001at um block. >> Make sure Linda's your microphone is >> Oh, I don't know. >> Yeah, it's on. Um 601 Block is here. Fields >> here. >> Uh Morris is here. Morski >> here. >> Uh Morris >> here. >> Shfeld is going to be late. She is excused. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice and for all. >> Okay. Now we're on to the revisions or approval of the agenda. Are there any revisions? And a motion to approve the agenda. >> Motion by Morris for >> by Fields. Um Fields. >> Yes. >> More is a yes. Morski. >> Yes. >> Morris. >> Yes. >> Shufelt is excused. Ian block.
002>> Yes. That passes six five. Thank you. We need to have an extra person on here so I know it's my numbers. Okay. I guess I suppose um I unless there's any objection by by board members, I guess we'll start down at the end um with Ann with question number one and then just move through. Um, you have copies of their uh resumeéumés, uh, letters of intent, some scrap paper, and six copies of the or yeah, six copies of the uh, interview questions that you can write on. >> Um, if you're welcome, if you're ready, Mr. uh, Westfall, we are ready for you. We have 30 minutes. Questions will be asked by the the board. Um feel free to to answer honestly and completely I suppose. Okay. Uh go ahead. >> Right. Good evening, Mr.
003Westfall. >> Do you have time to devote to school board meetings and all it entails? >> Yes, I'm uh I'm retired. I've been retired for a year. I got all the time in the world. >> What has motivated you to apply for the position on this board? >> I've been I've retired from the school district after 33 years and I've been in this community since 1975. I enjoy what I do, what I done. I want to keep seeing the progress of the students moving forward. And I just I'm just one of those people that like to be involved. >> I mean, what did you do for the school district? >> I started out as a substitute bus driver, then I went into custodial work, then I went into maintenance work, and then I retired as
004an electrician. >> Okay. 15 years as an electrician. >> Just to let you know, uh, we do have to stick to the questions in order to keep them all consistent. >> So, we're not allowed to ask follow-ups. >> No. Well, I just wanted everyone to know I never would have voted for these rules if we had a chance to vote. So, I'm not sure why we approved rules where you can't ask follow-up questions, but Okay, that's kind of ridiculous. >> I'm sorry. Can you repeat that? >> Yeah, I didn't hear that either. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, apparently we're governing we somehow are have rules imposed on us that say we can't ask follow-up questions. Yet, when I've seen other bodies do this, you can ask follow-up questions. So, I just want the public to know
005I was never given an opportunity to vote on these rules that somehow ban follow-up questions, which one could argue is kind of against the First Amendment. So, we have a ban on follow-up questions and nobody can explain how this happened. >> I have no issue with follow-up questions as long as they deal with um uh you know, like the embedded in the question. Like, for example, if you have follow-up questions regarding what motivated you to do it, certainly ask those. um we thought it was you know you had mentioned that you um wanted to ask a particular question and I never received anything so I didn't add it to the to to the list and I did ask Shauna about it as well and she said she didn't get one. >> Oh no no the
006questions are fine. I think these are all good questions. Once I read these I felt no need to add mine >> but when somebody says hey I you know I worked for the district I would just follow up and say hey what' you do >> here? Yeah, that's fine. Yeah, >> I I I I believe that those are fine unless there's some, you know, objection. I um there may be followup questions that I have that, you know, is something someone says, and I think those are perfectly um uh perfectly reasonable and allowed. Um uh it it would be the you know the questions that that we want to make sure we we are asking every candidate the same questions in terms of the the base question. Corey. >> Okay. Um, >> did you have did
007you want to answer that or no? >> I can't claim to be an expert either way, but I'll just read the next question. >> There you go. >> So, number three. What unique qualifications, experiences do you bring to the board that would help us make Taylor a better school district? >> I've worked in every single building in this district. I am familiar with every single building and I've had interaction with every with students in every single building I've worked in from elementary all the way to the high school. >> Thank you. >> What is your number one priority of chosen for this position? education for the students obviously and the well-being and safety of all the students and faculty and members and employees of the Taylor School District. >> Ready for me? >> Mark was
008finished with his response and you may go. >> Okay. What do you see as a major issue or issues facing our school district >> right now? would be the new high school. The bond on the new high school. >> Okay. Are you willing to participate in board classes to better understand your role and responsibilities? If so, what courses do you think could benefit you in this role? I'm open for anytime you can get an education to further your education, go ahead and do it. Whatever whatever the whatever the classes are, I I I really don't know what you would want me to go into to better myself for the district. I don't know, but I would be very willing to do that. >> Yeah, the MASB offers a an array of classes, a variety of
009things that >> Yeah. No, I have no problem with that at all whatsoever. At times you may be caught between legitimately opposing points of view. There may be different may differences between your personal point of view and the policy or law that you're required to uphold as a trustee. How will you handle this? >> Well, if I'm wrong, I would like, okay, tell me what I'm doing wrong, how I did it wrong. Let's make it right and move on to make the best of what we can do and not sit here and dwell on something that if I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but let's make it better. Let's tell me what I'm doing wrong. >> What do you think are the most important skills for students to have when they graduate? Have a goal. Have your
010goal. Whatever it is in life you want to do, have your goal. Be it school, trade school, college, military, whatever. Have a goal and pursue it and fulfill that goal. >> Thank you. >> As board members, uh, as a board member, you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put aside your personal feelings. What does this mean to you? >> No, you don't want to get tied up emotionally with something that if you're you've got to do what's right for the kids. You got to do what's right for the district. You can't It's not what's good for Marquestall. It's what's good for the entire school district. >> Thank you, Mark. Mhm. >> Work, excuse me. Working effective effectively with other school board members and the superintendent requires skills in communication and decision making. What
011are your communication strengths? having an open mind, listening to what you have to say, the concerns of everything that that we're that's being discussed, and have good input on what it is, and don't make bad decisions on it. Try to make the best decision you can with the information you have. >> Thank you. Was there anything you would like to ask us or anything that you would like to add? I just hope you consider me for the position. I'm at all the board meetings. I enjoy working for the school for 33 years and I want to keep going. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thanks. Appreciate it. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. What did you want to say about the asking questions? I don't think I don't believe I was one that
012said couldn't ask questions. >> From my understanding, you had to keep all the questions the same because you didn't want to possibly have outcomes based from what we're saying, only from what they're saying. >> The followup questions are, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Followup would be fine. I mean, if someone says, "Hey, I I I I worked here." I'm saying, "What did you do?" You know, it was just simply that, you know. >> Yeah. Definitely. We don't want >> someone says, "I went to college." I'm going to say, "What college you go to?" Just something like that. You know what I mean? >> I mean, to be fair, that would also be in in the resume. Um, but I do see where you're coming. >> Yeah. When we used that, we well, in the old
013building, we used to do them, you know, round table that question, but you did it separately. they go around the table, but we were always able to, you know, ask the followup >> type things to come and say, >> so are the is the next candidate allowed to come in now or do they have to wait till 6:30? >> I say it here. Let's do it. >> Okay. I didn't know how that worked. >> Yeah, I think Shauna is going to be out in the hallway out in that area to tell us. >> Oh, Justin. >> Yeah. I think the reason it that we don't vote on these questions is I think they're just the standard questions, you know. >> Yeah, anybody could have put in person came up with >> Yeah, somebody came up
014with these. I did not. I said I tweaked one or two of them, but that was it. There was one in there I didn't particularly care for, but then I would have >> Yeah, whatever question you guys wanted fine. You did send us an email saying that if we wanted to add that something or subtract something to let you know. >> Yeah. There was nothing wrong with the questions. They're good questions. It was just follow-ups. That's all. >> Nothing wrong with these questions at all. >> Ask followup questions for sure. >> So, I take it we have a little break. So, I have a low right now, but Shauna's going to be reaching out to all the candidates to make sure they're kind of, you know, since that was a little bit faster than me
015just to have make sure everyone's >> ready because I imagine most of the interviews will be at that kind of pace. >> I guess we should start around and introduce >> what? Oh, introduce. Yeah. Yeah, probably. >> Yeah, >> actually. Have a seat introduce ourselves with the next one. >> That's okay. I mean, they should also just know who we are if they're being paid attention, right? >> Yeah. >> She's I do. >> Well, that was the No, there were a lot of roles that that were going on that just like the close session stuff and and we operate on how the previous board operated. We If we want to do it the right way, like Justin would say, make sure >> Well, I wasn't the one that told me that he couldn't ask a
016question. We always >> Yeah, I mean we always just have >> Well, because you know if they have something then they might not then at all focused on the kids because they are >> Yeah, I guess I can bring my um Robert's rules every time I have a meeting I don't put that in my bag. >> Well, I don't care what we do, but >> Okay. >> Oh, okay. >> Works for us. >> Have to make a motion and everything. >> I don't think we have to do a motion. >> Yeah. >> Oh, okay. Motion to go to recess till the next candidate's ready. >> What are we doing? support going into recess till the next candidate rolls in. >> Support. >> Okay. All those in Oh, well. >> Oh, nope. There's Justin. >> Okay.
017>> All right. Um and or block. >> Yes. Um >> we're doing a motion to go to recess until the next candidates here. >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay. Morris. >> Moore is a yes. And Fields is a yes. That passes. Thank you. I need a motion to Sorry, I could turn this off. >> I make a motion to come back from recess at 6:35. >> Second. >> Um, Fields, >> yes. >> Uh, Morris, a yes. Morris, >> yep. Orki, >> yep. >> Block, >> yes. >> Thank you. Uh we'd like to to welcome uh Maria Serrano to an interview this evening. Um I'm Linda Moore. I'm the president of the board and I'll let the rest of the board introduce themselves. >> Hi, I'm uh Corey Morris, the vice president of the board. >> Justin
018Morarski, trustee >> and Black, trustee. >> Kathy Fields, treasure. >> Thank you. We have one missing who may come in a little bit later. Um, we have a series of questions um to to ask you and and we're going to start. I guess we'll start with Kathy this time and head this way. Um, >> right. >> We'll proceed. Go right ahead. >> You ready? >> Yes. Yes, I am. Good afternoon. Good evening, everyone. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and express myself and you know about the job. >> Microphone closer. I believe I'm having a hard time here. Sure. Okay. Um, Maria, do you have the time to devote to school board meetings and all it entails? >> Usually, I do not have the time yet. Um, so I'm I'm start working on
019the board maybe like six months ago. So, I'm kind of new with the how everything is going. I'm still learning how the board is working and how the schools are working. Now, you are aware that if you are selected, you would not be able to work for the Taylor School District. You would have to quit that that job. You can't be an employee. So, you are aware of that? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you. Just wanted to make sure. Are you finished with Kathy's response? >> Yeah, that was all. >> That was it. Okay. Thank you. What has motivated you to apply for this position? Uh what more I me is about the how you guys work, how the team is working. Um your principles like you know the I'm kind of nervous so
020>> okay >> very formal. >> Yes. Um actually I look on the at the board of what it was about the um convocatory that I I read it was not say too much about just about the board of education. It didn't say too much specific. So what it more me is learn more about what's going on around the uh board of education. uh getting experience since I'm I'm getting uh into the accounting and the administration field. So for me on this job it didn't require any experience kind of pure like one year two years something like that. I see like an opportunity to learn more and gain more skills and the field that is basically that is what motivated me to apply for the job. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, what unique
021qualifications, experiences do you bring to the board that would help us make Taylor a better school district? Well, my past experience on my job like I work in a in a restaurant in the ad administration area which is give me uh skills to work as a team as a team member and work uh with multiple people and you know just to work as a team and get the things done work together and learn together. And my other experience as a manager I work with people same thing you know the thing is just learn and move forward to get more skills more experience basically it's about learning for me it is learning learning learning every day is about learning something new >> thank you >> what is your number one priority if chosen for this position
022Can you repeat the question please? >> What is your number one sorry lost my mic. What is your number one priority if chosen for this position? >> Like I say before you just gain experience I learn you know this that's why because it didn't require any experience even if I have a skills it I cannot prove the experience I have. So did this give me like a step to move forward what actually I'm looking to to be on the future. >> Okay. What do you see as a major issue facing our school district? >> I think for me as a be as an Hispanic it would be more involved into everything is about in the American way. So basically that is my main my main that I can see it is not a bigger but
023it is something that I'm facing you know that is I consider the rest it will be just about get into and just focusing what is requesting so that is my main I don't have any issues at all >> yeah what in what way do you see um uh how would you like to see us change so that were more um I don't know if welcoming or more um inclusive in terms of the um Hispanic way as opposed to the you know >> for me as right now and the experience I've been having working in a multiple schools having a multiple background inside of the uh school that the district is I think it's both ways one is that we we had to feel that we had to fit in it and the other one is
024just to the rest will come. Usually I didn't have any bad experience to talk about once I start working here. So basically it's more for myself is really feel that I'm belong to this uh team and work with you guys and you know put my skills and bring everything I know to you guys. >> Do you have children that go to the school district >> right now? No. My my kids are older. They are in in the college right now. So, but before Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Don't worry about that. Many of us don't. >> Might have graduated a long time ago. >> Are you willing to participate in board classes to better understand your role and responsibilities? And if so, what courses do you think could benefit you in this role? >>
025I'm well to learn. Actually right now I'm taking courses on econ now about administration. So everything is about to take courses. I would I would be able once I learn more about the the role they had to play the skill they have to learn the responsibility they have on my hand. I would be able to choose which um courses can be able to me for me to help and bring more value to you to the organization. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. At times you may be caught between legitimately opposing points of view. There may be a different difference between your personal point of view and the policy or law that you're required to uphold as a trustee. How will you handle that? >> Uh for me it's more about the respect. You
026know it's about respect and follow the rules and follow the law. you know even if I have a different point of view that is my personal point of view it didn't have to interfere in what is my job about and so yeah that is that is basically what I been dealing with in my positions before is about decisions which way you want to take which one you want prefer which one is going to fit on your uh principles as a person and which one you want to follow >> thank you. >> What do you think are the most important skills for students to have when they graduate? >> Can you repeat the last part? I >> sure uh what do you think are the most important skills for students to have when they graduate? >>
027Don't be afraid of challenge. Don't be fair to take the next step to follow their dreams and do not fail for which critics or bad uh influences they have outside that for me that is I see in my kids they they in certain age like in high school they don't listen too much about what as a parents we have to say but they listen more about the friends so for me that is the biggest concern that is out there. >> Thank you. >> And a and a good uh for me I think it's a if they have a good teacher they make a big difference too as well. >> Thank you. >> As a board member you'll be asked to put aside you Okay. Sorry. Let me start over. As a board member, you'll be
028asked to make decisions where you must put your personal feelings aside. What does this mean to you? Just think out the box basically. You know, sometimes you have to think outside of the box to be able to grow as a a professional. It is not sometimes about what you feel, but sometimes it's what is the best to do. Working effectively with other board school board members and the superintendent requires skills in communication and decision making. What are your communication strengths? >> I'm very communicative. I like to express myself was I I like to listen what the other people has to say what they think. So I think it's a teamwork is about listen and speak your thoughts and listen what the other have to say. Thank you. Is there anything you'd like to ask of
029the board or of us or questions or >> basically? Yes. I have maybe one two questions about that like what is about what do you can express about the team that will be working with and basically that is one of my questions. >> Well, this would be the team that you'd be working with. >> Okay. along with we work closely with the cabinet. >> Um and what was the other question? >> The other question is like how would it be for me to look up to be a successful and this role that is something that you can report to me and >> a lot of it's a learning curve. There's a lot to learn the the uh MASB or the Michigan Association of School Boards offers training courses. Um you know they they send valuable
030information and I know I've been doing webinars um that have been good uh so far and that's as far as I've gotten um but it you know you get training from oh >> colleagues you >> all right so that's good >> you on board and fill you in >> okay thank you >> anything else >> I think that'll be it >> well we're going to have a board meeting on Wednesday where we'll choose the candidate and then uh um I don't know do you make that contact or yeah and you know Shauna will be contacting. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you and nice to meet everybody. You as well. >> So this stay here or I take with me all >> um you can keep it there. Yeah. >> You want
031to keep it? All right. Okay. Oops. >> All right. Thank you and have a good evening. Thank you. Nice to meet everybody. Same to you. >> Well, we got what, 20 minutes? >> Well, she's saying Terra's here. If we just want to skip to Terara. >> Oh, yeah. Let's >> Yeah, let's sit with Tara. Yeah. Yeah. >> Heck yes. I think Maria. >> Oh, she can. >> I don't think so. >> Okay. >> What's the question? >> Oh, just that uh we can't have other uh interviewing participants in other people that >> open meeting. So, I don't know. >> Yeah, I was going to say it's an open meeting. I don't think we can't force that. >> That was the policy previously. Wish we would have talked about this long ago. >> This is an
032open meeting. >> They were made previously. Yeah, >> we should have discussed previous candidates leave in the past. >> That's what I said. >> Open. Yeah, >> okay. That's what I That's what I would say as well. I'm check. Thank you very much for your uh always. >> Yeah. Yep. That's that's good point. Good point. Thank you, Tara. >> Hello. Nice to meet you. >> Nice to meet you as well. My name's Linda Moore. I spoke with you on the phone. Yes. >> I'm the president of the board and I'll let the rest of the board introduce themselves. >> Hi, I'm Corey Morris. I'm the board vice president. >> Justin, trustee. Black trustee >> Kathy Fields treasure. >> Okay. Uh we're just gonna we have uh 10 questions to ask you. Okay. >> Um we're
033gonna go start with uh Mrs. Block down there in the end. She'll ask the first question and we'll go to school round table. Um if uh and at the end we'll ask if you have any questions for us or anything that you want to know for us. >> Sounds good. >> Go ahead and begin. >> Mrs. Block this time. Do you have time to devote to schoolboard meetings and all it entails? >> Yes, I do. So, I currently work 100% remotely and so my work is pretty flexible and so I have the time and I would take being a board member very seriously as a job and I wouldn't miss any board member meetings as well as I would love to be more involved within the school district. So attending different things like sporting events
034as well as academic achievement events and and lots of different activities. And so I have the time to manage as I've shown today. You guys texted me and I was here within 15 minutes when I when my time slot was 8:10. So I do have the time and I'm ready to put the time and the energy into it. >> Okay. Thank you. Yeah. What has motivated you to apply for this position at this time? Um, so first off, I've applied for this position a few times ago and then I had a baby and so I missed the deadline to do to be on the ballot and so this was actually the perfect timing for me and so I would want to be on the ballot if I wasn't selected this time. And so the reasoning
035why I want to is first off that I was born and raised in the Taylor School District. So, I started in the Head Start program in preschool and then I graduated from Truman High School and I owed the school district a lot of who I am today and I feel like I have a lot of the components that the Taylor School District has and I owe a lot of the educators as well as the teachers that helped me find my correct path when I was at Truman High School to further my education. >> Thank you. What unique qualifications or experiences do you bring to the board that would help us make Taylor a better school district? >> I think first off being born and raised in Taylor, I feel like I have a very good
036view of what the Taylor school district wants and needs. And so also as well as my family has always had lots of ties and roots to Taylor. And so I've had different family members be cooks and teachers and coaches and volunteers and students within the community. And so I feel like I can understand all these different components and I can also give what my experiences had. And so after graduating from Truman High School, I studied at Michigan State University and I achieved a bachelor's in communications and then I have a minor in nonprofit organization. And so I feel like nonprofits has always been a big passion of mine and I'm loved to volunteer. And so currently I volunteer with two different alumni groups of high of different groups that I was a part of when
037I was at Truman High School. And so I'm currently a volunteer as a DECA judge with the TR with Taylor DECA. And so I judge at districts as well as the collegiate level. And then I also volunteer with the Michigan youth and government. And so I volunteer time at the state capital and I teach middle schoolers and high schoolers parliamentary procedures and teach them the different branches of government. >> Thank you. >> What is your number one priority of chosen for this position? I feel like the number one priority for the board of education right now is to instill the trust of our community. And so I feel like this is due to a few different reasons, but the 2021 bonds and not being able to build the high school. So I feel like the
038number one priority should be instilling the trust in the community and trying to get the community to trust back into us. And so that kind of leads into one of I feel like the biggest opportunities as well as the is the decline in the school district and our students. And so with all the charter schools and private schools and board of educ a lot of different school of choices, I feel like we're losing a lot of the our residents that are living in Taylor are choosing other places to go to school. So I feel like the the best place we can do is start to in instill and trust in our community. And then one thing too that I think a good thing is that I think we've been you guys have been doing that
039so far. And so even the superintendent the video on the 200 the 21 bonds and all the different ideas that was proposed from the community and how you guys addressed it and how it might have worked or didn't work and things like that. So, I think we're moving in the right direction, but just continuing to instill the trust of the community. >> Thank you. >> What do you see as a major issue or issues facing our school district? >> I feel like kind of what I just said a little bit with instructing with the 2021 bonds as well as the decline. And so in our school district with the students attending and so I feel like a couple different ways to improve that is making sure we have safe learning environments and then the biggest
040thing I think is making sure that we have competitive curriculums with other school districts. So figuring out why these students are doing school choice or going to charter schools and how we can stay competitive to keep those students in Taylor. And then as well as making sure we're empowering our educators and making sure that we're giving them the supplies and making sure that our students are wanting to giving them the best rate to succeed. >> Thank you. >> Are you willing to participate in board classes to better understand your role and responsibilities? If so, what courses do you think could benefit you in this role? >> Yes, I'm all for classes, having a master's degree and furthering my education. So, I feel like there's always something we can learn. And so, with classes, I feel
041like things that the board members qualities that would be great to improve on is communication. And so, maybe classes with communication as well as being team orientated because you have to work as a team. And then even I think a great opportunity is partnering with other districts and other boards and seeing what opportunities they've had, what worked and what didn't. And so taking classes, but also partnering with other boards. >> At times you may be caught between legitimately opposing points of view. There may be differences between your personal point of view and the policy or law that you required to uphold as a trustee. How will you handle this? >> I feel like to be a successful board member, the first thing it is is not it's not about your opinion. It's about what's best
042for the community and it's what's best for the children to succeed. So, not thinking about yourself, but thinking what's best for the children and what's best for the students and the educators and kind of following that as well. It's being on the board and being on a team. Sometimes you disagree with your team. And so, I've worked on teams throughout my life in work and education as well as different sporting events. And so just knowing that sometimes your opinions might not be the majority and when you're on a team, you have to support your team and go with the majority. >> What do you think are the most important skills for students to have when they graduate? >> I feel like the most important skills to have is just the skills of life. So thinking
043about how like how to fill out for a check or what a 40 401k is or even how to fill out for a job application, what student loans and what taking on all that responsibility is. And so I think that is the biggest thing as well as shaping the path for success for these students. And so I think our career center does an awesome job with that. And so one thing is is that there's no path is the right path. And so you can further your education, you can go into a trade, you can go into the workforce, you can go into the military. There's so many paths that you can take and there is not a right path or a wrong path and your path might take all of them at different times in
044life. And so basically just letting kids know and students know that there's so many different paths and opportunities for them after school. Thank you. >> Thank you. Sure question. You're good. Um, as a board member, you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put aside your personal feelings. What does this mean to you? >> This means that you have to put what is best for the community and what is best for the students to make them succeed. And so I feel like the biggest thing for a successful board member is to be open-minded and to understand other people's views and to make sure that you're always staying open-minded and you're working with your team. >> Working effectively with other school board members and the superintendent requires skills and communication and decision making. What are
045your communication strengths? >> I think my communication strengths are learned through throughout my education. And so I have a bachelor's in communication and then I have a master's in a business administration. And so I've learned that with communication that that is important. And then a couple things as well is that I worked for Meer corporate for four years. And so I learned various things like writing strategic planning and then budgeting multi-million dollar deals as well as leading negotiations and building partners with both our suppliers and vendors. And so I feel like through my work experience as well as my education and then just growing up within the diversity of Taylor, I've learned so much about how to communicate. And I feel like to be a good communicator, you have to have open mindset and you
046also have to be team orientated. And I feel like those are the two things that I possess the most. As well as I'm very enthusiastic. I don't know if you can tell. I'm trying not to smile. >> Thank you. Do you have anything for us questions? >> Um, no. I just had one thing is thank you so much for this opportunity and if I was selected I would put my heart and soul into making the board be the best that it can be and striving for the future especially as my family my husband and I. We just had a one-year-old that turned one one years old last month and just striving to be the best that it can be for the Taylor School District. And I want my son to have the same positive and
047the same career paths and the same all the different things that I had in the Taylor School District. >> Thank you so much. Have a wonderful night. >> Y thanks for being flexible at life skill. the name again. Sorry. >> Leticia. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Oh, yeah. >> Thanks for doing that. >> That was the last one. The teachers. >> So lonely down there. You're an outcast today. >> I'm fine. Yes, >> I usually am. So, I'm used to it. >> Used to it. >> Me, too, Kathy. >> Hi, welcome. >> Thank you. How are you? I'm doing well and thank you. Yeah, I know you're not Larry. >> No. >> So, um, Leticia. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. >> I like your >> Thank you for being flexible. My name is Linda. I'm
048president of the board. I'll let the rest of the board introduce themselves. >> Hi, I'm Corey Morris, the board vice president. >> Justin Morarski, trustee block, trustee. Kathy Fields, treasurer. >> Pleasure to meet all of you. Thanks so much for having me earlier than 8:40 p.m. >> Yeah. Yeah. Appreciate that. >> Thank you for being available. >> Yeah. A little bit uh you know 8:40 that's in the P. >> Oh boy. >> At that time, but that was what was there. So good for all of us. Um we're going to ask you a series of 10 questions. We're going to start with Mrs. Fields down here. We'll ask the first question. We'll go around and then when we're finished, uh excuse me. Um, we'll ask if you have any questions or comments for us. >>
049All right. Okay. Go ahead, Kathy. >> Hi, and welcome. >> Do you have the time to devote to school board meetings and all it entails? >> Yes, ma'am. That was a lot of the reason why I Excuse me. >> Can you pull your mic in a little bit? >> Can't hear. >> Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. That was a lot of the reason why I haven't applied for board positions before. I had younger kids at home. Now I'm just almost an empty master with one kid. I work day shift hours. I'm out at 3:00 and um my job isn't much stressful. So I'm able to now devote the time that I think it would take to be a successful board member. >> Thank you. Okay. Um, what's motivated you to apply for this position? >>
050Um, mainly I just recently relocated to the area. I have a middle schooler over at Hoover and I'm eager to be a part of her education as I was with my children before. I'm taking the opportunity the with the opportunity being available and the time I have now and you know my background I think what I can offer to the board. This was Perfect opportunity at a perfect time. >> Thank you, Mr. Cor. >> What unique qualifications and experiences do you bring to the board that would help us make Taylor a better school district? >> Well, I have over 20 years of medical office management, but I've also started um five small businesses as well. So I have extensive background in financial management, strategic leadership, building high performing work teams as well as being a
051part of high performing work teams and um I have the time. I think that was a big one that I wanted to kind of hang on to to dedicate the board endeavors. >> Thank you. >> What is your number one priority if chosen for the position? to learn. >> I have never been on a school board before. I think my experience extends to volunteering. At my kids elementary school, we help do a volunteer program. But to really learn the lay of the land would be my very first priority. >> What do you see as a major issue facing our school district? >> Oh boy. one um the biggest one um is the the it used to be defund the police now it seems like it's defund the board of education at the with our new
052administration and I think if we can get together and kind of have a proact proactive approach to what's to come I think that that'd be I answer. Are we going back to Miss Kathy? >> Oh, it's me. >> Excuse me. I'm down here by myself. I apologize. >> Are you willing to participate in board classes to better understand your role and responsibilities? And if so, what courses do you think could benefit you in this role? Oh my gosh, that's a perfect question and I'd be honored if you offered that. Um, classes surrounding school administration and I'm sorry. Well, >> the well the Michigan Association of School Boards offers an array of of courses that you can take that help with in finance um you know how teamwork um policy policy >> anything you can really
053think of they have >> and that's perfect and I think you know finding the area that the school board needs the most that I can benefit you all in would be the classes that I'd be looking toward taking. That's awesome. If you had if knowing that you have that. >> Yep. >> Okay. Was it my turn or No, >> it's your turn. >> Yeah. My turn. >> Okay. Thanks. Doesn't take much to confuse me these days, so bear with me. At times, you may be caught between legitimately opposing points of view. There may be a difference between your personal point of view and the policy or the law that you're required to uphold as a trustee. How will you handle this? >> Sometimes the law says something that we don't like, >> but we have
054to follow it. Um, >> I mean, absolutely. But I think there is a trust once you once you become once you've been a part of a team for a while, there's a trust that you have and there's something empowering about having your voice, you know. Yeah, we know that there's the law and we're going to follow the law. The law is what governs what we do. We're people of integrity. We wouldn't be sitting here without that. But that doesn't mean that I agree all the time. And that also doesn't mean that I want to be muted. So I I mean, let the record show I disagree, but yay if we have to vote, you know, with the law. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. What do you think are the most important skills for students
055to have when they graduate? >> You know, different times, different times. It used to be college readiness, but now it's career readiness, I think. Um, also we we loosely throw around integrity, but you know, have having students who graduate from our district with a high moral standard in addition to a trade I think are Did you ask the two or three >> as many as what do you think are the most important skills? >> Those are the two. Oh, that's solid. I don't think I would enjoy those. Thank you. You're welcome. >> As a board member, you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put aside your personal personal feelings. What does this mean to you? >> I think we kind of the same question that you are saying uh that the the rules
056of engagement are what they are and that's that that's the law. If that's the rules that govern our board, then that's what they're there for. We must adhere to them. Point blank and period. However, that does not mean that we come to this group without our own personal conscious and unconscious biases as well as opinions. And we need to f I would like to be a part of an environment that fostered a safe enough space where we could voice our opinions. How else do we make change? How else can change even be brought to the forefront if there isn't passionate people with strong opinions who still follow the rules? >> Working effectively with other school board members and the superintendent requires skills in communication and decision- making. What are your communication strengths? >> I have
057a great personality and I like to laugh. Laughter is sometimes my my mask, my safe space. Um, I prefer to laugh as opposed to being in a bad disposition. I like to resolve conflict independently and individually. It's not I don't like to rouse things up. So, um, if I do have issues, I'd like to do those things oneon one. But for the most part, I like to be pretty easygoing. I've had a life before this life and other lives. And so, you know, I'm I like to see my like to think of myself as being rather grounded and pretty easygoing. >> Hey, thank you. And I believe that's the end of the questions. What do you have for us? Questions, comments? >> What is the decision making process for these interviews? Uh we are going
058to have a meeting a special board meeting on Wednesday at six o'clock where we'll make the decision. Um >> and how will you notify the candidate? >> Um Mayor and Shauna will be um uh contacting you. I'm going to guess the following day. Yep. And that is is Sean over there. >> All right. Thank you so much for your time. >> Thank you. Have a good evening. >> It's a pleasure to meet you as well. >> Thank you. Pleasure. Pardon me. Larry. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Yeah, exactly. Getting done early there. >> Yep. No sadness there. Welcome. >> Hi there. >> My name is Linda Moore, president of the board, and I'll let the rest of the board introduce themselves. >> I'm Corey Morris, the current uh vice president of the board. >> Justin
059Morski, trustee. >> Ann Black, trustee. Kathy Fields, treasurer. >> Thank you. We have a series of uh 10 questions we're going to ask. We'll um start with Mrs. block down there and then just go around twice. Um and uh and then at the end we'll ask you if you have any questions for us. >> Okay. So, we'll go ahead and let Mrs. Black start when she's ready. >> Do you have time to devote to schoolboard meetings and all it entails? >> Yeah. So, both my kids are in college right now, so it freed up a whole bunch of time for me. Um, so there's there's definitely plenty of time. >> What is motivated you to apply for this position on the board? >> So, first thing is I like to be involved in the community.
060Um, the schools, um, pretty much anything. Um, you know, community involvement is important to me. Um, the main the main reason why this kind of reached out to me was because a lot of my experience and stuff has been in Riverview because that's where my kids went to school. Um, and I've been looking for an opportunity to get involved more in Taylor because I live here. Um, but uh, the opportunity just hasn't uh, come up until now. So, figured I'd jump at the chance. What unique qualifications and experiences do you do you bring to the board that would help us make Taylor a better school district? >> So, I've never had school board experience, but I've had a lot of board experience. Um, I was heavily involved with uh the junior football board in Riverview
061and also heavily involved with the baseball association board in Riverview as well. Um, and I've been extremely involved with, uh, as my kids were moving through the Riverview schools, I've been pretty much involved in just about everything that Riverview's had to offer or needed help, I guess. Thank you. >> Hey, what is your number one priority if chosen for this position? Um, first would be to get a better idea of what exactly, you know, the inner workings of what exactly is going on with Taylor schools. Um, like I said, I've been really familiar with Riverview Schools, so I know what works, uh, what kind of the things that they're doing that are working, um, and things that they struggle with. Um, so I feel like I bring that perspective to uh the Taylor School Board
062and so kind of would be getting the lay of the land, what what exactly is the inner workings, what's going on here, um what are the priorities for the board and for the schools um and basically just helped. >> Thank you. You're up. Thank you. Good evening. Uh what do you see as a major issue or issues facing our school district? >> So couple jump out to me. Um the first one I would say is um supporting the teachers. Um I feel it's very very important to kind of start there with supporting the teachers as far as, you know, making sure they're compensated well, making sure they have the support they need. Um, as far as curriculum, um, as far as, you know, not having the school class rooms, too many students to be responsible
063for. Um, I had I just had 13 coached 13 kids in high school basketball and that was a lot. So I can only imagine how how it is to have 38 kids in a classroom. So um you know things like that. Um security obviously today is a a very big issue. So um but really really starting with the teachers and kind of working from there would be the priority for me. Sure. Yeah. Sorry. >> Are you willing to participate in board classes to better understand your role and responsibilities? If so, what courses do you think could benefit you in this role? >> So, when I commit to something or am offered something and decide to commit to it, um kind of the older I get, the more I'm all in. I'm 100% in. So, if
064I commit to something, I'm going to give it everything it needs. Um, so I, you know, I would be willing to do whatever it took, you know, as far as like I would want to learn as much as possible. So for, for example, when I when I took over the the baseball board in Riverview, there wasn't really much going on. um they had let kind of the the um board there was only a couple members of the board and there was a lot of um officials that weren't being appointed and and elected and stuff like that. So came in, cleaned up the whole thing um and made sure that the you know each position had a name and they had responsibilities and usually if you ask for help people are willing to help. Um, so,
065uh, you know, I feel like, you know, if chosen for this position, I would definitely get after it. And, um, you know, I tell the kids that I coach and give 100% in everything you do, and I I believe that for myself as well. >> I apologize. Uh, my apologies for skipping over our trustees over here. You guys want to continue? >> No, I didn't think you did. >> Well, did I? >> No. No. No, I think it's my turn. At times there you may be caught between different opposing points of view. There may be a difference between your personal points of view and the policy or law that you're required to uphold as a trustee. How will you handle this? So, I'll kind of take up personal experience that I had from uh being
066on a board. We had a board member that um had some issues uh during our our season um that we needed to address. And we decided to um as a board, we decided to suspend that particular board member um for the season and then revisit um at the end of the season and towards the next season. Um, so this particular person um recruited somebody to run against me as president the next year and I could I couldn't figure out why because I felt like I was doing a good job. And um so anyways, I I ended up winning the election and I remember asking that guy. I said, "What why did you want to did you want to do something different than what we're doing here? Did you have some different ideas? What what was
067going on?" He was like, "Honestly, I just wanted to help." And um I ended up making him an officer on a board because he he he honestly wanted to help, you know, and it wasn't the fact that he, you know, ran against me or um maybe had some different viewpoints or whatever. I I welcome that. Um so, and if somebody wants to be involved, I I want to work with them, you know. So, um, we were able to do that and we had a great working relationship for the next three, four years after that. And so, you know, everybody's going to have different viewpoints and everything. You got to accept them, do the research you need to do, and um, try to come up with some kind of resolution that makes everybody happy. >> Thank
068you. What do you think are the most important skills for students to have when they graduate? So, I I guess this would be two twopart. Um, yeah, you know, obviously they need the the basics, you know, your your English, your math, your science, your um I'm I'm a big fan of mastering the basics that you're going to need when you move forward towards um you know, towards college or trade school or whatever your your career in the workforce. Um I think I think life skills is another um thing that is maybe underrated. Um I ask kids especially my son's age. I was close with a lot of uh the guys in that in his grade and I used to ask them like what you know their senior year what what's your goal? What do you
069what do you want to do? Do you know what you want to do? Do you know even what you like? Do you sleep in? Do you like to sleep in? Do you like to get up early? Do you like to be active? Do you like to um do you like to study? Do you like to read? These are questions that I feel like are important for um kids to know like and to to be able to kind of have an idea of who they are and what they're coming out of high school from. Um, so I I think as far as that goes and then as far as like, you know, the skills that need to be there today, you know, so obviously you got to you got to be pretty good with computers today.
070Um, you can't just be well, it's a disadvantage if you're if you're not because it's it's it's uh it's taken over whether we want it to or not. Uh, so I feel like they need have those skills as well. >> As a board member, you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put aside your personal feelings. What does this mean to you? Um, so at the end of the day, you know, the board has a responsibility to make decisions that are best for the school district, right? Um, and best for the the students and the teachers. There's a lot of people and um a lot of people involved with that. So I feel like I'm sorry. Can you ask the question again? >> Sure. >> I went off on a tangent. >> As a
071board member, you'll be asked to make decisions where you must put put aside your personal feelings. What does this mean to you? >> Yes. So, okay. So, as far as the responsibility, you you got a job to do, do it, do it, you know. So, um, if you're not, you know, if maybe you don't 100% agree with what the rest of the board agrees with it, um, you got to put that aside and let that go and just be like, hey, let's try it. let's commit to it and let's um you know if if the board as a whole decides that we got to go with it and and commit 100% to that and let's try it out and see cuz sometimes you're wrong and sometimes you're right and so it uh you know I
072feel like everything kind of works themselves out and most of the time it's it's a little bit gray. you might be, you know, 50% right and 50% wrong. And um, you know, but if you commit to it and put the plan in place, then that all that stuff works out. You know, you're going to see what the weaknesses are and what the strengths are and you roll with it. >> Thank you. Working effectively. Is this my Is that your last one? Working effectively with other schoolboard members and the superintendent requires skills in communication and decision making. What are your communication strengths? Um so I like to listen as much as I like to talk. Uh that would be the first thing. Um I like to evaluate what other people have to say and, you know,
073kind of make my decisions from there. Um, I don't have any problem getting along with people. Um, and and I'll take it back to coaching because I do a lot of coaching. So, um, as far as that goes, you know, you really have to the players that you have, you have to get along with them, but you also have to lead them. You have to um, communicate with them, and sometimes they are don't want to listen. And so you really have to continue to work with it and and um just keep in constant communication with them and and try to get them to believe into what you're trying to teach them as far as you know for them to have a success. So, um I don't feel like I have any trouble getting along with
074people or um communicating my viewpoints and what I kind of think about things, but also at the same time, you know, you got to listen to what everybody has to say and kind of evaluate it and um because everybody has something good to bring to the table. Yeah, I wrote down that you were very thoughtful with one of my notes in your responses. Anything for us um questions, concerns, comments? So, I got one of the I I guess one of my uh one of my questions was already answered, but um did you give interviews to everybody that expressed interest >> in the position? Okay. >> There's one left, but yeah, we will. >> What's that? >> There's one candidate left, but we will >> Yeah. Yeah. I was just I was just curious. You're the
075penultimate candidate. So, >> yeah, we're having a special board meeting on Wednesday where we'll make the decision and then um uh Mrs. Maynard will take we'll we'll make the notifications I'm guessing on Thursday. >> Okay. So, you're moving on this quick. >> Yes, we have to 30 days. >> 30 days. Okay. And and the position there's one position open. >> Yeah, one position. >> Um someone resigned. Yeah, we had to the he had been on the board for I don't know four, five, six years, maybe seven, but uh I don't recall exactly how long, but he resided moved to the >> Okay. >> Didn't leave because he didn't like us. >> Right. >> Okay. If there's nothing else and we will uh we appreciate you you being here. Everybody's looking at me. Did I miss
076something? >> No, you're good. >> Okay. I just have to question giving me the look. So anyway, it was very nice meeting you. >> No, it was nice meeting you guys and thanks for the opportunity. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Good evening. >> Y thank you for applying. >> Okay. Oh, I'm loving the timeline here. >> What? Getting out of here. Me, too. >> Me, too. >> Hi, Jennifer. >> Hi, I'm Linda Bournemouth, president of the board of education. I will allow the rest of the board to introduce themselves. >> Okay. >> Hi, I'm Corey Morris. I'm the current vice president of the board. >> Okay. >> Justin Warski, trustee. >> And Block, trustee. >> Kathy Fields, treasurer. Thank you. Um we have a series of 10 questions to ask you. Okay. Um we'll start
077with uh what I start with. I think you start this time, right Kathy? >> I Kathy will start this time and uh um >> and we'll go around ask questions and then at the end we will see what questions or comments concerns you have for us. >> Sounds great. Thank you. >> Okay. Go ahead Kathy. >> Hi Kathy. >> Um do you have the time to devote to school board meetings and all that it entails? >> I do. I do work full-time. Um, I have a shift from 8 to 4, so I can devote, you know, anywhere from 4 on. I have a pretty laxed job to where emails and reading, you know, I am able to do while working. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. Um, what has motivated you to
078apply for this position at this time now? So, I um have a 16-year-old son that's in this Taylor school district. Okay. Um and unfortunately, he got into a little bit of trouble where I had to do a meeting in front of the school board. Um I loved the way that the school board approached everything. I love the way that they had guided my son. Um, and from when I was in school to how the school district district is now, um, there's been a huge, you know, increase in the way that everything is handled and I wanted to be a part of the continued growth and to see how I could, you know, assist. >> Thank you. What unique qualifications and experiences do you bring to the board that would help us make Taylor a better
079school district? I am very detail oriented. I'm very organized. Um, I am very great at problem solving. I manage an office. I've managed for 14 years. Um, I have a staff of 14. So problem solving and you know figuring out ways to improve is one of my strengths. It's something that I've done for a long time. >> Thank you. >> What is your number one priority if chosen for this position >> to due to how my son is? um trying to improve the way that the struggled kids can often get swept under and kind of fall in the cracks. I'm hoping to improve the way that um those kids can, you know, overcome what they're going through with the school district's help. you know, it's not always at home where they get the help and
080sometimes, you know, the school is the only help that they do have. So, if the school district fails, you know, to help, unfortunately, you know, the kid will fail. >> Thank you. >> What do you see as a major issue facing our school district? >> Maybe overpopulation of kids. I feel like it's very overrun. um like teachers to kids. I don't know that the the teachers can give their most to each student. >> Oh god, it's me. I'm sorry. >> I was like, wait, I thought there was 10. >> Number six, right? >> Yep. >> Okay. Are you willing to participate in board classes to better understand your role and responsibilities? If so, what courses do you think could benefit you in this role? I do um I am able to contribute, you know, timing
081as you know with my work schedule. Um, I really don't know um the classes that are >> Yeah, the MASB and Michigan Association of School Boards offers an array of classes from um team building or working as a team to finance uh um just anything you could possibly want. >> Um then yes, I would. Which which category I would choose, I don't know. you know, until I see the list to see what I already, you know, have to what I can better myself with. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, at times you may be caught between legitimately opposing um points of view. There may be a difference between your personal point of view and the policy or law that you are required to uphold as a trustee. How will you handle that? You know, we're
082always taught rules are rules. You know, whether you agree with them or do not agree with them, you know, that is the way that you have to go whether anybody likes it or not. Laws and rules are set for a reason. Um, personal opinions are set for home. >> Thank you. >> What do you think are the most important skills for students to have when they graduate? >> Finances. Definitely finances. I don't think that is, you know, um, gone over enough where kids are set up for failure. You know, you can learn math, you can learn English, but, you know, I think the real life of making money, spending money, credit. I think that there should be at least a, you know, a semester on that with the homeax. >> Thank you. As a board
083member, you'll be asked to make decisions that you know go against your personal feelings. How will you resolve this? >> Unfortunately, you know, rules are rules. Job is the job. You have to do what you are supposed to do whether you like it or not. Um, again, my personal opinion on a matter. Um, if it is not what is supposed to be it, you know, I I would just have to set it aside. You know, we can all have different opinions on things. Okay. Working effectively with other school board members in the superintendent require skills in communication and decision making. What are your communication strengths? >> Um, teamwork. Um, open-mindedness. Um, always knowing that there's not a straight line to get from point A to point B. Um, and listening to everybody's views on, you
084know, what can be most effective. >> Thank you. Do you have anything for us? questions, comments, concerns, um, anything? >> I don't think so. >> We'll be making We're having a special board meeting on Wednesday. Okay. At six o'clock where we will make the decision and then Mrs. Maynard over there will get in touch with uh uh or make or make contacts on um Thursday. Sounds great. >> Very nice meeting you. >> Very nice meeting all of you. Thank you. >> Okay, we can move on to public comment. Is there anybody wishing to book a comment? No. Caroline, I wonder if we have anybody online. I don't You do. Thank you. >> Um, >> does I can I just ask one question? >> Does anybody want to be on the wall of fame committee for
085the Taylor Foundation of Educational Excellence? >> What's the commitment? the the commitment is is I believe you meet they have a gayla on August 25th um and you you meet and then there's nominations for u people who have really just kind of helped the district and different things that was actually on the back page of the uh Taylor magazine um and so you meet they're choosing three candidates there are three people a year to honor the gaya's April 25th you think of anything else to say about that. Shauna, they're they're looking for two people, two board members. >> Pardon me. >> I'll have to think about it. >> Okay. Anybody >> I'm thinking about it. That's Yeah, I'm guessing with him. Yeah. >> Or let Shauna know or Mike know. Okay. Entertain a motion to
086adjourn. >> I do have a question first because >> Oh, yeah. Go right ahead. >> So, you know, Wednesday we're voting and I am I'm just curious about the format because there's two different ways of doing it, right? It's like you nominate a person if they get the majority they're on or some other rules state that you vote on every candidate and that's more like a playoff format. So I mean I've not found out how we do that. >> I don't have any idea how Wednesday is going to work. I'll pull out my Robert's rules just that I thought that you know we can't go into close session to discuss because it's you know it's not an eligible item. Um so I'm not exactly sure how that's going to work. Um, >> my understanding for
087Robert's rules is we have to pick a method and and I don't know if we can do this now, but I'm just saying maybe we need to be prepared on Wednesday. >> Oh, yeah. Absolutely. >> Yeah, I would. >> Yeah. The method I prefer is every candidate gets a vote and it's almost like a playoff format because if it becomes the first person that gets a majority vote, then well, I nominated this person who gets nominated first, you know? But if everybody gets a vote and then maybe some people get three votes, some people get two votes, those move on and they move on. You know what I mean? But I think everyone should get one vote. That that's my preferred method. >> Okay. I'll pull out Robert's world. Do you have an idea, Sher
088or Ann? You've done this before. >> Okay. didn't hear what she said. So, but later >> watch the video. She said, >> "Oh, >> Stephan's got a hand raised on the >> Oh, somebody has a hand raised. >> Can someone let Stephanie speak? >> Oh, there's someone here. >> Yes, Stephanie. >> They sees what I'm supposed to be doing first. Please feel free. I don't see a hand." >> Yeah, it's it's Stephanie. See, my thing's also not moving up and down. Do you see Sha? >> Hi, can you hear me? >> Yeah. >> Um, I just wanted to comment on the um wall of fame. I did submit through mic to join that. >> Okay, perfect. So, we need one more. Thank you. You're welcome. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion by
089Morris to adjourn. >> 7:42. >> Pardon me. >> At 7:42. >> 7:42. Thank you. Is there support? >> Uh just >> Yeah, I support it. >> Moore is a yes. Morars. >> Yes. >> Morris. >> Yes. >> Shoe. >> Oh, excuse. >> Um block. >> Yes. >> And Fields? Yes, >> that passes 5 Z.