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Grant Public School District, Michigan, elections (2024)
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Incumbents Jason McKinley and Richard Vance defeated Lindsay Mahlich for a two-year term on the Grant Public Schools District school board on November 5, 2024. Incumbents Rachal Gort and Ken Thorne defeated Jim Renney for a six-year term on the board. Rick Fish ran unopposed for a seat with a four-year term.[1]
Grant Public School District is a school district in Michigan (Newaygo and Muskegon counties). During the 2023 school year, 1,638 students attended one of the district's five schools.
The elections happened after an effort to recall two board members took place. Local news outlet Near North Now wrote the recall "significantly divided the county’s gateway city with scathing social media postings, heated school board meetings and deep-seated resentments coming to the surface throughout the district."[2]
In 2023, the board voted to end its contract with the health agency running a health center in the district's middle school with no publicly stated reason.[3] According to the Detroit Free Press' Arpan Lobo, "The lack of transparency around the vote led some in the community to speculate it centered on a mural painted at the health center which included a drawing of a character wearing a transgender pride flag, after a group of parents had raised objections about the mural the year before...while the district later agreed to remain contracted with the agency and keep the health center, the new agreement stipulated the mural must be removed."[3] The recall effort targeted two members, Rachal Gort and Richard Vance, both of whom were retained.
The November elections were for three at-large districts on the board. Voters could have voted for no more than two candidates in an election.
The Concerned Parents Coalition of Michigan endorsed both Gort and Thorne.[4] The group's website said they were "dedicated to empowering parents to influence their children's education, ensuring that it aligns with family values and protects children from harmful influences."[5] The group's website said Gort's "vision for the district is anchored in conservative values and an unwavering commitment to educational excellence. She advocates for an environment free from external influences, prioritizing fundamental skills and ensuring school safety."[6] Thorne was president of the board and deputy treasurer of the Newaygo GOP. The party's website said Ken "considers himself a Constitutionalist and a strong proponent of small government."[7] Thorne and Gort voted to revoke funding for the health center.[8]
Renney was an IT manager for a local health center. Renney said he ran because "I believe that the current board does not have the students’ best interest at heart, and want to help lead the district in preserving and restoring the district back in a positive and collaborative direction."[9]
Vance was a former teacher and business owner.[10] He said that he wanted to "continue to promote Tradition in Curriculum Standards and Community Values, Truth in Student needs and Parental Rights, and Trustworthiness in Financial Matters and Administrative Functions." [11] Vance voted to revoke funding from the health center.[8] Mahlich worked in technology for over 20 years.[12] She said she was running because "I believe a strong public school system helps build a stronger economy and community. I want to be part of the solution that makes our school system a great place for families and staff to excel."[9] She ran against Vance in the recall election. Incumbent McKinley ran for re-election. The Concerned Parents Coalition of Michigan also endorsed both Vance and McKinley, as well as Fish.[4]
Tens of thousands of elections took place in 2024 up and down the ballot, including for school board. Hall Pass, our weekly education newsletter, is your one-stop shop for helping you stay current on school board elections, education legislation, and the debates influencing state and local K-12 policies. Click here to subscribe today to get our next edition in your inbox on Wednesday.
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Michigan
Elections
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Candidates and results
Per our coverage scope, Ballotpedia does not provide election results for this particular race. Check your city or county government's election website for vote totals.
General election
Special general election for Grant Public School District, At-large (2 seats)
Incumbent Richard Vance, Lindsay Mahlich, and Jason McKinley ran in the special general election for Grant Public School District, At-large on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| Richard Vance (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Lindsay Mahlich (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Jason McKinley (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
General election
General election for Grant Public School District, At-large (2 seats)
Incumbent Rachal Gort, Jim Renney, and Ken Thorne ran in the general election for Grant Public School District, At-large on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| Rachal Gort (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Jim Renney (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Ken Thorne (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
General election
Special general election for Grant Public School District, At-large
Rick Fish ran in the special general election for Grant Public School District, At-large on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| Rick Fish (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
What was at stake?
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About the district
- See also: Grant Public School District, Michigan
Grant Public School District is located in Newaygo County, Michigan. The district served 1,638 students during the 2022-2023 school year.[13]
District map
Overlapping state house districts
The table was limited to the lower chamber because it provides the most granularity. State house districts tend to be more numerous and therefore smaller than state senate or U.S. House districts. This provides an impression of the partisan affiliations in the area.
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[14]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $2,408,000 | $1,419 | 12% |
| Local: | $2,724,000 | $1,605 | 13% |
| State: | $15,794,000 | $9,307 | 76% |
| Total: | $20,926,000 | $12,331 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $19,348,000 | $11,401 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $18,654,000 | $10,992 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $12,193,000 | $7,185 | 63% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $938,000 | $552 | 5% |
| Administration: | $2,623,000 | $1,545 | 14% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $2,900,000 | $1,708 | 15% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $165,000 | $97 | |
| Construction: | $28,000 | $16 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $281,000 | $165 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $216,000 | $127 |
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | 1,638 | -0.3 |
| 2021-2022 | 1,643 | -3.3 |
| 2020-2021 | 1,697 | -5.4 |
| 2019-2020 | 1,788 | -0.6 |
| 2018-2019 | 1,799 | -2.6 |
| 2017-2018 | 1,846 | 0.8 |
| 2016-2017 | 1,832 | -1.0 |
| 2015-2016 | 1,851 | -3.2 |
| 2014-2015 | 1,910 | -3.2 |
| 2013-2014 | 1,971 | 1.9 |
| 2012-2013 | 1,934 | -6.3 |
| 2011-2012 | 2,056 | -4.5 |
| 2010-2011 | 2,148 | -7.1 |
| 2009-2010 | 2,300 | -1.8 |
| 2008-2009 | 2,342 | -3.9 |
| 2007-2008 | 2,433 | 1.0 |
| 2006-2007 | 2,408 | -4.4 |
| 2005-2006 | 2,514 | -0.1 |
| 2004-2005 | 2,517 | 0.6 |
| 2003-2004 | 2,502 | 3.4 |
| 2002-2003 | 2,418 | 5.1 |
| 2001-2002 | 2,294 | -6.1 |
| 2000-2001 | 2,435 | 1.1 |
| 1999-2000 | 2,409 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Grant Public School District (%) | Michigan K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.2 | 3.6 |
| Black | 0.6 | 18.1 |
| Hispanic | 21.7 | 8.9 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Two or More Races | 2.8 | 5.1 |
| White | 73.9 | 63.6 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2022-2023 school year, Grant Public School District had 93.13 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 17.59.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 2.00 |
| Kindergarten: | 5.00 |
| Elementary: | 34.00 |
| Secondary: | 41.00 |
| Total: | 93.13 |
Grant Public School District employed 5.20 district administrators and 4.90 school administrators as of the 2022-2023 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 5.20 |
| District Administrative Support: | 1.50 |
| School Administrators: | 4.90 |
| School Administrative Support: | 8.35 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 18.04 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 0.00 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 3.00 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 1.00 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 2.00 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 0.00 |
| Library/Media Support: | 3.53 |
| Student Support Services: | 14.92 |
| Other Support Services: | 31.85 |
Schools
2024 battleground elections
- See also: Battlegrounds
This was a battleground election. Other 2024 battleground elections included:
- Illinois' 4th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Democratic primary)
- Missouri State Senate elections, 2024 (August 6 Republican primaries)
- Texas' 23rd Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Republican primary)
See also
| Grant Public School District | Michigan | School Boards |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Muskegon County, Michigan, "General Election, Tuesday, November 5, 2024," accessed November 7, 2024 (page 46)
- ↑ Near North Now, "County Election Results," May 9, 2024
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Detroit Free Press, "In Newaygo County, residents are as engaged on local issues as they are national," May 10, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 'Facebook, "CPC of Michigan post," October 13, 2024
- ↑ Concerned Parents Coalition for Michigan, "About CPC of Michigan," accessed October 31, 2024
- ↑ Concerned Parents Coalition for Michigan, "About Rachal, accessed October 31, 2024
- ↑ Newaygo GOP, "Ken Thorne, Deputy Treasurer," accessed October 31, 2024
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Near North Now, "Grant School Board Moves To Oust Health Center," June 20, 2023
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Near North Now, "Grant School Board Candidates Answer a Few Questions," October 23, 2024
- ↑ Concerned Parents Coalition for Michigan, "About Richard," accessed October 31, 2024
- ↑ Near North Now, "A Quick Quiz For GPS Board Candidates," April 20, 2024
- ↑ Lindsay Mahlich 2024 campaign website, "About me," accessed October 31, 2024
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Local Education Agency (School District) Universe Survey Data," accessed June 26, 2024
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed June 17, 2024
