Candidate forum's focus on doing it better

Four of five candidates running for three seats on the Flint school board attended a forum held by the East Side Business Association March 23.

The candidates were asked to speak about their backgrounds before they were questioned by members.

Ella Greene-Moton, a community education coordinator at the UM-Flint Center for Public Health, said she was a longtime member of the Flint community, mother of three and grandmother of eight. She has more than 30 years of general board experience and 40 years of community organizing.

"I want to move Flint back to where it used to be," Green-Moton said. "I want to be a voice for people who have a stake in the community — to create a partnership with the Flint Board of Education."

Isaiah Oliver was born and raised in Flint and is a graduate of Flint Northwestern High School and Central Michigan University. He works in the Mott Community College Office of Workforce and Community Development. He is communications chairman of Flint's City Wide Advisory Committee.

"I understand our school system is failing and I want to be part of the solution," Oliver said. "These young people need us and I'm dedicated to the students."

Johnnie Sue Petrich, a Flint resident since 1967 and a graduate of UM-Flint, holds a master's of science degree from Eastern Michigan University. All five of her children graduated from the Flint Community Schools. She taught in Flint schools for 22 years and established the Northern High School Scholarship Award and a Magnet Physics College Scholarship Award. She also provided the funds for these scholarships.

"A major problem in our schools is that there are no materials for teachers. Most teachers spend at least $1,000 of their own money each year to pay for equipment they need," Petrich said. "I'm running for the board to put its house in order. We don't need to send administrative people on trips to California. We need to spend our money on the students."

Charles Tutt was a history and civics teacher who was a United Teachers of Flint building representative. He said, as a board member, he would remember the past, embrace the present and plan for the future.

A member asked the candidates what they thought of Gov. Rick Snyder's proposal to cut $300 a pupil for 2011-2012.

Petrich said this was a big problem.

"We don't have the money we need now. Our students will lose out on the materials they need. Their computers need memory cards and updates. It's good to save money, but not this way," she said.

Oliver said that making cuts forces the board to be more collaborative.

"We need to find better ways of dealing with budget cuts. We're spending more than we can afford. I don't think the cuts are fair, but that's the hand we were dealt. We've got to find ways to deal with it," Oliver said.

Greene-Molton said she agreed the cuts were not fair.

"If these cuts take place our children will suffer," she said. "Our kids are not competing with other kids in the state. They're competing with kids all around the world. We need to make better use of what we have — find ways to be more creative and leverage additional funding."

Councilman Joshua Freeman (Ward 4) asked the candidates if they had looked at the current school budget. If not, why they felt they were qualified to run for a board position.

Oliver said that although he had not reviewed the current budget, he was familiar with the budgeting process — especially in the grantwriting area. He recommended grantwriting as an alternate means of funding.

Greene-Moton said she had not reviewed the budget, but she would draw from her experience working with other board budgets and with her experience writing grants. She said she was confident with the budget process.

Petrich said she has worked with the budget for many years from a teacher's prospective, so she was well-qualified to review the budget as a board member.

David Caswell asked the group who they would hold accountable for two Flint high schools having the lowest test scores in the state.

Greene-Moton said the responsibility starts with the teachers, then the administration and ultimately the superintendent of schools.

"All problems end at the superintendent's desk," said Tutt.

The other candidates agreed.

David Davenport, Flint Board of Education member, asked the candidates what ideas would they bring to the board to deal with kids being kicked out of school for discipline reasons.

Tutt said he favored in-school suspension because kids remain in a learning environment instead of being on the streets.

Petrich agreed with using in-school suspension except for violent offenders.

Each candidate was given two minutes to sum up his or her positions.

Tutt said he had been a teacher for over 20 years and believed his experience in education would help him contribute as a school board member.

"I'm good at working with individuals and with teams of people," he said. "We need to do something with dropouts — find out why they are leaving the system."

Oliver said he was dedicated to seeing students get what they need to succeed.

"The future of our community is at stake here. We are charged with leading a huge paradigm shift in education and our board needs to be reflective of those changes. We want young people to be productive in society," he said.

Petrich said she dedicated 22 years to the Flint school system as a teacher and now wants to serve in a different way.

"I know what it's like in the classroom," Petrich said.

She cited a major problem with extensive absences in student attendance and said, "we need to get the children into our schools."

Greene-Moton said he would bring a community voice to the board to further communication and understanding.

Harold E. Woodside did not attend the forum.

The election is May 3. The top three candidates will serve  four-year terms.

––––––––––––––––––––

Your comments are welcome. E-mail them to the editor at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .