MEET THE CANDIDATES Your Guide to the Northville School Board Race By Lonnie Huhman
T
he board of education vote on Nov. 3 for Northville Public Schools is another important one, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact on everything from local opinions to how the district will move forward for the rest of the school year and beyond. The election is important as it will bring new leaders to the school board as three incumbents have chosen not to seek another term. There are four total seats up for grabs on the ballot. Of the incumbents, Matt Wilk, Cyndi Jankowski and Laurie Doner are not running while incumbent Sarah Prescott is. The pool of candidates grew to 10 in the aftermath of controversial remarks and social media posts made by Wilk in relation to the pandemic. The candidates vying for the four seats, including Prescott, are Kimberly Campbell-Voytal, Jonathan Edison, Harihar T. Kulkarni, Blake Mathie, former board president James Mazurek, Lisa Peterson McIntyre, Lindsey Wilson, and Sherrie Winfield. Douglas Miller, who initially was seeking a spot on the board and whose name appears on the ballot, said he has decided not to pursue a seat on the board. We contacted each of the other nine candidates, asking them a few questions that we feel will be pertinent to voters. Here are their responses:
Kimberly Campbell-Voytal Kids in the district: We raised two NHS graduates, and are the grandparents of a child at Old Village who will start kindergarten in fall 2021.
46 The ‘Ville
Profession/Qualifications: I am professor of family medicine and public health sciences at Wayne State University where I directed graduate and undergraduate programs in public health. My public health practice is in disease prevention and I have applied this expertise in the areas of policy, programs, and primary care. I retired this February after 20 years at Wayne State. I am a teacher with three decades of experience in the classroom and as an educational leader. Finally, I am clinical nurse specialist working in school health with a focus on kids with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes and obesity. Why are you running? We are in an unprecedented moment for public education. We are redefining our vision for safe, quality education while confronting continued decline in school funding. I am concerned with the extraordinary pressure on teachers’ and childrens’ health. Teachers and parents have shared with me their hope that we will come together to reduce the factors that divide us. As a long-time resident of Northville, I strongly believe that we share an obligation to contribute to community. I have public health expertise that will strengthen skillful analysis of public health evidence to inform board decisions. My educational leadership and previous board experience prepares me as a prudent manager of district funds. My work in school health leaves no doubt in my mind the stakes involved for kids and families as we return to school. Do you agree with the district’s COVID plan? I am impressed with the work of more than 130 parents, teachers, administrators and students to develop balanced options for returning to school. Families will ultimately choose the option that best meets their needs. It is up to all of us to follow the rules and keep community levels of virus low so our kids can go to school.
Jonathan Edison
Age: 46 Kids in the district: Jonathan, Jr. (8th grader) and Ava (6th grader) Profession/ Qualifications: Motivational speaker; author; success strategist. Founder and Chairman of I’m Rocking These Socks non-profit for the homeless. I’m a volunteer coach for the Northville Stallions. In 1993, I graduated with an associate’s degree as a part of the Urban Teacher Program from Wayne County Community College. In 1995, Jonathan continued his education at Wayne State University, earning a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in teaching and educational leadership. After teaching for four years, at age 27 I became the youngest assistant principal in the history of Detroit Public Schools. In 2004 I launched my motivational and training development company. Since then, I have authored 10 books and have designed a leading total school transformation curriculum for school districts all over the country. My clients include: Alabama State Department of Education, CVS, Daimler Chrysler, FBI, Idaho State Department of Education, State Farm Insurance, Wyoming State Department of Education. Why are you running? I believe that my diverse background, education, business experience and firsthand knowledge of working within schools will be an asset to the Board and the students of Northville. I am running because I was challenged by my 11-year-old daughter to “practice what I preach.” I’ve taught her that if there is something out in the world that makes you uncomfortable and you do nothing about it, then it’s your fault. Quite frankly, the former President of the Board made me
