uh where he was like behind the screen uh looking like he's listening to teacher but uh you know was switching his screen to the gaming and you know cheating and that's when it kind of emerged uh this whole behavior like technology then game addiction um like switching and you know trying to make it look like he's in the class but le literally he's playing games. Um so I think that's a that was a tough decision for the board probably I would say that it required uh financial uh investment and quick decisions and it's on the good side it um it was done right because it gave us the opportunity to continue with the education rather than shutting down entirely and keeping kids out of system for like a extended period of time.
133Um on the other hand it has things that I didn't approve personally like um again uh creating this edict but I don't know how else would have been done um you know if you wouldn't u really expose them to technology maybe they would have restrict some sites um so that they don't have an access to YouTube and other stuff u so maybe that would have been a little bit more detailed way of implementing it more like stricter guidelines but we didn't know so we all learned as we go through. It was an experiment for everyone. Um I I guess um that would have been handled differently but now next time if something like this happen we are all prepared and we can achieve better results with that. Um so I don't know if this answers
134the question but that's my opinion on what you just said. I picked a few words from there. So >> all right thank you. So the last question is there any additional information you'd like to share um or any questions for us? Um, I would like to um I know it's I hate to uh repeat myself, but I I would like to really um be able to um bring in more uh I would say transparency in terms of finances where it's is going making sure it support the strategic decisions that we have for the long run, not necessarily just for this year or the next year. how we place ourselves. Um we are very elite community here. We are leading in the um in the Michigan and we are leading uh in the um United States
135and the you know top areas and we can drive this. We can be a best example to the others to follow us. Um so I guess I would like to uh see more of um like a diff a little bit different perspective. Uh I know uh the equity and inclusion is really great because the it brings diversity and the critical thinking and uh you know different perspectives. Um, I guess um I would like to uh have you a little bit open-minded um in terms of who you're bringing in and adding a little bit more diversity and and that's what um I'm looking forward to um to be able to contribute in that case. So that's my closing statement. >> Great. >> Thank you so much for being here today. We appreciate it. I I I'm
136also grateful that you listen and try to understand my heart. Accent hasn't changed for the last 20 years, but um I really appreciate the opportunity. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Welcome and thank you for being here today. Um we have um candidate Omar OD. Is that correct? >> That's correct. >> Awesome. Thank you. truly appreciate the time and care you've taken to prepare for this process and your interest in serving our district. The interview will consist of questions from the board. Each member will ask at least one question and may ask two. A few may ask two. In total, there will be 10 questions and you'll have approximately 25 minutes to respond. A clock is visible over here um to your left to help you with pacing. You'll also find
137a bottle of water in front of you. Please feel free to pause and sip at any time. Um, so let's begin. Trustee Auni, will you please ask the first question? >> Good morning and welcome. Um, so my first question is, can you tell us about yourself, your background, and why you want to serve? >> Absolutely. So, a little bit about myself. Born and raised here in Michigan. Uh, Farmington Hills is where I grew up. went to University of Michigan in Ann Arbor after that went off to started with Ford Motor Company. Went out to California while out there worked with Ford 7 years. That's where I got my MBA at University of California Irvine. Came back and I've been with Ford ever since. Currently the director of product marketing at Ford Motor Company. And why
138I want to serve at uh for the board is, you know, really trying to bring the best for our children in this district. Trying to improve the education as much as possible. Um and making sure that students of all races, diversity, and ethnicity have a chance to succeed. I was somebody that was a product of the public school system. uh having gone to Farmington High, my entire family, uh uh products of the pro uh public school system, all University of Michigan grads, um doctors, business, two teachers, pharmacists, and it's something I really believe in and something that I want to be a part of that process as a resident of Birmingham. I also have two young boys, two and five, that will be starting, first one in the Birmingham school district next year. and I
139just want to be a part of the process to try to make it the best place possible for students to succeed and thrive. >> Thank you. >> Okay, next question. What are the biggest challenges facing public education today and how do they affect our district? >> I mean, there's a lot. I mean, the biggest ones obviously is going to be financial. Um, I had previously run for the library board. I know how the finances both at the federal and state level are impacting the library which is on a much smaller scale than the budgets of the public school system. So the big some of the biggest things are going to be especially here in Birmingham is the fluctuations and student enrollments and how we're going to handle finances going forward. That's obviously a very big
140deal. But then it's that inconsistency. Um how much are we going to get from the state? How much are we going to get from federal? And I know working in long-term planning how difficult that can be, not knowing what how much money are we going to get in 26, 27, 28, 29. Um, and really trying to work with that. The other things are student achievement, making sure that all students are able to succeed. doesn't matter where they come from, but we all know people start at different levels when they come in, but we want to make sure that everybody leaves with a certain level of education when they leave the district. So, those are just some of the I guess the biggest one is especially the the financial and we see that across the board.
141>> Okay. If you were faced with a tough issue as a board member, for example, cutting staff or programs, what kind of data would you need to help you make your decisions? >> The first so on that one, the first thing I'd need to understand is the financial impact on on the budgets, on the students, on the teachers. How does it affect that there? Then there's the legal part of it. What how does this fit within what we're trying to do? And the biggest thing I need to understand is the impact on the students because we have to put students first. That's the most important thing. So what we do when we're, you know, at Ford is we have limited budgets when we're trying to build new vehicles, new things. We have to prioritize the
142things that make the biggest impact to the customers. here our customer is the student that's the first person that I would try to do no harm to the students then we have to look at what what does it affect after that are there effects to the teachers are there effects to other parts of the staff so you have to prioritize where are we going to do the least harm when we have these biggest choices and try to get the best outcome I know at the end of the day in many of these situations we're not going to all be happy, but we have to do what's best for the students, the staff, and the teachers and and and in in in some order that is keeps Birmingham functioning and still achieving our goals and and
143our visions. >> Thank you. >> Question number four, would what would you like to see changed in the district and how do you envision your role in that change? Yeah. So, I mean, for me, not somebody that's not super close to the board yet in terms of change right now, I see this as a really, really strong school district. I see it as a school district that has great achievements and test scores. We can always we can always try to do better. What I'd like to see is ways that we could mitigate uh the fluctuations. How do we make it that Birmingham public schools is the choice of students? Are there is there and parents is there a system that we could put in place that we know how many are coming for the next
1442 three years so that we can plan for that early warning systems essentially where we're get reaching out to the parents with young children try to get a feel for how many are coming so that we don't have any kind of budget issues and things like that because those are ultimately the KPIs that we need to understand so we can run things properly other than that I I would love to see more emphasis on technology as the world evolves. What are we going to do to address that? Again, like I said, I'm not close enough right now, but I see the world shifting at a level that we haven't seen in a long time. We had the advent of internet. That was one phase. Now with AI, how are we going to prepare our children
145for AI? And what are the what does the future look like? not only for education but their workplace and what they're going to do after they leave uh Birmingham public schools and are they prepared for that because this is a monumental shift and we're just at the tip of the iceberg with AI right now. >> Thank you. >> Question five. An average month for a schoolboard member includes between three and five scheduled meetings and several other community related activities that you're invited to attend. In addition, their daily email correspondents, required reading, and district updates. How will this fit into your schedule? >> I currently uh with my work, I have a very large workload, but I've always been able to prioritize things that I feel important. The reason I'm even considering this is because I've
146already talked to my family and even my bosses and everything and know that, hey, if I do something like this, this is going to be an important part of what I do. And I've I've made sure that I've looked at the schedule of calendar of not only the board meetings of the expectations that this will be a priority for me. I've done a great job being able to balance currently my family, my work, and this is something I'm just really passionate about in terms of trying to give back to the community. So for me, this is a really big priority and would make sure that this is top of my schedule. >> Thank you. Next question. As a board member, you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put aside what's best for you,
147your family, your friends, and your school to do what's best for the students and the district. What does this mean to you? So this is something that's near and dear to my heart because this is what I have to do every day in my current workplace is put my personal preferences aside and try to base it on priorities. So my current job my as director of product marketing I have to try to figure out what the next what we're going to do for the next Mustang the next Bronco I have to only look at customer data. What are the customers telling us? What do what do our next generation people need? I have my own personal preferences, but I always set that aside because I'm not necessarily the typical customer for everything that we make
148at Ford Motor Company. I have to look at that specific customer set and make that choice. Likewise, when we're talking about the school board, I might have a personal opinion, but I need to be listening to our constituents. need to be looking at the vision of what the plan is and executing it accordingly. So it's not my job to say this is what Omar likes. I need to be looking at the data that is coming in looking at what you know our residents are going to come in and and suggest that they want and listen to them before we make a decision. So, I've always I've always been part of a process where my personal opinion might be X, but I know what's best for the school district is Y. What's best for like Ford
149Motor Company is Y. Even though that might not be my personal opinion, but the data, you have to look at the data and follow where it takes you. >> Okay. Brings you back to me. And the next question is, if you are appointed to this board, would you seek reelection when this term expires? >> Yeah, absolutely. That is absolutely my intention to seek re-election. I I think a lot of people don't understand how difficult the election process is. I've recently gone through it running for library board. Um my first time running and I think that's something that I would absolutely go for and I think I've proven that that's something that I can do. NE and you know going out and getting the signatures to get on the ballot, getting the fin getting your finance
150uh paperwork filled out, then going out doortodoor campaigning, um talking to the constituents. I've proven that by spending my weekends at the farmers markets, talking to our residents and telling them, you know, why it might be a a great library board member. So absolutely my intention is to have that continuity of being on the board now but then also running in the fall and I think I've proven that that I it's something I can and willing to do. >> Thank you. >> Describe your response if a parent cornered you in the grocery store and asked for your support on a particularly hot issue. >> So I mean that's that's an interesting one. So I think obviously some people might see you because we might be in these meetings and they're public and they they can
151start recognizing your face. And as we know Birmingham small community, we all go to the same coffee shops, the same gyms and everything. But I I the first thing I do is I' I' I'd hear that that parent out. But at the same time then I tell them listen I am an individual board member. I can't do anything about what you are telling me to do here. You need to follow the chain of command of how would things get done. If this is a student issue, start with the teacher, the principal. If you need to escalate to the superintendent, if it's something on policy, then bring it to a board meeting. That's the whole point of the board. The board is here to bring public where our board is a very open place where c
152where a parent can bring stuff in. And that's what I would encourage them to do. follow chain of command for a teacher for a school issue or if it's a policy issue you disagree with you know thank you for you know your time and and letting me know but there's nothing I can do in this individual capacity because as a board we have to act as one so they they need to bring that to the board here. >> Okay. Identify a recent board decision that you felt strongly about and describe how you would balance community concerns, student needs, state and federal law, staff considerations, and your personal values and beliefs to determine how to vote on the issue. >> Sure. One that I actually followed that I mean it interests me obviously because of the
153technology was back in August when you guys approved the T14 uh protocols on on technology trying to advance it. That's something. So one of my key things is I know a lot of us unfortunately the way the our schools have gone is the safety of our children is super important. I followed that and was like that's a very interesting topic and the school board um I mean ultimately unanimously approved it. It's something that I probably would have approved as well because of the fact that we need to be make sure that all the schools there's no dead spots. We can actively communicate um with law enforcement with uh any kind of anyone that needs to come to the school and then communications between schools. I mean the balance there is there's cost and there's certain
154budgets that we have. Um but that's one that obviously when I was talking about prioritization earlier it it's a high priority because it it it's part of one of our key attributes of you know sa safet a safe environment for our students. We have to make sure everybody feels safe coming to school. So, I think I would have voted in the exact same way both as a parent as and a school board member and I think the school board made a great choice voting 50-0 to approve that. >> Thank you. >> Okay, last question. Is there any additional information you'd like to share or questions for us? >> I mean, for for me, I think the biggest thing to know, I think I've already I've already hit on it. Um, I like to be part
155of the public process, right? I want to be a part of my community. I want to be able to give back to my community. That's that's the biggest thing. That's why I'm doing this. Outside of having young boys, outside of having a very busy job, I've been in Birmingham for almost 12 years now since I came back from California. But I don't think I think it's almost if you have the time and you have the capacity, it's almost your your duty to kind of give back to your community and and see how you can try to make it a better place for not just yourself, not just your children, but the generations to come. I think what's made Birmingham such a desirable community to to be in, you know, outside of all the issues that
156we have, it's still a highly desirable community because we have been consistent in delivering highquality education, highquality police service, highquality fire. I mean, it's just an amazing place to live. Why would I not want to be part of the process to give back into that community and continue to make it a great place? I mean, that's really a big part of why I want to be part of the school board. I want to see students achieve more and more um in this community. I want to see Birmingham as the number one school district in Michigan. I I mean, I know we're a top rated district. I love when, you know, the rankings come out and everyone's like, you know, Birmingham's top 150 in the nation and Birmingham's a top 10 in Michigan. Why can't we
157we be number one? Right? So that kind of it's that's that's that competitive edge that I have that I always want to try to move this district to be the best that it can be. Um just because that's how I'm built uh with that competitive spirit. >> Great. Thank you so much for coming in today. We really appreciate it. >> Oh, you're welcome. Thank you so much for uh allowing me to interview. Really appreciate your time. >> Thank you. Well, welcome. Um, we have candidate Amy Paige before us. Thank you for being here today. We truly appreciate the time and care you've taken to prepare for this process and your interest in serving our district. The interview will consist of questions from the board. Each member will ask at least one question, and a few
158may ask two. In total, there will be 10 questions and you'll have approximately 25 minutes to respond. A clock is visible over in front of Mrs. Jones to help you with that. Um, you'll also find a bottle of water in front of you. Please feel free to pause at any time to take a sip. We'll begin. Trustee Ashoon, would you please ask the first question? >> Yes, I would love to. Welcome. Welcome. Good afternoon. Welcome. >> Good afternoon. Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and why you want to serve? >> Absolutely. Great question, too. And first, thank you for the opportunity um to come in and interview for the open board seat. I'll start uh with my professional um experience and background and then talk a little bit um
159about myself from a personal aspect and then what I feel I can contribute to the board um and why I decided to apply. So professionally um I am a registered nurse. Uh so healthcare is actually my background. Um and I'm actually in school right now achieving my masters in business association um my MBA uh in healthcare management. Uh currently I serve as the chief clinical and healthc care strategy officer with Ageways nonprofit senior services. It is a large publicly funded health and human service agency that also serves actually Oakland County as well as um five other counties in southeast Michigan. And what we do is we take federal federal, state, and local public dollars. And we have to apply that to health and human services with our goal and mission to serve lowincome older adults,
160adults with disabilities and their family caregivers. um with services and support so they have equal access and opportunity to live and age at home where they prefer to stay. So my role is tasked with taking and being responsible for those publicly funded dollars, work with our community stakeholders, policymakers, and uh really our our community and those older adults that we're serving receive their feedback and turn that into necessary services and supports that serve them in the community and in their home. So I do feel like with my role there's strategic planning and thinking systems level thinking governance policy and fiscal responsibility as well as serving those in our community with quality and respect on how they want to be treated. So I feel like a lot of that can cross over into school board with
161governance and policy, financial stewardship with publicly funded dollars and turning that into quality services for students, our staff, families, and the community as well. Uh personally, uh I am a parent in the district. I have two daughters, one in fourth grade and one in fifth grade. Uh they both attend Beverly Elementary and uh my fourth grade daughter is uh neurotypical so uh average student um social in athletics and clubs and my daughter in fifth grade um actually has a diagnosis of autism. So she has an IEP through the school district. So I feel what I can bring as a parent um of someone of uh a different learner as well as those uh in the neurotypical um category. I feel like I can bring some added value and lived experience and knowledge to the board
162as we look through and um decide on different policies and how we want to provide quality education for all students so they can re um reach their optimal um educational excellence and overall well-being. Um lastly I just thought I would uh mention before I shift into uh the uh second part of of your question is I do actually serve as a member of our pack um already. Uh so I am a recent member um so I attend those meetings uh monthly as well as a way to currently give back and be involved in the school which I am passionate about. Um so why I want to serve? Um I think I have a strong background in public and nonprofit governance. Um I do have experience balancing policy, budgets, data, and people. Um I have a
163strong passion and commitment to student well-being and their educational excellence. Um I'm a parent in the district and I felt right now is a good time to kind of give back to the school and students and uh our community. Um, so yeah, I just wanted to highlight strong uh governance mindset, system level thinking. I'm comfortable with complex decisions and needing to do the data and research um to support how we may want to move forward. Um, and I'm first and foremost kind, understanding, and incredibly collaborative um with all constituents and stakeholders as well as uh I think working collaboratively with the superintendent is so key for driving the success of um the district students and staff. So that's how I would um answer your question. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you.
164>> All right, next question. What are the biggest challenges facing public education today and how do they affect our district? >> Uh, good question. I would say enrollment um is a statewide and probably national concern. Um, I think that can have a domino effect into financial sustainability um as you kind of lower your per pupil um capital uh that you would receive. So I think probably um enrollment um therefore then impacting financials could could be um uh a big one. Um another highly important thing is workforce um quality and sustainability. So making sure that you have quality staff and teacher teachers and a good relationship between um your staff superintendent and the board is also um important. My question is, if you were faced with a tough issue as a board member, for example, cutting
165staff or programs, what kind of data would you need to help you make a decision? Yes. I think the approach I take when faced with a complex issue and needing um and in a decision-m process is uh first understanding the issue at hand. Um is there policy context around the issue and resolution? Uh I'm a data and research person. So researching into the issue and researching into the into the policy uh that may correspond to it. What is the data? Um then what is do we have an opportunity to listen to stakeholders and get stakeholder input and feedback? that could be staff, students, the families or community at large um to gather uh input and I would say equity and student impact um and quality of education and well-being for the students would also um
166weigh into the decision making process. And coming back to our why as a district and as a board and being focused on on the why. Um again the the student impact staff families community um coupled that circling to our why but then what's the policy and data circling around the decision that we have to make and that's probably how I would um reach the conclusion with that and also keeping an open mind. Um I actually value and think it's positive that for a board to come with um different thoughts and viewpoints on certain matters so you can talk about it from all different angles and then once you reach a decision it's very powerful because you you we each come with our own viewpoints and backgrounds and differences. So then when you reach a mutual
167decision on something, I think it's really powerful and in taking into account the research and stakeholder input perhaps that led to the decision too. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Great. Question four. What would you like to see changed in our district and how do you envision your role in that change? >> That's a great question. I did not prepare for that one. So this would be off off the cuff. Um, oh boy. I think so. My my we did used to be students of um in a family of the Wald Lake school district and I will say coming to the Birmingham school district has been truly amazing. Um I think the level of focus on student and student excellence um is very visible. I think the quality of staff here is phenomenal.
168And one key difference uh again in a positive way and I'll get to maybe an improvement but um is the level of activities and clubs and other inclusionary um extracurricular activities that is had in this district is outstanding. Um and at that it's very inclusive of all students and all abilities. um which I value as um a parent with with different uh learning abilities. I would say um perhaps an improvement and again sitting from a parent with a child with special needs and sitting on pack. I think we could improve upon um you may have heard the unified sports and making sure we are inclusive in social club and sport activities for those that may have lower abilities. Um just to make sure that they feel included and have those opportunities and chances as well.
169Um I would love to champion something like that. It's actually very it's a passion of mine. something that I was starting to get involved in at the Wald Lake School District. Uh, and then we decided to move. So, it would be something if that's uh a goal of the school we would like to achieve, I would love to really be a key player in in that. >> Thank you. >> Hi. Question five. An average month for schoolboard members include between three and five scheduled meetings and several other school or community related activities that you are invited to attend. In addition, there's daily email correspondence, required reading, and district updates. How will this fit into your schedule? I think anything I'm passionate about, I put my all in. Um, so the daily emails, that's fine. Um
170the community and school events I would actually love to attend. Um I love being out in the community and making uh a general impact in my personal or uh professional career. Uh we also have community events where we uh engage some of our key stakeholders and um some of our aging network partners and I love collaborating and building those relationships. it just strengthens the community, the district, and working together towards a common goal. Um, I did look at the meeting frequencies, like the cadence. Uh, that's all fine. Um, so I I really think that I could I could balance my personal, professional, and um the role in the school board very well. I I don't see an issue with that. And I would look forward to to have that opportunity actually to really be involved.
171Thank you. >> Okay. As a board member, you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put aside what's best for you, your family, your friends, and your school to do what's best for the students and district. What does this mean to you? >> I think it you hit the h nail on the head. Um, I think that yes, we come with different backgrounds and experiences um that may influence our lives, but when you're sitting on the board, you have to put some of those aside and focus kind of um back to my previous question on on the why and what's our mission, value, and impact needed for the school. um student achievement, student well-being, uh the quality of staff and workforce, that collaborative relationship is so important, the involvement and and engagement with families
172and stakeholders as well as the community. So I um I'm having a moment. >> I just went poof. >> That's okay. Um, but yeah, I I think, you know, we could set any differences aside, focus and circle back on our why and our value and mission of the school district and um put that put that in front as we're looking and and facing different issues and what we need to decisions we need to make that's best for the school. >> Thank you. That brings us back to me and my question for you is if you are appointed to this board, would you seek reelection when the appointment expires? >> Thank you. I have thought about that. Um, and I genuinely feel I I would I want to serve on the school board for a long
173time. Uh, I want it to be a long-term commitment um and impact that I can bring to to the community and the school rather than some short-term stay. So, I would I would like to seek reelection. >> Describe your response if a parent cornered you in the grocery store and asked for your support on a particularly hot issue. I think with everything I come with kindness and understanding. So I would listen to them um through eyes of uh compassion and kindness. Um always keeping things professional uh first and foremost because you are a member on the board. So with that comes extreme professionalism um and respect. um if it was an issue that they had with the school, I would support them, validate what their concern was and then direct them to appropriate channels to
174address that with the school. Uh whether that's, you know, contacting if it's a principal level, a superintendent level, uh something that I need to take back to the board. So then redirecting them on the appropriate channel and resource so we can resolve that parents concern. We don't want it to go unresolved and unheard because it can escalate. Um, so really then also hearing that parent and seeing how we can address his or her concern. >> Okay. Can you identify a recent board decision that you felt strongly about and describe how you would balance community concerns, student needs, state and federal law, staff considerations, and your personal values and beliefs to determine how to vote on the issue. >> Excuse me. >> And it's a lot. So, if you want me to read >> I was
175going to say, do I ask her to repeat it? Yes. If you if you could please repeat it one more time. Of course. >> Okay. Identify a recent board decision that you felt strongly about and describe how you would balance community concerns, student needs, state and federal law, staff considerations, and your personal values and beliefs to determine how to vote on the issue. I will take um I listened to to some previous board meetings but maybe I should have gone back a little bit more. Um I am I I will use the um teacher contracts as an example um because that was a recent one. Um, so without knowing all the specifics around it, um, I will speak to I I know it was an on an ongoing, um, conversation between the the school and
176teacher contracts. Um, I would say that staff, teachers, and faculty are a valuable resource and asset to the district. Um, and I think how the school handled it was uh done well and professionally. Um so in that situation I think relationship between school and staff is very vital and important through open communication, transparency and trust in that during that um we need to understand the teachers why and what their ask is. see if we can meet that as a as a school district to preserve um high quality talent in our district and think long-term value on um teacher sustainability here. Um of course researching you know issues and uh policy applying that to our decision um and how to handle that. And I think it's through a thoughtful and respectable um um negotiation process as
177well. Um I do have negotiation skills through um my professional work um in resolving conflict and issues between the agency and some of our um community partners and contractors. And if you approach it with mutual respect, professionalism, and openness and communication, and wanting to uh both come to to an agreement that's positive for both, I think it's it's a win-win, and you try to preserve that relationship. >> Thank you. >> And the last question, any additional information you'd like to share or questions for us? Um, I really just uh appreciate the opportunity and being selected um to interview for the for the open seat. Um, I do have a passion uh for students um and wanting to make sure that they can achieve their their optimal, right, their highest level that that they can go.
178um and making sure that we meet the needs of of all students and of all abilities both academically, socially and their and their well-being. These are core years for students um and I would love to be able to be a part of that and have um district impact uh with the school. I I bring strong, you know, governance mindset, system level thinking, strategic planning. um I can work with complex decisions and doing research and data and really keeping to our Y which which is um you know students, staff, family and community. Um and and I am committed and and would be here long term. I do have one question. um what is it that you guys would like to see in um in a in your next um board member? >> I think some of
179the top qualities that we're looking for is someone who has um sound judgment focused on students. Trustees, would anybody else like to add anything to that? >> You know, there's a there's a very strong um focus on being collaborative um and setting aside sometimes your personal beliefs or feelings or experiences. Um even if you don't agree with a board decision, you you have to get on board with that decision. You know that is regardless of your how you voted or how you feel because we are one body and that's a very important quality to bring to the district to the community to all stakeholders that that greatly benefits of course our our children our students. >> Thank you. I actually really appreciate that and I meant to put that in one of my responses. But
180yes, once a decision um is is reached, we're we are one and we should come unified um as a as a board and whatever decision is reached, we we move forward with that in in unity and present that in the in the com in the community. So I thank you. I I do appreciate your answer and I I agree with that. Thank you so much for coming in. We really appreciate you being here. >> Thank you so much. You guys have a great day. >> Thank you, too. Thanks for coming. >> Thank you. Before us, we have candidate Jamie Bender. Um, welcome and thank you for being here today. We truly appreciate the time and care you've taken to prepare for this process and your interest in serving our district. The interview will consist of
181questions from the board. Each member will ask at least one question and a few may ask two. In total, there will be 10 questions and you'll have approximately 25 minutes to respond. There is a clock visible over here to your left to help with pacing. You'll also find a bottle of water in front of you. Please feel free to pause and take a sip at any time. Um, we'll begin. Trustee Ashoon, will you please ask the first question? >> Good afternoon and welcome. >> Thank you. >> My first question is, can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and why you want to serve? >> Great. Um, thank you for the question. Uh, nice to meet everybody. Um, I'm Jamie Bender. I live about a mile half a mile to the um
182west of the Lincoln Hills Golf Course in the art center in the little appendage of Bloomfield that's in the district. Um I grew up in this area with the Lasser High School. Um my wife went to a number of the Birmingham public school um schools uh Harland and Covington and Seahol growing up. I've lived 80% of my life in Oakland County. um uh my time outside of the state, spent in uh out east where I was uh born in uh Massachusetts, lived in Jersey for a bit. Um went to school at Michigan and I also spent some time in my undergrad in Iowa. Um I have two kids. Um I am uh married here in the district. Um I work in Troy at a consulting company called Ducker Carlile. Um and my interest fundamentally um
183in being on the board is that I have two kids in the district. Um I want to make sure that um you know they get the best education possible. Um you know I've um I we moved back to this community from um after my wife's fellowship to um from Okamus um to Bloomfield because this is where I wanted to you know grow up again. kind of familiar with the area and um you know I think you know my my interest is fundamentally just to ensure that um both my kids and then the other kids in the community have access to a good education a well-rounded education and that um you know we maintain kind of the standards that I kind of expect of this district and being a parent in the district. >> Okay. Thank
184you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> What are the biggest challenges facing public education today and how do they affect our district? um funding in my view. So um you know I I see education as a funding priority among multiple priorities of you know political priorities or state funding priorities or um so I think that's probably number one. Um you know I know learned a little bit about this process by attending a couple of the meetings and understanding a little bit more about how revenues flow in watching some of the presentations from the financial adviserss. Um it strikes me that there may be um you know opportunities to increase funding at the top of the funnel that we don't necessarily control, but you know, other districts may have access to syncing funds or other things
185that would help with operations that we don't necessarily have access to. Um you know, I understand that there's been some historic difficulty with funding in the district that it seems like it's been effectively resolved by this group or at least in the interim. Um but I think that's number one. Um, second would just be to understand like what the priorities for that funding are, right? To to make sure that those are directed in the right way. Um, I know that the bulk of that today goes to education fundamentally to the education administration. Um, I think that should remain a priority. Um, but I think that, you know, just in general, um, that's one. I mean, two, I think is just the other primary mandate is just making sure that the curriculum is aligned with a
186fairly uncertain future, right? So we have a lot ofum different potential opportunities that are going to arise for kids in the future, but we have um uncertain environment related to how technology is going to impact, you know, what types of jobs are available for kids. Um we've had to make choices, I think, as a district around STEM versus arts and other things that may or may not um impact kids preparedness for the future. So I think that um you know that's probably the most complex challenge is having that lens and making sure that the kid in my view it's about having um kids having as wellrounded an education as possible in order to prepare for any eventuality. So >> if you were faced with a tough issue as a board member for example cutting staff
187or programs what kind of data would you need to help you make your decision? Um well I think I'd be looking for data both inside and outside the district. So I think you know in my business uh the work I do like we're I'm work with a consulting company and so we we need to ingest a lot of data at the a front end of any engagement. Um that's how we learn and so um you know I think more sources the better right so I would be relying on soft perspectives from stakeholders in the in the group. I think I would rely first and foremost on the educators to provide me um you know information about what programs or what um initiatives are driving the most impact for students and having the greatest benefit. Some
188of that's anecdotal, some of that's you know more um you know testing based or other things. Um and I think you know clearly I've seen some of the testing data that the board has presented in the past around specific um um you know measurables that they're taking related to either state standards or just you know things to impact the to to reflect the progress of the strategic plan. Um you know but beyond that too I think I would also look for benchmark data from other districts to see what other schools are doing whether those results are achieving different you know positive outcomes that may be different than the things that we would be doing. Um, so I think that's, you know, it would be the voices of the stakeholders, but then also hard data in
189and out of the district. >> Thank you. >> Question four. What would you like to see changed in the district and how do you envision your role in that change? >> I can't say that I know enough about the curriculum or specific things that are going well or not well today in order to say that there should be changes. I would say that my initial interest in learning more about the district was from talking to the teachers and when we had a kind of a recent you know difficulty in resolving the contract based on the delay and the funding being provided and all the kind of associated you know issues around that and so um you know for me you know to me the the teachers have the biggest impact of the students in terms
190of how they're delivering what the curriculum mandate is and the the way they're delivering it to have the impact on the kids than anything that we would do individually. So I when my daughter comes comes home from school, she will talk more about like something that she learned from her teacher or something that you know the teacher made her feel that day, which is a lot different than saying like I learned 2 plus 2 equals, you know, five, right? Um, so I think my um, you my primary focus would be making sure that like we are in a position as a district to be able to address what I see as the most important thing to continued success is that we support our teachers, that we retain the best teachers. Um, and I know that
191we're a, you know, more advantaged district in terms of funding and maybe we compensate reasonably well relative to others, but um, I don't see any reason why with the resources we have in the district overall, um, that we couldn't take care of those folks even better. So, >> thank you. >> Uh, question five, an average month for a schoolboard member includes between three and five scheduled meetings and several other school or community related activities that you are invited to attend. In addition, there are daily there's daily email correspondence, required reading, and district updates. How would this fit into your schedule? >> Um, I'm excited about the opportunity to attend a lot of those things, right? So, or or you know, everything that's required and and whether it has to do with meetings or or outside.
192Um, so that's one. Um, two, I'm in a position in my business where I have the ability to build some flexibility into my schedule. So, um, you know, to a certain degree, my schedule's mine, so I I can make that work. Um, and I'm willing and excited about participating in any of the extracurriculars. You know, I think some of the things that also intrigue me beyond just the activities of the board is like what can the board do to communicate more to the community about what our priorities are to get the best impact on the kids. And so if it, you know, some of the things I've heard about might be, well, we're going to go review, you know, the new tech center. We're going to go, you know, to to, you know, some other
193outside activity or seminar around training for the board. I've read some of these things. That's all seems interesting, but I also think that um the public forums are fairly not very well attended. We're relying upon sort of reporting and maybe a part of the paper that isn't read as much uh to to kind of communicate what we're up to. And I I I think that um you know, anything else that can be done to kind of communicate how what we think the priorities are and like maybe how the needs aren't being met would by funding or just awareness or anything else, I'd be more than happy to participate in that. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Next question. As a board member, you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put aside what's best
194for you, your family, your friends, and your school to do what's best for the students and the district. What does this mean to you? >> Um, I can't see too many instances where those two things wouldn't be in alignment. So, my kids are in the school. what's best for the kids in the school collectively is going to be good for my kids. And so I I mean I understand the the point in the question that I might have a a disagreement on a particular decision or policy setting, but um you know I understand that the mandate is to come to a consensus. To me, the best way to do that is just be a listener and understand everybody's perspectives and make sure that I'm making sure that my perspectives are also being heard and you
195know, whatever whatever benefits most of the kids and has the best overall effect on the opportunities they'll be able to see succeed in the future is the most important thing to me. >> Thank you. >> Excuse me. >> So, that brings us back to me with my questions. Sorry, I just finish. >> If you are appointed to this board, would you seek reelection when the appointment expires? >> Yeah, I thought about that. I mean, I I think so, but it would also be based on maybe whether or not I feel like my perspectives are redundant or not in the current board. I mean, I think that would be something that I would be rely upon feedback from the group as to whether or not that would be welcome or not welcome because my priorities are
196again the school as opposed to my own position within the board. Um, but I'd be willing to do it. I'd be willing to put energy and effort to doing that. I understand that if you're going to make an investment and bring somebody up to speed, you might want them to be here and continue to be part of helping. And so, I'm I would be more than willing to do that. So, but I don't really have a I kind of saw when this came up, I saw it as a unique opportunity to be able to learn more about whether or not this is truly the best place for me to make a difference. And so, I think so, but you know, whether or not that's long term, I just don't know. >> Okay. >> But I'd
197be willing. >> Thank you. >> All right. Describe your response if a parent cornered you in the grocery store and asked for your support on a particularly hot issue. I think um I would want to first listen, you know, and and I think um give that parent the impression that the board is receptive to whatever idea is being presented and that as a representative I'd also be receptive to that. Um and I think beyond that it would be you know suggesting a that I would you know read or examine whatever materials are the issue myself and then also encourage them to come and ask questions and present here in order to make that um um the issue you know raise that issue or raise the awareness with the board or that issue so we can
198all consider it. Um, I, you know, would not clearly be in a position to make promises or say that, you know, I'm going to make this a priority of mine with the board based on somebody approaching me like that. But I, I mean, listening is the most important thing. I mean, we want the the parents to feel like the board are responsive to their concerns. Identify a recent board decision that you felt strongly about and describe how you would balance community concerns, student needs, state and federal law, staff considerations, and your personal values and beliefs to determine how to vote on the issue. And I know >> I don't I don't think I have I don't think I have line item like I don't think I have line item insight into like say for instance
199going to the teacher contract or anything else where we had to make those decisions or allocations you know I I think um there is one thing that does and again like whether this was in um I don't know what B is in the decision to do A or B in all the decisions that have been made recently. I do know that um there's kind of been a bite taken out of the art department a bit at least at the elementary school that um my daughter attends and I have a sense that maybe um we may in the interest of data and understanding effectiveness and maybe state priorities and other things were focused on some of the more of the hard skills development that you know represent reflection of STEM priorities or other things. you know,
200I I um I think it's a shame if we had to take staff out of the art department, and I don't think that's a good thing fundamentally. Um and I I'm also again, as I mentioned, like I'm interested in a more well-rounded education um as possible for kids because I think they need to respond to a lot of things. Um you know, so that would be something that, um I can't say what the alternative was that we gave up for that. Um but I understand that hard decisions have to be made and so >> thank you. >> Yeah, welcome. >> And the last question um is there any additional information you'd like to share or any questions for us? Um well I guess I I mean I maybe at a high level I I've seen
201the strategic plan and um you know I do have an understanding of some of the individual programs in the curriculum but I mean I guess my is there a particular lane in the curriculum? Is there a particular topic or um that this board has made it a priority to sort of enhance? I understand that the strategic plan says, you know, we want to raise our scores and we want to be able to um you know, fundamentally meet the needs of kids. But for instance, like I like I know that we have some um exposure uh to um not just college prep stuff but stuff for trade school or otherwise, right? Um to me, I have an idea that that may become more critical in the future. I'm in a knowledge management industry, right? But I
202do know that like technical tools and other things are changing how people participate in programming or changing around medicine or lawyers or anything else where we're ingesting a lot of information. I feel like some of the things in the future that may be more insulated from technology are more traditional types of work, right? Your your trades, right? It's difficult to get a robot into a corner to fix somebody's electricity. So I, you know, I think that those are opportunities that I want to make sure that are not um under represented in an in maybe a community where there's an assumption that everybody's going to college and that we have sort of traditional ways about thinking about that path. I don't know how much emphasis we're putting on that. So that would be an example of
203something for where for me the the question of the board would be is there anything fundamentally new or is there anything that based on kind of how the external environment is changing for kids futures that you have said this should be a bigger priority over the next 5 to 10 years than maybe something that we did in the previous five years. That's that may be a broad question to ask but >> Dr. Robertson I'll defer to you. I would say that I think we do um look at the best we look at presenting opportunities for all of our students that meet their needs regardless of what their needs might be so that it's something that can um move them forward whether they're going to attend college or university or possibly trade schools. I know we
204have a lot of um different opportunities um as far as that goes. Yes, I would add um you know, one of our uh focuses is really looking at steam um which is why we brought the Volkswagen um elabs into our district. Um those uh digital fabrication labs where elementary students have access to the 3D printers and um also um chomp saws and other cutters. Um and the innovation team at each elementary school um which is being led by our librarians um also includes uh working with our art teachers um you know working with I think our first grade level um additionally we've had numerous conversations around the stigma um of the trades in this community uh and and I've even shared my own personal story as a parent in this uh district where when my
205child wanted to go to OTH and I was like no you're going to college so you don't need that and how wrong I was um as an a personal example of how we need to make sure that our students know all of the avenues um and to your point that insulation um and can make really good money in the trades um and making sure that we're doing what is best for the students not again stereotype our own biases um stereotyping the um opportunities for students Um and then the last thing I would say is um education, public education and I say education in general um has seen a uh kind of a deficit in terms of students going into education at the higher ed level. And so one of the things that we have started
206is a future educa future educators program where we have students who are interested in education can shadow current um you know uh current teachers um with a promise that if they go to school in education that we would make sure that they had an opportunity to interview here as a way to try to give back to the to uh pushing the profession forward. So those are just some things that we're still working on um but that start has have started um since the construction of the strategic plan. >> Thanks. That's great to hear. Thank you. Um maybe one other question slash just thought of mine or transmitting my thought. Um you know one of the other sort of concerns I have that about just being in your position uh in general is that there's it
207feels like and I don't know whether you guys have experienced this more outside pressure related to content in the schools right so we have um I don't know whether or not this has been something that we've experienced in Birmingham or whether or not you know there's there's um outside pressure on what books ought to be in the schools or sort of transforming how we're um communicating about history you it would that would be different than maybe traditional factual understanding of history things like this. So I you know I I don't know if that's been an issue here. It's something that I feel strongly about that you know I feel like we should be a bull work against that and kind of put all those decisions in the hands of the educators and not have that
208be something that's outside influenced around what content the kids are being exposed to based on um you know polarizing forces, right? Um is that something that's been a concern or come up at all in this district yet? Is that something that we've had to wrestle with? >> Can I answer? >> Yeah. Okay. Go ahead. >> You know, we have had um you know, maybe you've heard people have made public comment about specific texts we might have. Um >> it's come up. I will say that we have a very um what I would call fair to all sides policy >> that actually allows parents to have choice in what text their children check out from any library >> in any school as well as the texts that are used within a classroom. If there's something on
209the syllabus that for whatever reason a parent feels that's not appropriate for their child, they can ask to have an alternate text provided. And while there might still be some people who believe that we need to go further, I think this allows for um teachers autonomy in selection as well as for a truly liberal um application of education while also honoring parents wishes. >> Okay, >> understood. Thank you. >> You're welcome. appreciate it. >> And and we also adhere to the MDE and the core curriculum from the state. So those are the you know the big framework guidelines >> and then that comes down and as trustee Hokrumber just mentioned there is >> room for um teacher and community input but it's it's very well weighed out very balanced and many opportunities for um you
210know choosing or making decisions. on on these materials and always relying on the expertise of the teachers, >> the educators. >> Got it. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> Only final comment I would make if it's just I'm passionate about this. I'm excited about this opportunity. So, you know, asking for the job. Um you know I have a lot of experience again as I mentioned earlier with my um what I do in the workplace not necessarily with a deep background education and taking in a lot of education helping you know my clients which are lots of different stakeholders like come to difficult decisions on complex pro you know problems the data that we're taking in is financial data and it's also you know strategic data around how companies grow or you know what their intentions
211are and what this what the stat thinks on so I think um I also have a background you know as a senior leader start my company of having meetings like this and taking turns and listen to each other's perspectives. So, um this is something I'd be really comfortable doing and I have a lot of passion for it because my priority is my kids and you know we intend to be here and grow up in this district. So, >> great. >> Thanks a lot. >> Thank you so much for being here. We appreciate it. >> Yeah. Giving up a Saturday. Thank you. >> Thank you. Have a great day. The board will now take a fivem minute recess. The board is now back from recess. Dr. Robersonson, I will turn it over to you to facilitate
212deliberations. >> Yes. Our last candidate was not able to attend. Uh so we're going to go into deliberations at this time. What I would like each trustee to do um is please review your notes and identify your top two candidates. focusing on the skills and qualities that would best complement the current board and what you feel is necessary for the district. after uh giving you some time to identify your two top candidates without referencing without referencing candidate names. We want trustees to be able to share the skills and qualities that they believe are most important. So again, identifying your top two candidates, thinking about the skills and qualities that you think would be best for the district and would best complement the board. And when you guys are ready, um, we would like you to
213without referencing candidates names, name the skills and qualities that you are um, thinking about that you believe will be most important. And President Spencer, you let me know when you believe it's enough time. >> Sure. Thank you. Excuse me. Sorry. It's okay. So we are going to bring forth our two top uh candidates. you will. Um, but prior to that, prior to naming them, what um the exercise that we I would like the board to do is to talk about the qualities interviews. >> No, the qualities and skills of the two top people that are your candidates. >> And the hope is when you do that exercise that one of your peers might say, "Oh, I that's not something I thought about. Let me look back at that skill or quality in my particular candidate
214>> prior to you guys actually naming who those two candidates are. >> Okay. >> Trustees, maybe a few more minutes, >> please. >> Yes. Oh, I know. >> Turn to the side. I know it's tough one. It's tough one. top three. That's what I'm kind of trying to decide. Trustees, are we about ready? Does anybody need more time? >> I think so. >> Great. Okay. With your top two people in mind, um I do not want you to mention the candidates's name just yet. But would you share with your colleagues what are the most important skills or um qualities that you feel um your candidates have that would be a a positive to this board and to this district? >> Do we want to just go down the line? No. Would somebody like to go
215first? No, >> I'll go first. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you, Jen. >> Thanks, Jen. >> Do you just want >> Thank you, Trusty R. >> You're welcome. Um, do you want me to just do general or do you want me to say my candidate letter? I just want to make sure I'm just the qualities. just qualities because I what we want to do is make sure that the qualities that are important to you for instance as an individual board member that other people can hear those qualities and say oh maybe I did or did not consider that particular quality and apply it to their their candidate >> to ensure >> that it you know their candidate I got it um so these were some of the things that I wrote down passion for education strong
216communication and collaboration, being prepared, um significance and importance of giving back, strong governance, um committed and understanding the role of a trustee, data driven as well. >> Is that okay? >> Great. Thank you. >> Do you want me to go next? >> Sure, that would be great. Trusty Hokar. >> Okay. For me, um, it was several of the things that Jen just read, but also, um, experience with our district or education as a whole. um knowledge of our strategic plan, uh a demonstrated knowledge of the issues that are currently being faced by public education, but also specifically our district. and probably most importantly that they're student focused in a way where everything comes back to it. Um, also I'll say understanding of governance and finance and community servant which I think Jen said. >> Thank
217you. Trusty Hokr, trustes. >> Okay. Um, here's just kind of what I wrote down quickly. So, commitment to the district and education in general, serviceoriented, willingness to balance competing interests, commitment to being involved in the finance aspect of the district, and seeking greater understanding of the financial position of the district. collaborative uh not too narrow of a focus because this job demands so much, you know, uh smart, capable, kind, analytical, uh an ability to stay above the fray, so to speak. I I don't really know how to say that, but just probably an ability to to be even-handed and to be open-minded is what I mean by that. So, >> thank you, trustees. Trusty Joseph or Trusty. Go ahead. >> You want to go? >> Go ahead. >> You sure? >> Trusty Joseph. >> Well,
218a lot of my fellow trustees have said a lot of nice things. So, I some of the things that I'd like to add is um understanding the challenges of the district, which was one of our questions. um shaping the future because it's so unpredictable and that could be related to finance, could be related to enrollment, could be related to uh my second thing that I was looking at which is being competitive with other school districts and gathering information from them. uh and also data driven just analyze data um instead of jumping into conclusions. So those are some of the things that's stood out to me. >> Great. Thank you Trusty Ashi. >> So many of the trustees already mentioned some of the important qualities that I feel the same about. I wrote things down like
219it was important to me that candidates were well researched. They were familiar with the governance um process. They followed previous uh board decisions. They were realistic and understood the challenges that we face currently and um are looking towards the future and potential challenges that may come up. um that the candidate was outcomebased um and uses data as well as other documented information and seeking the opinion of experts to stay well informed. um a candidate that is well-rounded in many areas and demands of the responsibilities that a board trustee faces. Well-rounded is I thought a very strong um quality that I looked for. Um, and I also said probably one of the most important was student interest, well-being and academic um, progress at heart. >> Thank you. I would just add to that the top qualities
220that I had kind of put in my mind before we even began the interviews was that our particular candidate would have a sound judgment focused on students and a commitment to serve and work excuse me well as part of a team. And so as I was listening, um the candidates that rose to the top for me um definitely sounded like they were um very focused on our um students as a whole for the district and um sounded like they had a a strong commitment to uh serve and work well as a team. >> Okay. So, having heard uh your colleagues and what they were what they're looking for, look at your top two candidates and are they still the same? There's any changes that you might make. I think it was very re reaffirming that
221so many of us had very very similar um expectations and and qualities that we wanted to see in a new board of trustees. >> I agree. And if I may add, I think everybody they scored 14 and higher. Sorry, they all scored 14 and higher. They were all excellent. Was really tough decision. Honestly, I just want to make that statement as well. >> I appreciate that because I feel the same way. >> I'm grateful that there are so many well-qualified people that chose to apply. It makes our job harder, but it's also nice to know that we have so many qualified, committed people in our community. >> I concur. >> Yes, agreed. >> So, thank you for bringing it up, Luke. >> No problem. >> It's a tough one. >> It is very difficult. >>
222Okay. So at this time I if we can name our top two people to see if there is consensus around um two or three candidates. This is not the final vote uh but it's just to see if we can narrow um the eight candidates down um to perhaps two or three. Um, I will also um say that it was you guys have did an excellent job of uh screening applicants uh because I can imagine how tough of this of a decision this is right now for you guys. >> Sure. >> Are we saying their name or their letter? >> When when we announce who we are picking, are we tell are we going to say their name or their letter? >> Do you have their letter in front of you? >> Yeah, I mean the
223letter. Yeah, >> we do. We do. Yeah, we Yeah, we can do a letter. >> Okay. >> Where are the letters? >> They're within the >> Oh, within their packets. I didn't pull their letters. Okay. Thank you. Um is would anybody like to volunteer to go first? I need just a second um for myself to um correspond the letters, but if anybody else wanted to go first, that would be great. Or if you could just hold for a moment, I would appreciate that as well. >> So, I heard you mention, Dr. Robertson a possible third. >> No. And I I wanted each of you to pick two, but and I mean it's six of you. So there's pos there's a possibility just depending on who chooses what. That there may be three candidates. You you
224may not all pick the same two candidates. Okay. So I was I'm hoping that you guys can >> Narrow it down. But you're still picking two candidates. >> Got it. >> Okay. Trusty Ras, you are volunteering. >> Sure. I will go first. I um the two top for me would be candidate E and candidate Q. >> Okay, I'll go. My two top would be candidate E and candidate O. Well, I can go. Uh, mine were J and L. And admittedly, I had a hard time narrowing it down to two from three. I >> I as well. >> I had a tough one, but >> yeah, I agree. I felt very strongly about candidate E and I too, Trusty Zamut, had a hard time going from from three to two. Um, so my second candidate was
225candidate O. So E and O. I I >> for me it's uh J and O. And my two are B and Q. >> I need to take just a moment and I'm realizing I'm having trouble um keeping the names and the letters straight. So, give me a sec. >> Sure. >> The easiest >> Oh, I haven't here. >> Oh, I wonder if I brought mine. I don't think I brought I don't think I brought mine. Right. Right. >> Right. Got it. >> Thanks, Tracy. >> Which one? What letters did you say? I forgot >> for me. >> Yeah. J and L. J and L. >> Okay. Does anybody need to look at this? Uh, no. Thank you. Which ones did you say? President Spencer, would it be helpful if I read back to you how
226many people um chose for each letter? >> Yes, that would be >> that would be very helpful. Thank you. >> I wrote down two. >> Okay. Three people chose candidate E and three people chose candidate O. Two people chose candidate Q and two people chose candidate J. One person chose candidate L and one person chose candidate B. >> Candidate >> B like boy >> as in boy. My suggestion would be since there was only one person who chose candidate L and candidate B uh to eliminate those two. Um but again this is the will of the board. That would just be a suggestion. So then you would be considering between four instead of six. >> I agree on that. >> I think that's fair. So at this time you as a board would be looking
227at candidate E Q O and J here. Let me get my notes on that. size. L O J E and Q, right? >> A Q OJ. >> Okay, got it. OJ. All right. So, are we going to discuss each letter candidate by itself and see how we vote? How what's the next step on that? I don't know. Okay. >> Like, how do we approach this? >> Narrow it down again. >> Yeah. >> Before we >> Yeah, I would out of those four, I would ask that you think about your top candidate >> out of the four E, Q, O, and J. And it is possible that you will not you will not all have the same top candidate >> but it will allow us to eliminate further. >> So >> can we at least say
228like the positiveness or you you just want us to pick the one that we >> just our top one pick your top >> candidate out of those if you had to choose out of those four. Are these >> okay >> all your notes in addition to >> Oh, this is just like I jotted down what you guys said were important qualifications. >> So, if you want to check them out, you can. >> Okay. >> Sometimes too much paperwork. >> I know I have >> written all right. I wish I had this and a list. Okay. Trustees, have you had um an opportunity to pick your top candidate out of the four? >> Yep. >> Yeah, I think so. Great. Dr. Robersonson, do you think that we should clarify our top candidate out of those or
229move into um we had discussed potentially if there were a consensus of three or less of possibly making a motion, but we're at four. >> Um, do you think we should um I'll share our top candidate or have a motion for one of those particular four candidates? >> You could have you could have a motion. Um I I think I would have my suggestion would be everybody identify their top candidate before you start voting >> because if you if you go into a motion then someone's putting up a vote and now you guys are going to be voting on each one of those people. >> Agreed. >> So >> that would be my suggestion. >> Okay. Okay, I'll volunteer to go first this time. >> Say you, Trustee Raph. >> Thank you. >> My top
230candidate is um candidate E. >> Um I'll go. Mine is J. Mine is E. Mine is Q. minus E minus J. >> So at this time I would suggest um because it does seem you have consensus around two um candidates. >> Um I am going to turn this back over to you, President Spencer. At this time, you got someone should make a motion uh for a candidate and and proceed into discussion if you think it appropriate and a vote. >> Sure. Thank you, Dr. Robersonson. >> Excuse me. Are we still using we're still using letters at this point? Is that correct? Or are we using names? Okay. Just making sure. >> Yes. And so trustees, could I have a motion um for an appointment resolution 54, an appointment to the vacant board of education? Would
231somebody like to make a motion to move this forward for a particular candidate? >> I move to um consider resolution 54, which is the board of education vacant seat appointment. >> For which candidate? Right. We have to pick a candidate. >> Yeah, you have to say a candidate >> or which which letter? >> Which going? I was going to >> I'm sorry. >> That's okay. >> And my candidate choice is letter E. >> Okay. >> I would like to do the same. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Support. >> Oh, okay. Support. Sure. >> For that resolution and then discussion. >> Do we do roll call too or vote? >> Um, we'll have some discussion and then we'll take a vote. >> Roll call. Vote. I don't believe so. >> No. Well, unless I mean you
232can call for a roll call vote, but >> is it necessary? >> Okay. >> So, at this point, there is a motion on the table for resolution um 54, appointment to vacant board of education seat for candidate E. >> Did we get a second? >> Yeah. >> Oh, sorry. I didn't hear. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Just >> Okay. So trustees um is there anything that anybody would like to say in support of um candidate E or any questions of um that we would like to discuss? Uh I mean just in a very very tough field, this candidate I felt had the most um clean, concise answers, student focused and um seems very very well researched of district issues as well as um more global educational issues. >> Thank you, Trusty Hokimer. Anybody else? >> Yes, I
233felt candidate E was very well-rounded. answers were spoton, um, wellinformed, um, not overly, you know, long- winded or or, you know, to the point. I felt this candidate had quite a bit to offer, including a desire for a long-term commitment. Um, I feel the background and focus on education and putting children first was again spot-on for me and I feel strongly about this candidate, very strongly. >> Thank you, Trusty Ashi. Trusty Zamit. >> So, I know we're discussing candidate E. I I do think it's they're they're very similar. So, I I just want to say that I have a lot of positive things to say about both, but the one concern I had about candidate E. So, I'm not entirely sure this candidate has really given serious thought to the schedule. I felt like that
234was glossed over just a little bit and I wondered if this candidate is fully aware of the time commitments outside of board meetings that are on the calendar. That that part that concerned me just a little bit. >> Thank you, Trusty Zam. I would I think that candidate E has a lot of very um strong qualities as well and was definitely one that stood out to me overall. I do think that is a legitimate concern trust that you brought up um with small children in a very um busy um job he mentioned quite a bit. Um, but it did sound like overall he had um, you know, he did have an ability to prioritize and focus on um, what he thought was important for the school district. So, I did hear that same and feel
235that same sort of concern, but I also um did appreciate that he addressed that as well. >> Did you go already? >> No, go ahead. You're >> No, go ahead. No, no, I just Let's just go. >> I No, I don't have anything to add. Everything everybody has already said what I was going to say, so I don't have anything to add. >> Well, I'm concerned about a couple of things. One, that um the timing is definitely a huge huge problem. I mean, we're here because uh an elected trustee thought that he would have time and then unfortunately resigned. So, we don't want to go through that again. uh when you're not involved in the when you're not on this side of the line, I guess you don't know really how much time it takes.
236Um you know, just um that that's a huge huge problem for me. Um I mean, I can honestly say I cannot support this candidate whatsoever. uh based on that alone um I feel that um the u overall qualification I mean everybody is really you know their work and their background um is also um important and then also Um, let's just see how I can say this without like mentioning who they are. Uh, I feel the intention or the purpose of you being here, of you being on the board, the intentions is also important. I'll just stick at that. And that's my concern with this candidate. Those the two concerns the the intentions and the time the the the dedication of the time. >> Thank you Joseph. >> Anything else? No, other than I I mean
237I think we have to assume that if somebody listened to the question about the time commitment and responded affirmatively that they felt like they could make this a priority that we need to take them at that face value and not make assumptions. A and I also feel that the response this candidate provided for the intent of serving the community was an excellent one and I felt it was a strong suit and it seemed authentic. It seemed a very um pure intent and I can actually I can honestly say it's the same reason why I wanted to serve on the board when I ran nine years ago for the first time. >> Thank you. >> You know, is it okay if we speak again? >> Yes. >> Okay. Damn it. That's kind of reminded the one
238thing again a lot of a lot of great qualities truthfully I liked a lot of answers to the questions I think clearly very competent someone I could see myself working with that is no issue >> but the excitement seemed to be in public service in general which is great less specific to public service right now with the district so I don't doubt about the commitment to public service at all. I think it's there, but it seemed more of a this opened up, this was the right time. I want to be a public servant as opposed to I've been trying to figure out how to be a public servant in the Birmingham public school district and here is my opening. So, it's very subtle. I just thought as as you all were talking about this candidate,
239I realized I was thinking that during the interview questions. I think with this particular candidate though that would be hard when you don't have children in the district yet. >> Well, that's true. >> So, I I think that that's hard to >> because they're not thinking about it, >> right? If you're not if you don't have children in the district yet, it's hard to to know that that's where you want to serve your time. >> Yeah. But the time dedication, like I mentioned in my statement, that we just had a person who thought they can commit but could not. And I strongly feel the same at this point that we would be unfortunately I I don't want to us to go back through the same situation. >> I feel like this is a huge issue
240for me. But trustee Joseph, if he said he can commit and is making that a priority, >> how do we dis how do we disbelie? I mean, >> so did this trustee that resigned, he thought he would be able to commit and we're here. >> True. Life happens. >> I know. I mean, life happens. I I mean I just had an situation in my personal life that um I had to change things around so I can fulfill uh what's remaining of my I could have easily um taken the easy route but um I feel a commitment is really important um at this point like I mentioned earlier um and I will definitely work with whoever is elected has you know uh just to make a statement I will work with them. I will um support
241them and I will be uh team player and help them get acclimated to the position as fast as possible. Um but um if if this person does get the uh nomination um but he would not be the person I would vote for whatsoever. >> Thank you. Trusty Joseph, >> may I ask a question and apologies because I just realized I'm I'm struggling with something a little bit here. um trust made uh a motion and so we are discussing one particular candidate and I realize now should we vote on this candidate and that's the candidate that gets the majority vote we won't even as a board discuss the other candidate which I feel like presents a little bit of a problem because I don't want to use this candidate's time of course to talk about the
242other candidate but I do have uh contrasts in between the two. >> Yeah. So, I'm I'm not really sure how to address that. >> Just as a point of clarification, I don't think that you can't talk about the other candidate just because someone put a motion on the board because if you felt like the other candidate has >> Okay. >> So, can we >> whatever. >> So, I see you could I don't see why you wouldn't be able to say that, >> but we have to we have to make another nomination for the other candidate. >> Well, that would be right. I think we there is a motion forward for one particular candidate, but if >> you had something to offer that might >> comparison somebody's vote. >> I would like to make this official
243if you don't mind. I would like to amend >> the resolution and to add candidate J. Can I do that? No, I don't believe so because this is just one particular >> Yeah, >> I think he can amend and say can he can he amend and say that he wants the vote to go for someone else and get a second? >> I don't think so. >> You can't put both of them on there because they can't both be >> right. >> But if you're telling us we can do a com, you know, comparison, then that's that's fine with me because I had some points I wanted to bring up. Okay. Yeah, that's fair enough. >> Okay. >> Does anybody else want to >> No, you go first. >> No, go ahead. Okay, please go ahead.
244>> Okay. So, just something that struck me was um again, they both are smart, dedicated, driven. Um, but I felt like the other candidate that we are potentially considering had a higher level of excitement and also um a willingness to engage with the community more and possibly engage with the rest of the board more. And then also um mentioned a couple of times about really thinking about long-term goals of the district. I felt like that the other candidate was very forwardthinking in a way that could really benefit the district. Um, so that's why that other candidate has remained my top pick even though I both think they have a lot of good qualities. I wondered if anybody else >> Yeah, I can go >> that. Oh, okay. >> If it's okay. >> Sure. Trusty Joseph.
245>> Thank you. This candidate not only was excited uh one of the answers was to a question that actually the candidate responded that they will be excited. I don't want to give it away to which question and to which answer because but I think um um and then the fact that they're willing to be here long term and I'm and immediately answered that they will run and be committed and they want to actually use the term retire in this community. Um, and I'd like that if there was an issue that was heard outside of the board, the candidate would bring it back to us and share it with us and not to keep it as a like I hate to say the word secret or whatever, but not to keep it to themselves. They would
246share it with us. I like the fact that uh this candidate thinks about competition not just locally but globally. Uh because um I believe the future of the district is going to you know the future of our not just district but the future of education is probably going to be global especially with all this AI and online and all that. We have no idea what the future will hold. So having a global thought is important and to be competitive is very very important. Like I mentioned um we have a lot of competitive neighboring school districts. So having a strong um competitiveness is is good and um I believe this person is very enthusiastic presented themselves extremely well. Um, so I I feel I'm a I'm a strong uh supporter of this candidate. >> Thank you,
247Trusty Joseph. Is there anything else that anybody would like to add before we vote? >> Great. Thank you for your opinions, everyone. I appreciate it. I know this was a very um hard process for all of us with all of the great candidates that we had. >> Indeed. Mhm. Um, trustees, all favor in resolution 54, appointment to vacant board of education seat candidate E, please raise your hand and say I. >> I. >> Those who are opposed, please raise your hand and say no. >> No. >> Motion carries 4 to two. So, um the resolution 54 um has been passed and the appointment to the vacant board of education seat is Omar Omar ODay. Congratulations to Mr. ODay. And thank you again to all of the candidates who took the time and energy to um
248prepare and come in on this very cold, blustery Saturday and sit with us. Trustees, is there anything else? >> Well done. Process was well done. Very thorough. I would like to give a shout out, a huge shout out to Tracy >> for putting all of this together. It was so much work. And then poor Tracy, I had to throw her all of my international complications thrown at her and she responded immediately back. So, I was able to complete um the process and Trace, you deserve a huge thank you and pat on the back. Um, thank you Corey too for all of your work and background. And I also would like to extend my my gratitude, my appreciation and thanks to all of the people who applied. This was not an easy process. I mean, filling
249out the application and then providing resumeumés and, you know, those that came in for the interviews, it's a little nerve-wracking. So I I want to say thank you for your dedication to our district, our dedication, your dedication to our children was not unnoticed. >> Could I say something too? I would like to second everything Trustee Looney said, so I won't repeat it all except for kudos to Tracy. Thanks for the great lunch. Um and also I just want to say thank you to all of you. I actually thought this went very smoothly. I thought we were very open and honest with each other and I was very grateful to get everybody's feedback. And so to our newest trustee, Mr. ODay, I very much look forward to working with you. So >> nice. Yeah. Fantastic. >>
250Yes. Big thank you. Shout out to everyone as well. Um you know the staff weather, everybody came in and hard work from everybody. Uh a lot of um there was a lot of good homework. It's a good educational um growing for me personally. As I was telling Dr. Roersonson, I feel like we personally I grow from this. Um so it's a good experience for me and we appreciate all the candidates who applied all the candidates who came in and interviewed and uh we definitely congratulate the new uh trustee. So we look forward to serving with him. Two um last quick things before we adjourn. I just wanted to first of all thank Scott who is also here. Oh yeah. Um who very kindly came in on this blustery Saturday with all of us to record
251the meeting so that um it is. And then also um I wanted to say thank you to the Penrook students who sent along these cards to the school board thanking us um for our service. So, thank you Penrook community. We greatly appreciate it. And with that, our meeting is adjourned at 2:33.