By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
Voters in the Plainwell Community Schools district have no shortage of options when it comes to candidates for the school board.
Ten individuals are running for four open seats on the board, with a final decision to be made when residents head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Each seat is for a four-year term.
Incumbents Julli Bennett, Rex Hall Jr. and Shannon Zabaldo are among those vying for a seat. Zabaldo and Bennett have served on the board since 2014, while Hall was appointed to fill an open seat last month.
Newcomers Laura Alderton, Andrea Barrows, Derek Dunn, Carla Hux, Eric Jorgenson, Monique MacQueen and Chris Miller round out the list of candidates.
Each candidate was recently asked to provide their thoughts on the following: Can you briefly tell us about yourself?; Why are you running for the Board of Education and, if elected, what will be your priorities?; What do you see as the primary work of the Board of Education?; and What is your vision for education in this community?
Given the number of candidates, the profiles are being separated into two parts, with the first five candidates being featured this week and the other five being featured next week. Candidates are shown by alphabetical order of the last name.
Here are the responses from Alderton, Barrows, Bennett, Dunn and Hall Jr.:
Laura Alderton
Can you briefly tell us about yourself?
I am a wife, mom, and grandmother. My husband and I have been married for 15 years. Between the two of us, we have six children. We have 18 grandchildren. My absolute greatest accomplishment is my family. My family and I have lived in the Plainwell area for over 45 years. I am a Christian with conservative views and hold my values to that stance. I have a servant’s heart but am willing to stand up for what I believe is right.
Why are you running for the Board of Education and, if elected, what will be your priorities?
I chose to run for the Plainwell Board of Education to help advocate for all children and keep parents’ choice in the forefront of their children’s education. I attended many meetings where I watched as the current board dismissed parents’ concerns and chose not to go with the recommendations of our superintendent. The current board seemed dismissive and unwilling to listen to parents. It was then I decided that I needed to make a difference and be the voice for the voiceless.
If elected, my priorities will be:
- To find a way to stop bullying that goes on within our district. I believe if the students feel safe when they walk in the building that grades and atmosphere will improve. One way of doing this is to promote an atmosphere that make all children feel safe and make children know that they are treated equally
- Giving parents a voice in their child’s education and safety. I believe by hearing the parents and acknowledging that they know what is best for their child as far as safety and academics there will be more open communication and participation.
- Getting back to the basics of education where Plainwell students excel in reading, writing and math. A way I believe to do this is get rid of the distractions within our school buildings that cause division and hostility.
What do you see as the primary work of the Board of Education?
I believe the primary work of the BOE is to be the voice for the community and make sure Plainwell is a safe district by bridging the gap between administrators, teachers, parents and students. Also, support our superintendent. If we can do this, we can make a district were our students excel in education and are prepared for the future.
What is your vision for education in this community?
My vision for the education in our district is to get back to the basics where our students learn to be productive members of society and able to support one another. To take the distractions out of the classrooms. Teach every child to read, write and do math. Making every student succeed and not leave any child behind, no matter what an adult has deemed their status to be.
Andrea Barrows
Can you briefly tell us about yourself?
I am the mother of three Plainwell students in ninth, seventh and fifth grade. My husband and I are 2001 Plainwell graduates and highly invested in our community. I’ve spent many hours over the years volunteering in the classrooms; assisting students in small groups and individual intervention; coaching Battle of the Books and youth athletics. In 2019 I participated in the Plainwell Community Schools’ Strategic Planning Committee and Plainwell Community Schools’ Bond Proposal Committee. I’ve also been an active member of the Plainwell Community Schools’ Sex Education Advisory Board.
Professionally, I am a bachelor’s prepared emergency department registered nurse of 17 years. I’ve held a formal nursing leadership position at Bronson Hospital for the past eight years. I have extensive experience working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams at all levels of the healthcare system. My daily responsibilities include advocating for nursing practice; policy review and implementation that aligns with regulatory requirements; quality and safety review; budget management; employee recruitment and retention; employee performance reviews, support, and coaching; patient relations;and operational problem solving.
Why did you choose to run for the Board of Education and, if elected, what would your priorities be?
I’d like the opportunity to help our district move forward during a challenging time in history and education. My professional experience, listening skills, and ability to remain objective, will help me be an effective School Board member.
When elected, I will work with all key stakeholders to ensure our district maintains a student-centered focus while supporting professional collaboration that ensures the highest level of student success. We have an opportunity to build a top-down culture that normalizes diversity and strengthens students’ social, emotional, and employability skills. I will also work hard to adopt measures to empower, retain, and recruit the highest quality educators and support staff.
What do you see as the primary work of the Board of Education?
The role of a school board member is to represent the voice and ideas of the key stakeholders while working collaboratively to make decisions that support the vision and goals of the district. All decision making must reflect what is in the best interest of the student body, while meeting regulatory requirements, and ensuring fiscal responsibility
What is your vision for education in this community?
I›m confident Plainwell Community Schools will continue to grow as we build on our countless strengths. We will recognize our opportunities for improvement and work hard to make forward progress. I envision every Plainwell student receiving the highest quality education, in a safe, supportive and welcoming environment. Our district will prepare our future generations for lifelong success.
Julli Bennett (I)
Can you briefly tell us about yourself?
I’ve been a member of the community since 2000 where my husband and I run a small business. I currently have three children in the school district with three already graduating from Plainwell. I’ve been a school board member for eight years, where I have served all four leadership positions and longest as the treasurer.
I have also served in several volunteer organizations such as Good Hands Plainwell, Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) and president of the Gilkey Parents Club for several years. I am very proud of only missing one board meeting in eight years!
Why did you choose to run for the Board of Education and, if elected, what would your priorities be?
My re-elected bid, as I see it, is a job half-way completed with regards to the largest bond this district has passed. Being the treasurer holds a great deal of fiscal responsibility and tough decision making. Being a good steward of the community’s funds is a task that cannot be achieved as on-the-job training. Knowing the history, bids, complexity of past conversations and negotiations with vendors and so forth, requires an experienced representative of the community that has been there from the beginning.
What do you see as the primary work of the Board of Education?
The primary work as a board member is straight forward/evaluating the superintendent, overseeing the budget, following policy and law and setting district goals. In other words, you must stay in your lane and understand the job position. Day-to-day decision making is not on the board level.
What is your vision for education in this community.
Making strides in learning loss suffered over the past few years. We have so many outstanding new hires that are making growth in this area. Continued mental health and anti-bullying supports that the board put in place and has prioritized budget lines to maintain in the future.
Growth in early education is also something that we need to maintain and focus on.
Also, part of education is getting the students to and from school. Therefore, persist in better transportation for all students and minimize the time students are on the bus.
Derek Dunn
Can you briefly tell us about yourself?
I am a father of two girls-one in middle school and one at Cooper elementary. As a volunteer firefighter for 20 years, my family and I are used to doing what needs to be done to help our community. As a full time Union Fire Captain , I am also capable and have experience dealing with contracts, contract negotiations, and municipalities. I have used my unique schedule to volunteer in the schools and be available when needed for playground duty. My family is prepared and excited to support me in dedicating the time needed to Plainwell Community Schools and our community.
Why did you choose to run for the Board of Education and, if elected, what would your priorities be?
I have been contemplating running for the board for the last two years. I want to be a part of the solution and not standing back complaining when I don’t like things. I want to hear what my fellow parents have to say and see what changes and growth I can help to make happen through the board.
What do you see as the primary work of the Board of Education?
I believe that a Board member should be a moral and honest person, who listens to the parents and uses all the facts to support the Superintendent. The board should be an extension of the parents and assist them in teaching their children. The board should be fiscally responsible on projects while making sure to get the best teachers and resources for those teachers and the students.
What is your vision for education in this community?
I hope to be a part of a group that gets Plainwell back in the forefront of people’s minds when they think of great education. I want our facilities to continue improving, but I also want our kids to be able to learn in class and not be distracted about the loudest and newest thing that is happening in society. We need to put kids and parents first and do everything we can to protect them and make sure they get the absolute best education.
Rex Hall, Jr. (I)
Can you briefly tell us about yourself?
My family and I have been proud residents of the Plainwell Community Schools district for more than 16 years. I moved to Michigan in June 2003 from my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, to take my first job out of college as a reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette and I’ve been a resident of the state ever since. My wife, Shelley, and I were married in 2006 and bought our home in Cooper Township that same year. We have four children—Avery, Anna, Quinn, and Grant—who attend Plainwell Community Schools and are currently a junior, freshman, sixth-grader and fifth-grader, respectively. I worked as a reporter—covering primarily crime and courts—at the Gazette for 13 years before moving on to the WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) in May 2016 to become the medical school’s communications and social media coordinator. I am still employed at WMed and in March I was promoted to the role of digital media manager. More recently, in September 2022, I was appointed as a trustee to the PCS Board of Education and that appointment runs through December 31.
Why did you choose to run for the Board of Education and, if elected, what would your priorities be?
As a father of four PCS students and the husband of a school teacher with more than 20 years of service in Allegan County, I believe I can bring a unique perspective to the board of education that keeps the needs of our students and educators top-of-mind. This election comes at a critical time for our school district and our community, and the results will determine the make-up of the majority of the board for the next four years. The work ahead will require experience, and leadership that is steady and level-headed, all of which are qualities I believe I can bring to bear as a school board trustee. If elected, my priorities will include:
- Ensuring that our students and teachers have the classroom resources and support they need to have a learning and working environment that is enriching.
- Providing support for the mental health needs of our students and educators as we move forward through the pandemic and advocating for the funding and resources that will help students and teachers understand they’re not alone in navigating the school year or the rigors and demands of their day.
- Working with fellow board members to ensure that construction and facility improvements that are being funded by the $48.6 million bond approved by voters in 2019 are completed in a timely manner and that the district is being responsible stewards of those taxpayer dollars.
- Finding resources and ways to help our students most in need – those living in poverty or unhoused – as the district works to address learning loss caused by the pandemic.
- Being a champion for diversity and inclusiveness and ensuring that our schools are a safe place where each and every student and staff member feel welcomed, valued, and included.
What do you see as the primary work of the Board of Education?
The Board of Education has an important role to play in being a conduit between the district and the community. The board also has to stay intently focused on developing and setting policy, determining budget priorities and infrastructure needs, as well as developing a positive board/superintendent relationship.
What is your vision for education in this community?
Speaking from personal experience, my children have had the opportunity—day in and day out—to be a part of a learning community at PCS that has been top-notch and one where they have felt valued and well cared for on an academic and personal level by teachers and administrators. In short, I want each and every student in the district to have that same experience. As a school board member, that is what I will work for and work toward.