OAISD educator Tami Mannes appointed to ZPS School Board
ZEELAND — A longtime educator with the Ottawa Area ISD is the newest member of the ZPS School Board.
The Zeeland Public Schools Board of Education held a special meeting Monday, Dec. 11, to interview candidates and appoint a new board member. There was a vacancy on the board following the resignation of Linda Bush last month.
Ten candidates were interviewed Monday, with Tami Mannes emerging as the board’s choice. Other candidates were Vince Boileau, Christian Glupker, Amy Harbison, Michelle Harris, Derrick Muilenburg, Steve Norman, Abby Van Beek, Jessica Volkers and Avril Wiers.
Mannes is the director of early childhood services at the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District. She’s worked in education for the last 20 years, according to her interview, and got her start in special education. Mannes has two children currently enrolled at ZPS. She's also on the board for Ready for School.
More: Zeeland School Board will interview 10 candidates for open seat
Board members didn't discuss the candidates Monday, instead relying on two rounds of votes to make their decision.
Following interviews, each of the six board members wrote down their top four choices, which were read aloud by board president April DeWitt and tallied to determine top choices.
In that round of voting, Van Beek led with five votes followed by Wiers and Mannes with four each and Boileau and Norman both with three. Van Beek, Wiers and Mannes advanced to a second round of voting where board members chose their top two, with two points for first and one point for second.
In that vote, Mannes had seven points, Wiers had six and Van Beek had four. A motion was made to appoint Mannes, which passed unanimously.
DeWitt thanked all 10 applicants for their willingness to give back to the district.
“It’s just nice to know that people want to serve and want to help, so thank you,” she said.
During her interview, Mannes said she was interested in serving on the board to help the district be a great place for all students.
“I have kids who are part of this district,” she said. “I want for my children to represent all children here in making sure (all students are served). Especially with that special education background and knowing not all kids learn the same, not all kids come to school with the same needs, how do we as a district really wrap around that?”
Mannes said her different understanding of education could be an asset to the board. She also acknowledged she'd have to abstain from certain votes involving the OAISD, such as approving its budget or voting for its board members.
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Mannes said her priority will be learning from other board members.
“Right now, my lens is as a parent. That is one lens we bring, but a board member lens is different,” she said. “So it’s really learning from the people who've been around these tables for a really long time.”
Mannes’ appointment runs through Dec. 31, 2024. The seat will be up for election for a six-year term in November.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: OAISD educator Tami Mannes appointed to ZPS School Board
