Huron Valley Schools elections (2014)

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2014 Huron Valley Schools Elections
General Election date:
November 4, 2014
Table of Contents
About the district Method of election Elections What was at stake? Key deadlines Additional elections External links
See also
Michigan Huron Valley Schools Oakland County, Michigan ballot measures Local ballot measures, Michigan

Three seats on the Huron Valley Schools Board of Education were up for general election on November 4, 2014.

Incumbents Sean Carlson, Lindsay Cotter, and Rebecca Walsh defeated challenger Denise E. Pistana for the seats.

About the district

See also: Huron Valley Schools, Michigan

Huron Valley Schools is located in Oakland County, Michigan.

Huron Valley Schools is located in Oakland County, Michigan. The county seat is Pontiac. Oakland County had a population of 1,231,640 residents, according to the United States Census Bureau in 2014. In the 2011-2012 school year, Huron Valley Schools was the 21st-largest school district in Michigan and served 9,969 students.

Demographics

In 2012, Oakland County had a higher percentage of residents with a bachelor's degree compared to the state overall. The United States Census Bureau reported that 42.7 percent of residents aged 25 and older in Oakland County had earned a bachelor's degree, compared with 25.5 percent for Michigan. The county’s median household income was $65,637, above the state median of $48,471. The poverty rate in Oakland County was 9.9 percent, below the state rate of 16.3 percent.

Racial Demographics, 2013
Race	Oakland County (%)	Michigan (%)
White	76.9	80.1
Black or African American	14.4	14.3
American Indian and Alaska Native	0.3	0.7
Asian	6.3	2.7
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0.0	0.0
Two or more races	2.1	2.2
Hispanic or Latino	3.7	4.7

Presidential Voting Pattern, Oakland County
Year	Democratic Vote	Republican Vote
2012	349,002	296,514
2008	372,566	276,956
2004	319,387	316,633
2000	281,201	274,319

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.

Voter and candidate information

As of the 2014 election, the Huron Valley Board of Education consisted of seven members elected at-large to four-year terms. There was no primary election, and the general election was held on November 4, 2014. Three seats were up for election in 2014.

School board candidates had to file with their county elections department during the candidate filing period, which ended on July 22, 2014. The deadline to withdraw was on July 25, 2014. Write-in candidates had to file by October 24, 2014. To vote in the 2014 general election, voters had to register by October 6, 2014.

Elections

2014

Candidates

At-large

• Sean Carlson
  • Incumbent

• Lindsay Cotter
  • Incumbent

• Rebecca Walsh
  • Incumbent

• Denise E. Pistana

Election results

Huron Valley Schools, At-Large General Election, 4-year term, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Lindsay Cotter Incumbent	27.3%	8,994
	Nonpartisan	Sean Carlson Incumbent	26.1%	8,585
	Nonpartisan	Rebecca Walsh Incumbent	24.9%	8,207
	Nonpartisan	Denise E. Pistana	21.3%	6,997
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0.4%	122
Total Votes				32,905
Source: Oakland County Elections Division, "November 4, 2014 General Election," accessed December 29, 2014

Endorsements

Incumbents Sean Carlson, Lindsay Cotter and Rebecca Walsh each received an endorsement from Hometownlife.

Campaign finance

Candidates reported no contributions or expenditures during the election, according to the Oakland County Elections Division.

In Michigan, candidates are prohibited from receiving contributions from corporations or labor organizations. Within 10 days of becoming a candidate, candidates must form a candidate committee. Following the creation of the committee, candidates have an additional 10 days to register the committee with the school district by filing a statement of organization. A candidate committee that does not expect to receive or spend more than $1,000 during the election cycle is eligible to receive a reporting waiver, which allows that committee not to file pre-election, post-election and annual campaign statements without legal penalty.

Candidate	Contributions	Expenditures	Cash on hand
Sean Carlson	$0.00	$0.00	$3,120.00
Lindsay Cotter	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Rebecca Walsh	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Denise E. Pistana	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

Past elections

Information about earlier elections can be found by clicking [show] at the right.

2012 Huron Valley Schools, At-Large General Election, 4-year term, 2012 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Lisa L. Blackwell Incumbent 35.9% 11,480      Nonpartisan Beth Lewis 23.8% 7,612      Nonpartisan Eric Wallis 20.2% 6,481      Nonpartisan Jerry Aubry 19.6% 6,284      Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0.5% 151 Total Votes 32,008 Source: Oakland County Elections Division, "November 6, 2012 General Election," accessed September 1, 2014 2011 Huron Valley Schools, At-Large General Election, 5-year term, 2011 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Bonnie Brown Incumbent 22.6% 1,975      Nonpartisan Jeffrey Long 19.7% 1,722      Nonpartisan Kim E. Galbraith 15% 1,312      Nonpartisan Joe Ghislain 14.8% 1,288      Nonpartisan Karen Wallis 11.2% 974      Nonpartisan Russ Krawczyk 6.6% 580      Nonpartisan Kevin Lawrence 3.8% 331      Nonpartisan Xuan Avallone 3.2% 283      Nonpartisan Robert A. Artinian 2.8% 241      Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0.2% 20 Total Votes 8,726 Source: Oakland County Elections Division, "November 8, 2011 Election," accessed September 1, 2014 2010 Huron Valley Schools, At-Large General Election, 4-year term, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Lindsay Cotter Incumbent 100% 11,642 Total Votes 11,642 Source: Oakland County Elections Division, "November 2, 2010 General Election," accessed September 1, 2014 2009 Huron Valley Schools, At-Large General Election, 4-year term, 2009 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Sean Carlson Incumbent 33.1% 4,627      Nonpartisan Rebecca Walsh 27.8% 3,890      Nonpartisan Jennifer Peitz 14.2% 1,992      Nonpartisan Thomas Kolakowski 10.1% 1,407      Nonpartisan Ron Boyd 9.4% 1,314      Nonpartisan May Russell 5.4% 760 Total Votes 13,990 Source: Oakland County Elections Division, "November 3, 2009 Election," accessed September 1, 2014

What was at stake?

Issues in the election

Candidate survey answers

The four candidates who ran for school board provided the following answers to a survey conducted by Hometownlife:

“	Why are you seeking this elected position? Sean Carlson: Since being elected in 2008 there has been a transformation in how we conduct business at the board level. There have been changes in the leadership of the district. I am pleased to have played a role in these changes and to have promoted a culture of accountability. If elected I will continue to work hard to ensure that our district is fulfilling our mission of “Inspiring and building futures one student at a time. Lindsay Cotter: I feel strongly about the importance of offering the best public education possible to our children. Serving on the Board of Education allows me the opportunity to be both challenged and rewarded by the issues we face. Huron Valley Schools is one of the lowest funded districts in the state, yet we provide an excellent education to the students we serve. Rebecca Walsh: I want to continue working to make public education better for all students. Denise E. Pistana: I have always had a passion to serve the Huron Valley Schools community and I would like to take that commitment to the next level. I want to continue to be an advocate for the children, the staff and the community. I have the time and energy to commit to this job and the willingness to serve in order to meet the needs of our students and staff. Why are you best qualified for this position? Sean Carlson: The Michigan Association of School Board outlines essential attributes of an Effective School Board Member. 1. Be prepared to participate responsibly. 2. Focus on serving all children. 3. Promote independent thinking. 4. Don’t put off big issues. 5. Represent the community, not a single group. These attributes, along with others, serve as my guiding principles while representing you on the board. I believe fulfilling these attributes have made me an effective and reliable board member. Lindsay Cotter: As an educator all my life, I believe I bring a unique perspective to the Board of Education. I look at issues through an educator’s lens, which guides me to always putting students first. This ability is particularly important when tough decisions need to be made —whether the decision is related to instruction or finances. Rebecca Walsh: I have five years of experience on the Board of Education and have taken the school board certification courses to help me better understand the role of a board member. I have attended National and State Board of Education conferences to learn what the best practices are in public education. I also have three daughters in the district which helps me to stay visible and informed of district happenings. Denise E. Pistana: I am best qualified because I have served on many diverse committees throughout my son’s education at HVS. I have no agenda or special interest that I want to promote. I want equity for all students. I have seen not only the excellent academic education received, but the relationships that are formed by the people who work for HVS and I want to make sure that this continues to be a priority for our district. Do you feel the school district is moving in the right direction? Why or why not? Sean Carlson: Yes. Key school success indicators published by Lansing (HVS Education Dashboard) provide evidence that our district is moving in the right direction. But more importantly, I believe that we have a culture of accountability in the district that is aligned from the school board to the superintendent to the classroom. A culture of trust, collaboration and accountability is what will ensure that we continue to move in the right direction. Lindsay Cotter: I feel we are moving in the right direction because we are examining every functional area/department in the district with a critical eye — always with the goal of trying to improve and provide the greatest return on investment for Huron Valley families. Rebecca Walsh: Yes. Our board has worked very hard to change the way we evaluate the district. Our goals are now more data driven, so we can benchmark our current success to make sure that we continue to improve. We are also working to implement programs to confirm that we are improving, or to find solutions to make sure we make necessary change to improve. Denise E. Pistana: The school district is moving in the right direction. I think we have solid leadership in the administration and our teachers and support staffs are excellent and committed to keeping our district strong. Yes, there are areas that could be improved, but we need to keep focused on our excellent quality. We need to continue to challenge our students and provide opportunities that will take them to the next level. A building site sinking fund request in August was turned down by voters. Did you support this request? What should the school board do to address this issue? Sean Carlson: Yes - I supported the resolution to put the Building Site Sinking Fund request on the ballot based on the information shared by administration that outlined that existing funding sources would not keep pace with the needs of our 22 buildings. The maintenance repairs are still needed, but before we put it back on the ballot for voters, it is important to listen, problem solve and determine next steps with the Huron Valley community. Lindsay Cotter: The BSSF had my full support because I believe it is the most fiscally responsible way to manage our infrastructure needs and maintain our buildings. The fact is, the need still exists. We are now going to seek a great deal of input from the community to determine what voters will support going forward. Rebecca Walsh: Yes, I supported the request. As a board, we are now working with the superintendent to obtain feedback and direction from the community about the next steps the community believes are in the best interest of everyone to maintain our buildings and properties within the budget. Denise E. Pistana: I did support the BSSF. My personal opinion is that it was a poor choice to tie the request to the primary election. Statistically, there is a lower voter turnout. Many of the parents who we rally for help during the school year are not available for the summers. Getting the information out to the community and having parental involvement is crucial. Moving forward, I would like to see some community forums to gather feedback. Is there anything you’d like to see changed in how the school board operates? Sean Carlson: As a board member it is always important to look for ways to ensure that decisions made are transparent. Since coming to the board in 2008, I have worked, with fellow board members, to make decision-making more transparent and open. All committee meetings now follow the Open Meetings Act. School District goals are debated publicly now. The School Board Agenda was modified to have Committee Reports, so that the community can follow the decision-making process. Lindsay Cotter: I believe the current school board is operating effectively. We are transparent with the community and the current committee structure allows our work to be done efficiently while not leaving any board member out of the process. Rebecca Walsh: The board can always work better. As president, I established a committee to draft goals and a Code of Conduct for all board members. Those two documents will be completed this year. Further, I appointed each board member to be a liaison to our local and state governments. We need to continue to work collaboratively with the communities we serve and make sure our voice is heard as governing bodies make decisions. Denise E. Pistana: I would like to see the board do a better job with getting information out to the entire community. When you have children in the school system; we do a good job of communicating what is happening at their schools. But once your student graduates, we are not staying connected with that community. A newsletter online or mailed to computer-free homes would keep our community informed about what is happening in the district. Are there any programs or initiatives you’d like to see added in the district? How would you pay for it? Sean Carlson: I would like to see us engage in an initiative that pushes for more integration of S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in our classrooms. Lindsay Cotter: As a low-funded district, we need to continue to be vigilant in our efforts to provide a solid educational experience for all of our students while remaining in the confines of our budget. I’m proud of the fact that this year we have added 1,600 Chromebooks in the district; allowing our students to leverage appropriate technology in the classroom. Rebecca Walsh: I would like to see a scholarship fund for all athletic and arts programs. The scholarship program would have to be funded through volunteer commitments, but I believe it is important that all students have access to extracurricular activities. I would also like to have a more robust partnership with colleges so more students could earn college credit in high school. Denise E. Pistana: While I know that the HVS food service team works very hard to provide healthy choices and they must work within the constraints that they have, I would like to see some type of farm to school program. Many districts in our nation have school gardens and this can incorporate all areas of curriculum. There are partnerships (federal & state grants) that we can pursue to offset the costs associated with this initiative. Are there any programs or initiatives you’d like to see eliminated? What and why? Sean Carlson: No. However the standard of whether we do an initiative or program has been and has to continue to be: 1) Does the program align with our mission and goals of educating students? 2) Is it in the core business of what we do as a school district? 3) Can we pay for it? Lindsay Cotter: Over the past five years we have eliminated tens of millions of dollars from our budget in order to maintain our financial viability. These reductions have required the board to make a number of tough decisions. I’m in favor of consistently examining our programming, and where it makes sense to eliminate I will support. Rebecca Walsh: I am not aware of any programs or initiatives currently in place that are not benefiting students. Therefore, my answer is no. Denise E. Pistana: If a program is not working, I hope to hear from staff members, parents and even students about why it should be eliminated. Their thoughts and opinions are valuable to knowing what works and what doesn’t. I am representing the community and I value what they have to say. I will work hard to keep the lines of communication open between the school board and the stakeholders. Transparency and communication are key issues for me. What are your views on charter schools? Sean Carlson: Charter schools need to be held to the same educational standards as public schools. Where results have been tracked in Michigan they show mixed results. Charter schools don’t have a secret ingredient to a turnaround. The secret is what we focus on in Huron Valley, and that is making sure that parents, teacher and administrators are engaged in a students learning. When this happens in a safe learning environment then real growth takes place. Lindsay Cotter: I support the ability of parents to have choices in the education of their children, including charter schools. However, I believe charters should be held to the same rules as public schools — including budgeting transparency and state reporting requirements. Rebecca Walsh: Families deserve choices and charter schools provide one choice. However, I believe that charter schools should be evaluated just like public schools – both financially and academically. Families who make a choice between a public and charter school should be able to compare both equally – and the state does not currently regulate charter schools like they do public schools, so there is no way to compare the quality of education equally. Denise E. Pistana: Parents choose charter schools for different reasons. For some, it is that the school was not meeting their specific child’s needs. I want to be a part of the decision making process to see that HVS meets every child’s needs. The HVS staff does an excellent job of educating and making connections with our students. I want to support that and continue to make parents know that the board is listening to our community. Why, specifically, should voters select you when voting instead of any other candidate? Sean Carlson: Committed public servant. Present and prepared for meetings. 99.9 percent attendance. (Missed only three board meetings in six years due to military service overseas.) Promoter of good government. Reformed board policy to ensure all Committee meetings are open to the public. Requested financial data be posted to website so that citizens could review spending. Proven leadership. Takes on tough decisions to balance district budget. Accessible and available to citizens. Lindsay Cotter: I have a proven track record as a school board member — specifically in the role of treasurer. The treasurer’s position has allowed me a tremendous opportunity to learn about school finance and the challenges associated with budgeting for a school district. Financial issues will continue to be important as the district facing diminished enrollment due to declining birth rates. Rebecca Walsh: I have five years of experience on the board and am currently the president. I have educated myself about the financial and curriculum needs of our students. This experience, in tough financial times, has helped our district remain fiscally solid. Since the fiscal future looks much the same, the district needs strong leaders who will continue to expect improvements in education given the fiscal challenges we face. Denise E. Pistana: I think that I can bring a new voice to the board. I feel that my many years of volunteering have given me perspective on what happens in our schools. I care passionately about our schools. I have no agenda except to work for all students and stakeholders. I’m not running because I have a grudge or to benefit my child. I have always fought for every student and I will continue to do so. Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers? What? Sean Carlson: I want to thank the voters for their vote five years ago to represent them on the school board. I have worked hard to represent their voices on every school board matter. I have brought independent thinking and have encouraged divergent opinions in an effort to make an informed decision on every vote. I respectfully request your vote on Nov. 4 so that I can continue to serve you on the Huron Valley school board. Lindsay Cotter: I believe we have a strongly supportive community that consistently looks to do what is best for our kids. It is a significant responsibility to take on a school board position. I take this responsibility very seriously. Huron Valley has been my home. Home is where my heart is. Rebecca Walsh: I would like to encourage all readers to exercise your right to vote. Please make your voice count on election day. Denise E. Pistana: I know that we need to continue to give our students opportunities for growth and enrichment in and out of the classroom. This will shape them as individuals. I want to keep local control of our schools and it is critically important that we support staff and students as we prepare them for the future. The school board works for you and I hope people will feel comfortable talking to their elected members. Thank you.	”
—Hometownlife survey (2014)

Key deadlines

The following dates were key deadlines for the Huron Valley Schools election in 2014:

Deadline	Event
July 22, 2014	Last day for candidates to file nomination documents
July 25, 2014	Last day for candidates to withdraw
October 6, 2014	Last day to register to vote in the general election
October 24, 2014	Last day for write-in candidates to file nomination documents
November 4, 2014	General election day

Additional elections on the ballot

This election shared the ballot with general elections for a U.S. House seat, U.S. Senate seat, Michigan state executive offices, Michigan House of Representatives seats, and Michigan State Senate seats. It also shared the ballot with county, municipal, and judicial elections.

See also

• Michigan
• Huron Valley Schools, Michigan
• Michigan school board elections, 2014
• List of school board elections in 2014
• School board elections, 2014
• Oakland County, Michigan ballot measures
• Local ballot measures, Michigan

External links

Suggest a link

• Huron Valley Schools
• Oakland County Elections Division