Five candidates seek three seats open on Van Buren School Board

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
There are three open seats on the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education and five candidates, including the three incumbents, are running for the positions.
The seats are four-year terms.
Candidates are incumbents Kevin English, Sherry Frazier, and Scott Russell. Newcomers are Alison Bennett and Matthew Mann. Candidates completed information forms for Independent readers to consider.
Kevin English
Kevin English, 24, who currently serves as secretary of the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education, has lived in the school district for his whole life.
He is an English language arts educator at Wayne Memorial High School in the Wayne-Westland Community Schools District.
English earned his bachelor’s degree in English, history, and secondary education from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
In 2009 he was elected to the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education.
He is a member of the Michigan Council of Teachers of English, the National Council of Teachers of English, the Wayne County Reading Council, the Michigan Education Association and serves as a teacher consultant for the Eastern Michigan Writing Project.
He said he is an avid reader and most of his time is spent learning more about the best practices of teaching and learning.
When asked why he is running for the school board, English replied: “I am seeking reelection to the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education to continue the growth and advancement that has taken place during my tenure on the board.
“As a current educator, I feel that I offer a unique and needed perspective to the board of education. I recognize the challenges that our staff face on a daily basis, as well as the complex work and commitment necessary to supporting and maintaining a vision for a district. I also understand the fiduciary responsibility of maintaining a balanced budget, as I have supported the district’s work to eliminate a budget deficit and maintain a healthy fund balance over the past few years.
“Further, I recognize that the right decisions are not always the popular ones, and in these trying times of common standards, shrinking budgets, and increased accountability, I believe that I am strongly suited to support our continued growth as a district.”
As to his goals, once elected, English said: “During my time on the board, the district has worked to focus on long-term success, and I want to continue that work.
“As an educator and board member, student achievement and safety are two of the most important markers of success. We have made significant gains in student achievement, in the development of curricula, and creating optimal learning environments.
“And, while we have achieved many successes, they aren’t enough. If elected, I look forward to continue supporting long-term, focused plans for the professional development of our staff, a dedication and commitment to all students’ academic needs, and maintaining a responsible fund balance to ensure our district’s financial success.”
Sherry Frazier
Sherry Frazier, who has lived in the school district for 35 years, has had occupations as a Realtor and Librarian. She is running for reelection to the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education, where she now serves as treasurer.
Her husband Wayne, a former teacher in the Van Buren Public Schools, died in 2011. Their children are William, Andrew, and Suanna Frazier-Abbasi.
Frazier earned a B.S. degree from Eastern Michigan University, an M.A. degree from the University of Michigan, and an Educational Specialist from Wayne State University.
She ran for the Van Buren Public School Board and served 1984-88, 1988-1992, and 2010-14.
Frazier was appointed to the Wayne Oakland Library Federation Board, 1990-92. During the time, she said, major changes were taken to become The Library Network. She also was appointed to the White House Conference on Libraries, 1988-90.
Frazier belongs to the National Association of Realtors, MI Association of Realtors, Greater Metropolitan Association of Realtors, MI Association of School Boards, Belleville Area Council for the Arts, and Southwestern Wayne (County) Democratic Club.
Frazier said she enjoys her “family, grandkids, dogs, reading, staying active, and enjoying my blessings.”
Scott Russell
Scott Russell, 46, who currently serves as a trustee on the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education, is running for reelection. He has lived in the school district for 13 years.
Russell, who serves in management at J.D. Power and Associates, earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Michigan State University.
Russell was elected to the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education in 2010.
He is on the board of directors for the Detroit Metropolitan YMCA, servicing over 100,000 members in the tri-county area.
When asked why he is running for reelection to the school board, Russell said: “I have proudly served as a Trustee on the Board of Education for four years. During that time, I helped balance the budget, implemented educational changes that increased student performance, and I helped overhaul our discipline policy which now holds kids accountable for their actions. This has resulted in fewer discipline problems and safer schools for our kids.
“I also helped the district with the construction of a state-of-the-art high school that was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. This allowed us to refund over $1,000,000 back to local taxpayers. I am proud of my service to our district and hope to serve for four more years.”
When asked about his goals, Russell replied: “I will continue to focus on fiscal responsibility, improving the quality of education, and keeping our kids safe. These have always been my top priorities and I look forward to building a culture of excellence for our students that our entire community can be proud of for generations to come.”
Alison Bennett (Weems)
Alison Bennett (Weems), 65, of Van Buren Township has lived in the school district for about 32 years.
She is married to James Weems and they have one son, Britton Weems, who graduated from Belleville High School.
She is a part-time English instructor at Schoolcraft College in Livonia.
Bennett holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Communication, specializing in teaching of writing. In the past, she also held State of Michigan teaching certificates at the secondary level, with an additional endorsement to teach elementary.
She said she has never run for office since she was treasurer of her high school senior class and has never been appointed to public office.
Bennett was an active member of the Belleville High School Band Boosters throughout her son’s high school years and for several years after that. She served as a marching band camp chaperone for about seven years.
Currently, she said she reads a great deal, writes, participates in book clubs, both locally and at Schoolcraft as her schedule allows, and is an enthusiastic amateur photographer.
When asked why she is running for the school board, Bennett said:
“I think that, as a district, we are in the best place that we’ve been in a long time. The current administration has an active, rather than reactive, approach in addressing issues like Common Core Curriculum, anti-bullying measures, and budget management. The results have been tangible gains in many areas, least of which are in student achievement and financial solvency.
“A lot of people were involved in getting us to this point. Space won’t let me mention them all here, but one important factor was a school board that was able to function as a unified body. By that, I don’t mean that they were always in accord; lots of votes weren’t unanimous. But they were able to conduct the business of the district with integrity, without disproportionate intrusion from personal agendas and political theater.
“I’m running for the board now, because I feel that that some of the current board members have abandoned that model. I’ve witnessed these members treat public board meetings as if they view them as opportunities for showcasing their personal reactions and advancing their personal agendas, rather than as forums for conducting the business of the district.
“When their colleagues try to keep the discussion constructive, I‘ve often heard these same individuals respond disrespectfully. I think that such conduct is unacceptable. It disrupts the order of business. It distracts focus from larger issues. It replaces careful deliberation with knee-jerk responses that are not substantiated with facts. If allowed to go unchecked, it can tarnish the school board’s public image, making them appear fragmented, contentious, and therefore dysfunctional. Ultimately, communities will not support school boards that they see as dysfunctional, and without that support, the gains that we’ve made as a district will be in jeopardy. I think it’s time for a change.” Once elected, Bennett said about her priorities: “I believe that it’s important that all the district stakeholders have confidence in the integrity of those they elect to the Board of Education. A collegial, mutually respectful relationship between board members (as well as between the administration and board members) is important in establishing that confidence. I want to help all the stakeholders in Van Buren Public Schools return to feeling confident in their school board’s integrity. I believe that everyone who comes to the office, and the electorate, too, should understand that, even in the face of inevitable personal differences, by joining the board you deliberately give up part of your prerogative to act as an individual in order to serve the needs of the students and the school district. If I’m elected, all decisions that I will be called upon to make will be guided by that understanding.”
Matthew Mann
Matthew Mann, 44, has lived in the school district for 11 years and is self-employed representing Absolute Vending and RestaurantLink.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Michigan University.
He and his wife Beth are the parents of Connor, Ryan, Ellysa, and Peyton.
He has never run for governmental office before, but he is the vice president of the Dearborn Hockey Association.
Besides that, he is Top Dog for Savage Elementary School’s Watch D.O.G.S program, co-chairperson for Savage Elementary Auction Fund Raiser, a hockey coach for 26 years, and enjoys fishing and golf.
When asked why he is running for the school board, Mann replied:
“I am running for school board because I believe in this district, our schools, and our community. I believe we can continue to do great things here, but I am of the opinion that changes need to be made so that we may do so.
“As a father of four children that are currently students in this school district and have been for all of their schooling, I have a personal interest in preserving and improving the quality of our school district. I want to ensure that our community has a voice in educational and administrative decisions and to be a conduit for the concerns and interest of students, parents, teachers, and our community.”
Once elected, Mann said one of his priorities will be “to focus on strengthening the relationship between the schools, the families, and the community. I would like to develop a positive campaign to encourage those families who have left our schools for surrounding districts and families from area charter schools to enroll in our schools. I am determined to make this district one that will maintain its excellent teachers and be that district in which others will want to work.
“There are excellent leaders, both principals and teachers, in our schools who are making great things happen for the students. We need to make sure we do not lose them. I would like to make improvements in all subjects of our curriculum so our children have the skills to compete, not only at the local level, but at a global level.”