GRANT, Mich. — An unprecedented number of people have applied for a vacant Grant School Board seat. This is in response to the boards decision to close the district's health care center at the middle school. Although the board voted this past Monday to begin talks with Family Health Care to find a solution, the controversy prompted 63 people to apply for the vacant seat, compared to just eight who applied for the previous position.
The school board has not provided detailed reasons behind its decision to close the health center, other than cost and security concerns. People in the community have been vocal in their support for the health center, saying it is a vital resource.
Julie Rogers, a parent who applied to join the school board, spoke on why she believes there has been so much interest from the community.
"At the board meetings, I think people need to know, when there's non transparency, when they feel like they're not being heard, when they feel like the bylaws aren't being followed, and I think that's where that divide in the community comes from."
The board voted to form two committees to select four final candidates. The decision was also made to shorten the candidate interviews to just 10 minutes to accommodate the large number of applicants.
Some have been critical of the move, and the lack of opportunity for remote interviews for those with disabilities, limited access to transportation, along with work and childcare conflicts.
Board member Rob Schuitema says that while it is not ideal, the decision to only hold in person and shorter interviews was logistical, and that forming ad hoc committees was advised by the school district's attorney.
He says the volume of applicants will help the board learn how to better accommodate large numbers of candidates in the future.
"We will ask more questions with the entire board present, and then do basically our final round of scoring. And from those, you know, that process determine who will be our next board seat. So it's been a learning curve, I think, for all of us too, on how the best practices should be moving forward with this type of process. So I look at this as another opportunity to learn and grow."
The board needs to make a decision on a new board member by Monday. If they don't the person will be appointed by the county's education agency.
The board will hold a special meeting to vote on the new member at 8 a.m. on Monday in the middle school cafeteria.
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