By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
BERRIEN SPRINGS – A school board member doesn't just meet a few times a month and expect to make important decisions about the fate of a school district.
Most elected officials to their boards take their positions very seriously and learn all they can through classes offered by the Michigan Association of School Boards.
That was the message Thursday night when a number of school board members were honored for completing classes at the Berrien-Cass School Boards Association dinner and awards celebration at the Berrien County Intermediate School District in Berrien Springs, attended by local legislators.
Christine Locke, president of the Cassopolis Public Schools, received the Michigan Association's highest honor – the President's Award of Recognition, with 1,500 credit hours. She will also be honored at the state conference in the fall.
Also from the Cassopolis board, Gary Solloway was honored for reaching the Master Board Member Award, with 440 credits.
From Berrien Springs, Lyndon G. Furst received an Award of Distinction, as did Anthony Henry of the Benton Harbor Area Schools.
The Berrien Springs Public Schools were honored as having their entire board certified. On the board are Peg Bormann, Patricia Anne De Long, Lyndon G. Furst, John A. Larson, Ron Marschke, David Pagel and Daniel K. Stacey.
Also honored were members of the Berrien County Intermediate School District Board: Cathy Bair, Thomas J. Fanning, Lynn Hayes, Linda Holt and Sharon Kalling. Jeffrey Siegel is the superintendent.
Area legislators attended and discussed funding for schools and other budget concerns.
Ron Jelinek, R-Three Oaks, State Senator for District 21, told the educators the good news that the 2007 budget was "put to bed." The plan for the Single Business Tax has also been agreed on, he added.
He understood the problems the school boards have with a different budget year than the state, having to do their budgets without knowing how much money they will be receiving.
Another problem which was discussed was with the No Child Left Behind act. Al Pscholka, District Representative for Fred Upton brought up an example about how the Niles district runs an excellent special education program, but that it works against them, as the overall test scores are then brought down.
All students, no matter what their level of learning, receive the same test.
State Representatives John M. Proos and Rick Shaffer also spoke.
Also attending his first awards ceremony was the new Superintendent of the Brandywine Community Schools, Dr. John Jarpe, who came with board President Phil Bozung and Treasurer James Curran.