Julie Brown, Special Writer
She moderated a recent candidate forum for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Board of Education, which can be viewed on YouTube and at the LWVnorthwestwayne.org website.
Three candidates are to be voted on for the six-year terms: Rob Baty, Lauren Christensen, Patrick Kehoe, John T. Lazarowicz (a current board trustee), Michael B. Lloyd, Jeannie Moody-Novak, Sheryl Picard, Gina Thibault, Christopher Vos, and Shawn H. Wilson. Sebastien Osterag and Anupam Chugh Sidhu, the current board vice president, are vying for a partial Plymouth-Canton term ending Dec. 31, 2022.
“Communication is one of the areas we actually need to improve,” said Kehoe, the current board treasurer. In the Oct. 8 taped forum, Rowe asked about use of social media to inform district residents. Kehoe noted it is key to make clear if you are speaking for yourself “and not the board.”
Said Ostertag, 20, a Plymouth-Canton alumnus now in college, “There's a lot of misinformation on social media.” He and district parent/candidate Wilson noted use of email is often effective.
“Content is king and it's how people are absorbing information.” Sidhu noted current district policy exists on email, Wilson said.
“We're asking our students to be digital citizens. We need to lead by example,” stated Christensen. Candidate/parent Thibault noted, “The board should be speaking with one voice,” as parents can be confused by conflicting messages.
Whether learning should be online or in person during the pandemic is a key issue in Plymouth-Canton. Several candidates at the LWV forum said teachers, although dedicated, needed more time to prepare for online teaching.
“I think the teachers actually had very short notice. I really feel for the teachers,” Thibault commented.
Said Moody-Novak of online access, “It doesn't work for everybody,” as some district families lack printer and scanner access.
“I think we can learn from this,” both from other school districts and how to address problems with interruptions in connections, explained Vos.
Said Moody-Novak, “We knew back in March that this was a problem” when the pandemic began. She favors a method for teachers to contact the school board anonymously, adding teacher training for remote learning came too late.
Participating candidates responded also to a question on teaching cursive handwriting, their being in favor, as well as on curriculum and diversity. Wilson is black, and noted treatment concerns on his daughters' education.
Ostertag cited in the forum Plymouth Canton Educational Park (PCEP) teens working to retire “the R word” for developmentally delayed people. Wilson cited equity for students, parents, and teachers, and the board, along with mental health issues.
He added that equity matters “so we can grow the education system in Plymouth-Canton,” and was among several citing mental health.
Ostertag noted, “I believe I bring a new perspective” in part by age and still knowing PCEP students' issues. He also praised his teachers, who went beyond their contract requirements when he was in school.
The LWVnorthwestwayne.org website has other school board forums available to view, including Wayne-Westland Community Schools.
The League is a volunteer group founded in 1920 for voter education and advocacy, but doesn't endorse candidates.
Members have also printed Voter Guides and delivered those to the region's public libraries where they are now available.
“I wish everybody would appreciate how local elections impact their lives. Those are the people that can impact our lives,” commented Paula Bowman, president of the League of Women Voters of Northwest Wayne County.
“We have had plenty of work to do remotely and in print,” said Bowman of the local LWV volunteers
“When people are making sound decisions about who represents them we all benefit. That is a benefit to all of us,” said Bowman, also a vice president for the state League of Women Voters.
