New board member appointed in Center Line Public Schools

WARREN/CENTER LINE — New Center Line Public Schools Board of Education Trustee Lauren Dickerson Robinson is ready to get started.

At the board’s Nov. 27 meeting, members voted 5-0 to appoint Robinson to the board. Board Trustee Gary Gasowski was absent.

On the morning of Nov. 29, Robinson took oath of office during a brief ceremony at the administration building.

“I’m so excited for the opportunity. I’m truly honored to be appointed in this way,” Robinson said. “I know we’ve got work to do. I’m excited to learn from all the board members as well as bring knowledge to the table.”

The Center Line Public Schools Board of Education needed to fill a vacancy when Henry “Hal” Newnan was elected Nov. 7 to his first term on the Warren City Council in District 5. The Center Line vacancy was posted and three candidates submitted applications, including Robinson, former school board member Darrell Vickers and Kawsar Dewan. Public interviews were held at 6 p.m. Nov. 27, prior to the regular school board meeting, where the board members made their selection.

Robinson is a parent in the district and has two sons: a kindergarten student who attends Peck Elementary and a 6-month-old baby. When she learned of the board vacancy, her husband, William Robinson Jr., encouraged her to apply.

“He thought it would be a great way to get involved,” she said. “My family has a rich history of being in education in different ways.”

That includes a grandmother who was an educator and a great-uncle who served on a school board in Erie, Pennsylvania. Robinson feels she will bring “a fresh set of eyes” to school issues and also appreciates the tenure of the current school board.

“I know many have been on the board a long time, which is awesome. It is great to have consistency and experience,” she said. “The main thing is looking at different policies and procedures, figuring out what needs to be updated and amended. I’ll be looking at the budget and the best way to allocate funds for the district. We need to continue to make sure the buildings are safe and kept up.”

Some of Robinson’s experiences include her past employment with an education company in which she worked with different school districts in the county and even Canada on technology projects.

“It was a fun perspective seeing how different districts operate curriculum development and technology integration. I’ll bring that perspective on how we can use technology in the district,” she said.

One topic Robinson feels strongly about is ensuring students know there are many opportunities available to them.

“One major concern in general is what’s next for the kids after they graduate from high school,” Robinson said. “Once they enter the world of work, what does it look like? There are so many options they can explore on their own.”

That could include studying at a four-year university, attending a technical school, applying to a trade school or starting their own business.   

Robinson would also like to see “a diverse pool of teachers with different perspectives” to help better prepare students when they go into the working world.

“People grow up with different family structures,” she said. “They’re all human. They’re all important. They matter.”

Robinson’s term is through Dec. 31, 2024. The position will be replaced by the individual elected to the position based on the November 2024 election results on Jan. 1, 2025. At last week’s school board meeting, Robinson said she would run for the seat in the election.

 

Warren Woods Public Schools
The Warren Woods Public Schools Board of Education is seeking to fill a vacancy after current School Board President Jere Green announced his resignation Oct. 10. Green, who has served on the board 29 years, is moving out of the district.

At the Nov. 20 school board meeting, the board interviewed the following five candidates: Jennifer Nitz, Jason Chamberlain, Marie Daleo, Michael Rose and Douglas Rivers.

The school board is expected to appoint the new board member at the Dec. 11 meeting. The new member will serve his or her first meeting Jan. 22, 2024, and will serve until Dec. 31, 2024.