Get to know the candidates running for the Harbor Springs school board

HARBOR SPRINGS — As Nov. 8 approaches, the Petoskey News-Review is writing candidate profiles for all contested local and state elections.

Four candidates are running to fill the three available seats on the Harbor Springs Public Schools Board of Education. Brad Backus, Diane Novak, Michael Vandermus and Tom Varner are the candidates.

Backus currently serves on the board as treasurer and Novak serves as secretary. They are the only incumbents running to keep their seats.

Novak has served on the board for 10 years, after graduating with a degree in elementary education from Michigan State University. She’s worked in the Alanson and Petoskey school districts. She has attended multiple Michigan Association of School Boards Leadership Conferences, served on the facilities committee and is currently on the communications committee, the district steering committee and wellness committee.

“I’ve enjoyed being actively involved in the development of the district mission and vision, ongoing revision of district policies and the strategic planning process,” she said in an email to the Petoskey News-Review.

Vandermus is a graduate of Albion College with degrees in kinesiology and communications. He and his wife work as long-term substitute teachers during the school year. He also works with the Char-Em ISD and MichiganWorks! to ensure students have the opportunities to pursue careers in trades and have access to apprenticeships and trainings.

“With having three daughters (two already in school) and knowing that we will be spending our foreseeable future in the school district, I would love to give more back to this district and help make sure that the kids have everything they need to succeed inside and outside the classroom and beyond their time here in Harbor Springs,” he said in an email.

Varner served as a city council member in Rochester, Michigan for three terms, one of which he served as mayor pro-tem. He also worked on the Dryden Township planning commission and is currently serving on the West Traverse Township planning commission. He is a graduate of Michigan State University, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, and a member of the Harbor Springs American Legion Post 281.

“Education is near and dear to my heart — I come from a long line of educators,” he said in an email to the Petoskey News-Review. “Education was the path to a better life for my father and got him out of the West Texas cotton fields.”

All candidates were sent the same questions and given the same deadline to respond, along with a reminder email. Backus did not submit a response by deadline.

The News-Review reserved the right to edit responses for length, clarity and adherence to Associated Press style guidelines.

Q: What concerns face the Harbor Springs Public Schools and what can be done to make the district better? 

NOVAK: All districts face areas of concern. As a board member, I work alongside administration and staff, together as a team, to identify and address areas of concern. As a member of the district steering committee for approximately 10 years, I’ve been actively involved with the strategic planning of the district. We use the strategic plan to identify areas in need of improvement, establish goals and guide our decisions in all aspects of the district. The current strategic plan is in place through 2025.

One immediate concern of the district, though we were fortunate to be able to maintain in-person instruction throughout the majority of the pandemic, is combating the impact of the pandemic on student learning. Student achievement has always been one of my top priorities while on the board. Education is not one size fits all. I believe in meeting the needs of diverse learners using research-based best practices, providing resources and support for our highly-skilled teachers, early identification of learning needs and providing intervention to support student success now and in the future. I support maintaining and expanding vocational and technical education opportunities for our students.

Another concern facing many districts including ours, is the social-emotional and mental health of our students. I believe in educating the whole child. Research concludes a positive correlation between a student’s health and well-being and their ability to learn. During my time on the board, as a district we have strived to support the mental health of students through building positive relationships, increasing access to counseling services, fostering a caring and respectful environment, and equipping students with the tools needed to build resilience. I support the continuing effort in developing evidence-based programs, trauma-informed training, and partnering with community mental health organizations to meet students’ social-emotional and mental health needs.

Finally, school safety is unfortunately a concern that even in our quaint and idyllic town we must always be diligently working to maintain and improve. During my time on the board, the district has made many improvements including hiring a school safety officer, secured entrances with video buzzers, key-card locks, window film, regular ongoing training with emergency services, as well as many other items. I believe it is imperative to constantly evaluate our safety plans and improve in this area.

VANDERMUS: I believe the district is in a great spot both inside and outside the classroom and continuing that success should always be a priority. I believe there are always concerns facing public education, especially in an ever changing society. Keeping a stable learning environment and continuing to teach kids, not what to think, but how to think, is at the top of that list. Harbor Springs has done a great job at that, and I would love to help the district continue to arm students with a well rounded education, athletics and extracurricular activities that will help to set them up for future success.

VARNER: I would suggest more emphasis on technical and trades education — not everyone needs or wants to go to college, but everyone needs an education that leads to meaningful work opportunities.

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Q: Many school districts are facing questions regarding reading materials and what should be available to students and at what grade level. What are your thoughts on book challenges?

NOVAK: Parents, or guardians, are the most important partners in the education of the students of our district. No one knows the students’ needs better than them and I value and encourage strong parental involvement and feedback. Transparency and clear communication is vital. We involve diverse stakeholders in decision-making processes through opportunities to participate and share input in various committees, information nights, and groups. Throughout my time on the board we have constantly evaluated the what and how we teach kids. Although in that time I have not experienced any book challenges, various concerns of parents or community members have been brought to my attention. In order to best represent the people of our community, I welcome open communication and constructive criticism. I strive to listen and understand, with the goal of resolving any issue through mutual respect and collaboration. We’re a team working toward the cause of what’s best for kids. I also facilitate collaboration in problem-solving by directing concerned community members to the appropriate staff member who can help in finding a resolution. I believe in ethical decision-making, accountability and follow-through. As a district we place a high value on “excellence in character and excellence in education.” I believe we, as adults, need to model integrity and respect, especially through conflict resolution.

VANDERMUS: As of right now, I am not aware of any book challenges the Harbor Springs school district faces. If those challenges come we will face them head on and with complete transparency.

VARNER: I think transparency, parental rights and parent involvement in their child’s education is important.

More:Voters approve Harbor Springs school bond proposal

More:Harbor Springs school board approves millage proposal for November ballot

Q: In May, a $41.85 million bond proposal was approved by voters. How would you execute a long-term plan for the funds?

NOVAK: As a member of the board, it is my goal to always be a good steward of taxpayer dollars. I address each decision, including financial ones, through the lens of what is best for kids. I’m proud that throughout my time on the board, we’ve been able to do things through our fiscal responsibility that many districts cannot. We’ve maintained a healthy fund balance while making district improvements. Any time we’ve had to use savings it has always been for the students. It is my plan to continue in this manner in regards to the recent bond.

I’ve been involved in the process leading up to, and since, the passage of the bond. There are many layers of protection that have been put into place in regards to the long-term plan for the funds, with the utmost emphasis placed on staying on budget and on time. The bonds are being sold in two phases and therefore the work will be completed also in two phases, beginning with the rebuild of Shay Elementary. The second phase of bond sales will take place in 2024 along with the remainder of the projects. Some of the checks and balances in place in regards to the funds include our use of Plante Moran Cressa as our owner’s representative. They’ve helped guide us in every aspect of the project. We also have Christman Construction in place as our construction manager, keeping a close eye on all aspects of the construction, including frequent cost projection and analyses of current market versus future budget projections. French and Associates is our architect who has been working closely with, and gathering input from, our design team made up of community members, teachers and staff, and board members. Meetings are happening frequently and will continue throughout the project, again with the top priorities of staying within budget and on time

VANDERMUS: A bond proposal was approved in May by taxpaying voters. That proposal has a clear plan set in place on how and where that money is going to be spent, and that plan had garnered input at public meetings from the local community. What's left to do is to ensure that the money is being spent to make those changes, and that those changes/projects are completed in a timely manner and in a way that allows a smooth transition before, during and after the process for all those impacted throughout the district.

VARNER: One of my concerns is school safety, my son attended Oxford High School — three years before the shooting. During his senior year I was invited to sit in on the first Oxford school safety meetings. Well-intentioned, but at the end of the day they never thought something like that could happen at Oxford — until it did. I would like to review with proper guidance from state and local law enforcement ways to minimize this risk at Harbor Springs and allocate some of the bond money for school safety.

— Contact education reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com or on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Harbor Springs school board candidates Q&A before Nov. 8 election