Berkley school board seeks applicants for open seat

BERKLEY — The Berkley School District’s Board of Education soon will have an opening on its board.

Board member Ron Justice will be exiting his term early next month, leaving a vacancy on the board that will need to be filled.

Justice, whose term expires at the end of the year, already wasn’t planning on running for reelection, but now he will be leaving his seat earlier than expected, as he’s moving with his family to Commerce Township.

Justice has served on the board since his first election win in 2011 and said a big part of what comes with the job is putting a focus on making the kids in the district the priority.

“All of your decisions are what’s best for the kids and the staff. So you spend all your time looking for ways to improve the district, looking for ways to support the administration,” he said. “It’s a nice, solid time commitment and you really want to focus on learning, because there’s a lot of things to learn about how the district runs.”

Justice’s last day will be on Sept. 4, a day after his last board meeting. From now until Sept. 5, the board is accepting applications from people who wish to serve out the rest of his term, which will end Dec. 31. The board plans to appoint a new member at a meeting on Sept. 26.

For more information and to learn more about how to apply, visit berkleyschools.org/board-of-education. Applicants must be residents of the Berkley School District to apply.

Superintendent Scott Francis said a board member’s primary responsibilities are establishing board policy, overseeing the budget and hiring the superintendent.

“At a base level, those are their three primary responsibilities, but they’re a strong team who’s committed to students and staff and this community,” he said. “They are well informed of all the things that are happening in the district, all the good things that are happening in the district, and at the monthly meetings, make those decisions to support financial recommendations and other important recommendations from administration.”

Francis said Justice was an exemplary board member because he made decisions based on what’s best for the students, staff and the community.

“If you were to ask me, you know, what do I think the board is hoping for the next board member, what traits will be important to them, I would say … a board member similar to Mr. Justice’s heart and passion for the kids, the staff and the school district community.” he said.

When it comes to being on the board, Justice said a member has to put ego aside and do what’s best for the district.

“This is definitely not an ego trip kind of position,” he said. “You’re a team of seven people that have to understand each other’s personalities and work well together.”