New Clawson school board member excited to get to work

CLAWSON — The Clawson Public Schools Board of Education recently appointed a new member.

At its Oct. 16 meeting, the school board voted 5-0 to appoint Joe Savel to a seat vacated by Kimberley Carlesimo last month. Savel will serve the rest of Carlesimo’s term, which runs until Dec. 31, 2024.

Savel is a history teacher at Lamphere High School in Madison Heights. An educator for 18 years, he said he wanted to become a school board member to be able to serve and give back to his community and his three children in the district.

“I think I bring a unique perspective to the school board being a teacher myself, but also being part of the community,” he said.

Clawson school board President Michael Frink also noted Savel’s ties to Clawson, as he coaches youth football and his family is very active in the community, which Frink said was a big plus in the application review process.

“His thoughts on the importance of student growth and improving the environment in our school system to continually improve the situation for our kids had a lot to do with the positive reaction he got from the board,” Frink said.

After losing Carlesimo, Clawson Public Schools Superintendent Billy Shellenbarger said the board needed someone who embodied her qualities and values and who is about what’s best for kids. He said he thinks the board found that in Savel.

“I think in Joe, you know, we have a community member with, obviously, children in the community. He is a teacher in Madison Heights, so he gets it from the public education perspective. He’s a public educator and that’s the business we’re in. So I love that he comes from a place of boots on the ground, so to speak, and understanding what goes into the day to day of being a public educator,” he said. “Joe is a man of high character and a highly ethical individual that we’re excited to have join the team.”

Savel said he’s excited to get to work on the board and for the community, which he feels has been very supportive of the district

“I just hope to bring my unique perspective, my background and just my willingness to listen, but also to provide my input to help Clawson schools go into the future, especially where we’re headed with the new campus and everything else,” he said. “I think it’s an exciting time to be a part of Clawson schools.”