Voters choose new Board of Education members

GROSSE POINTES/HARPER WOODS — When it comes to the Grosse Pointe Board of Education, voters apparently want to see change.

In a hotly contested election, voters selected incumbent Board member Colleen Worden, of Grosse Pointe Woods — the highest vote-getter in the race — along with Tim Klepp, of Grosse Pointe Park; Laura Hull, of Grosse Pointe City; and Clint Derringer, of Grosse Pointe City. The four candidates, who ran as a slate, defeated a separate slate that consisted of Board member Terry Collins, of Grosse Pointe Park; Kate Elizabeth Hopper, of Grosse Pointe Farms; Melissa Fradenburg, of Grosse Pointe Farms; and Heath Marshall Roberts, of Grosse Pointe Park, candidates who had the support of Board President Sean Cotton and the board majority.

Diana Gellci of Grosse Pointe City, who didn’t align herself with either slate, received the smallest number of votes among the candidates.

Incumbent board members Lisa Papas and Ahmed Ismail didn’t seek reelection. Collins is a finance analyst supervisor who was appointed to fill a board vacancy in 2023 and was running this fall for a full term.

The new board members have varied professional backgrounds. Derringer is a program manager, Hull is a high school math and chemistry teacher, Klepp is a partner with IBM Consulting and Worden is an assistant prosecutor for Macomb County.

Worden expressed gratitude to the voters for electing her and her fellow slate members.

“It was a grassroots, people-powered campaign,” Worden said. “I’m glad people who really care about public education will be leading the district.”

Derringer echoed that sentiment, noting that the four candidates benefited from a strong base of community support.

“No. 1, it’s clear engagement and communication is still just as powerful, or more powerful, than raw dollar amounts (in campaigns),” Derringer said.

Klepp thanked the community.

“I’m obviously very happy and gratified by the support from the community,” Klepp said. “I think I found three great running mates. We very obviously and plainly ran as a team.”

While the slate members don’t agree on everything, Klepp said they see “eye to eye on most issues.”

Klepp said their slate ran on a platform of four goals: putting students first, supporting teachers, being transparent and being fiscally responsible.

“We are aligned on those four core values,” Klepp said. “We need to start tackling the core issues of the district.”

Derringer said they want to bring unity to the fractured district.

“We have a lot of work to do to try to protect everybody’s ability to stay engaged in the school district — even the huge chunk of the district that didn’t vote for us,” Derringer said. “We want to make a significant effort to engage everyone. … I think it’s important that this is not just a flip of political (sides).”

While district residents may differ on some matters, Derringer believes there are also many points on which they agree.

“We need to start with common ground and support for our kids and administrators, and find ways to solve problems together,” Derringer said.

Supporters for both slates could be found at polling locations across the district.

Campaigning on behalf of Derringer, Hull, Worden and Klepp at Windmill Pointe Park in the Park was Park resident Susan Sutorka.

“I am very passionate about supporting who the teachers support, so that endorsement (from the teachers union) meant a lot,” Sutorka said.

She also expressed concerns about some special needs positions remaining unfilled in the district. District officials have said this is a widespread problem in most school districts due to a lack of qualified professionals to fill some of these positions, but that they have been working hard to address it.

Educators like Katy Forcillo, of Grosse Pointe City, were among the supporters of the winning slate. Forcillo was campaigning for them outside Maire Elementary in Grosse Pointe City, where she once taught.

“I’m a retired teacher,” Forcillo said. “As a teacher, these four folks — all the things they talk about are what’s important for students. It’s all about supporting teachers and students. They understand education.” 

Brian Vosburg, of Grosse Pointe Park, a father of three — one of whom is still a Grosse Pointe Public School System student — was likewise campaigning for Derringer, Hull, Klepp and Worden at Maire.

“Board member Worden has proven to me she deserves to be reelected,” Vosburg said. “As a parent, I believe they’re the best candidates for our kids. I want to make sure our school district continues to be student focused.”

Campaigning at The War Memorial in the Farms for Derringer, Hull, Klepp and Worden, Nancy Kammer-Wildern, of Grosse Pointe Park, said this slate cares “about the kids” and doesn’t believe the district needs to retain separate legal counsel for the board.

“It was upsetting for me to see all of those people at North quit their jobs,” Kammer-Wildern said of the departure of North’s four top administrators just before the new school year started this fall.

Maria Simon, of the Farms, who was also campaigning at The War Memorial, said her adult children went through Grosse Pointe schools and she now has grandchildren in the district. 

“I think it’s important that we feel comfortable and welcome in our district,” Simon said.

There were also a number of people campaigning on behalf of Collins, Hopper, Fradenburg and Roberts.

“They have the best skill set to lead the Grosse Pointe school system into the future,” said Matt Agnone, of the Farms, who was campaigning for them outside of The War Memorial in the Farms.

Eric Turin, of Grosse Pointe Farms, was campaigning for the Collins, Hopper, Fradenburg and Roberts slate at Windmill Pointe Park.

“I think the entire slate is strong,” Turin said, praising Roberts as “outstanding.”

Roberts — who said he and his wife were drawn to the Pointes by their walkability, good schools and proximity to downtown Detroit when they moved to Michigan five years ago — is a pediatric medical administrator and father with three children in the district. Roberts was campaigning with Turin in the Park.

“With his background, he’s consummately qualified to lead us forward,” Turin said of Roberts.

Besides selecting school board members, voters also showed strong support for a GPPSS sinking fund millage, which passed with 65.54% of the vote. The new 10-year, 3-mill sinking fund levy will replace the current five year, 1-mill levy, which expires in December 2024. Sinking funds can only be used for certain types of expenditures, such as facility needs like roofs, boilers and parking lots. Starting next year, sinking funds will also be allowed to cover costs for transportation and technology.

“I am thrilled that the sinking fund millage passed,” Worden said via text message. “GPPSS has 252 million dollars in critical infrastructure needs, and our community showed its commitment to maintaining and updating our beautiful buildings and walkable district.”

A 2022 capital assessment report found that the district needs more than $252 million worth of improvements. The 3-mill levy is expected to generate $11.1 million in its first year.

“We are excited to lead and ready to go to work for our kids,” Worden said by text message. “The amazing support of our community shows that when people come together to put kids first, we all win.”

The new board members, all elected to four-year terms, will take office in January.