The Ann Arbor School Board will have two new faces in January as a result of yesterday's election. It's unclear how this will impact the board moving forward.
That's because it's unclear if voters were delivering a specific message. Incumbents Susan Baskett and Christine Stead won re-election, as did Donna Lasinski and Patricia Ashford Manley. But the four candidates were evenly split on the proposed annexation of Whitmore Lake Public Schools.
Stead supported the measure but is glad it didn't end up as a litmus test for the school board candidates. "It's a single issue item that's not a small issue, but it's also not the biggest issue, and as you know, when I think about our biggest issues, I want to think about a sustainable future for the Ann Arbor Public Schools. One where we can continue to innovate and invest in our own programs and kids, and that to me is our biggest issue. So how do we continue to find ways to do that in the context that we have to operate within," Stead says.
Baskett opposed annexation. She's looking forward to continue supporting Superintendent Jeanice Swift's five-year plan for the district.
As for the new-comers, Donna Lasinski appreciates the fact they have the next couple of months to get all of the board information and attend the meetings, without having to start serving on the board right away. Swearing in ceremonies don't take place until January.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.
