Eight candidates are running for the two available seats on the Northport Board of Education.

Trustee Patty DeYoung is seeking re-election while Victoria Cook, a longtime board member whose term is expiring, is not. Robert Zwemer, who was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board, is also seeking election. Also running are Jeff Dyer, Chris Irvine, Bonnie Shiner, Denise Sica, Bradley Trolenberg and Todd Huck.

We asked each of the eight candidates four questions, with responses limited to 50 words. All of the candidates responded with the exception of Huck. The following are the questions and the responses, some of which were edited for length.

No. 1 What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Northport Board of Education?

DeYoung: Initiate and implement more diverse academic and extracurricular opportunities for our high school students. Organize the school curriculum and learning activities that make the best use of our size. Visit other high achieving small schools. “Dare to be Different.” Improve communication between all school and community constituents.

Dyer: Not only keeping Northport school running, but enhancing the education experience while greatly exceeding all academic expectations imposed by the government. Building the relationship between community and school. Northport School needs community involvement, and Northport needs an outstanding school. Ensuring opportunities are available. Including: academic, cultural, social, physical, etc.

Irvine: 1. Work with local officials to increase year-round, local employment opportunities, and family housing under $150,000. 2. Fully embrace the power of The Northport Promise to rebuild our school. 3. Hire a local superintendent that has made a lifelong commitment to Northport, regardless of whether their name ends in Ph.D.

Shiner: My first priority would be to find ways to positively promote our wonderful school; we have an amazing setting here for personalized learning. Secondly I would try to foster a better means of communication with our community, this is necessary to better inform our community. Lastly I would support our …

Sica: Continue a strong K-12 curriculum at Northport School. The implementation of a complete K-12 music program. Expand student opportunities through greater interaction with our community.

Trolenberg: Explore ways to expand the educational opportunities available to our students. Find ways to offer more extra-curricular programs (art, music, drama, etc.) Keep the school open and running as an integral part of the community.

Zwemer: Enrollment enrollment all other issues trace back to enrollment. In order for NPS to survive as a K-12 school, it is imperative to increase enrollment. Marketing NPS, making the Northport Promise happen and cooperation with Leelanau Children’s Center Northport can increase enrollment and are my priorities.

No. 2 What experiences, credentials and philosophies qualify your to serve on the board?

DeYoung: BA and MA in education and administration. Thirty-seven years as a teacher and administrator. Four years on the Northport Board of Education. My philosophy is that we must put children at the center of all discussions.

Dyer: Having children in the elementary and high school programs at Northport fuels my passion for the school and kids. Twenty-two years as an IS analyst for large companies has not only strengthened my analytical thought process, but has developed my ability to look at problems from many different angles.

Irvine: I have been high on a mountain top, and I have seen great things. I ask that you believe and follow, and I’ll lead you to great places….

Shiner: I’m a local resident who cares deeply about our school. I am a 1979 graduate of Northport High School. Currently I have two high school students attending Northport. My two older children have graduated from here as well. As a parent I have a good perspective of the …

Sica: As a college graduate and mother of two Northport students, I highly value education and have had extensive involvement at NPS. This includes teacher’s aide, tutor, creative dance instructor, 5-year co-director of Northport Boosters, 2-year member of CACKLE committee, and founding member of the Parent/School Partnership group.

Trolenberg: I am the parent of a student at the school and am interested in improving school. I also believe that it is essential to the viability of our community that the school remain open.

Zwemer: I have served on the NPS board of education for the past year, graduated from GVSU with a bachelor’s degree and from WMU with a master’s degree. I have worked for 30 years in information engineering in both the public and private sectors.

No. 3 : Has the recently ended discussion about whether to keep the Northport high school open been a healthy, soul-searching process, or an unnecessary and detrimental distraction for the community?

DeYoung: Whenever there is a major issue regarding schools, I believe it is helpful to engage the community and the school in a discussion of all of the facts and issues. We develop trust through open discussion. The board and the community have learned that we are in this together.

Dyer: Both. It definitely stirred many emotions in the community. This makes people ponder the future and increases involvement in the development of the future state of the school and community. It was also a huge distraction and consumed resources that could have been directed towards other issues and improvements.

Irvine: It has been quite detrimental because the lack of stability increases the likelihood of losing families without a vested interest in Northport. The community is in trouble, not the school. Fix the community and the school will again be strong. Homes and jobs will bring students.

Shiner: Actually I believe the recent discussions on the future of our school have been good for our community. The questions being raised got people’s attention and created a sense of urgency to respond with opinions. I believe the board and residents heard very clearly that the Northport community wishes …

Sica: Countless hours and weeks were wasted on this debate casting a gloomy scenario and bad public image. The Northport School community voiced itself loud and clear once again that it deeply values and is committed to K-12 school.

Trolenberg: I think that open honest discussion is never a bad thing; however, I’m not convinced that there were not some ulterior motives at play in the process.

Zwemer: Yes to both, it was healthy in that it forced a necessary discussion of our declining enrollment, which led directly to the Northport Promise effort and the Northport Summit, it was detrimental in that it produced much vitriol and personal attacks.

No. 4: A recent school board discussion centered on expected financial difficulties facing Northport. What, in your opinion, is the most pressing problem for the school?

DeYoung: We are currently outside of the funding formula set by the state. We generate and spend more money than other districts. We must plan for the time when the
State may no longer allow this. The impact this situation has on our non-homestead and business community is important.

Dyer: We definitely need to be provisioning for financial difficulties. This year, too much energy was exerted on contemplating negative aspects of the future. We need to concentrate on the items we have control over, create a very positive atmosphere, and enrich the positive aspects of a small school.

Irvine: We must stop trading a graduating class of young, talented men and women with a personal attachment to our community for a group of wealthy retired imports. Our kids deserve the opportunity to stay here if they choose, and secure the future of our town and our school.

Shiner: The most pressing issue is collaboration. We do need to work closely with our neighboring school districts to share staff and other cooperative efforts. We must ensure we are still preserving our individual school status which creates the unique environment that makes up Northport.

Sica: Our challenge as a board is to embrace the smallness of our school and use it to our advantage through creative approaches to education.

Trolenberg: I think the most pressing problem facing our school is a shift of priorities, from educating our children to furthering personal political agendas.

Zwemer: Enrollment, need I say more? The problem is and shall continue to be enrollment. NPS has an excellent superintendent, with Ty Wessel and superior faculty. Again, marketing NPS, making the Northport Promise happen and cooperation with Leelanau Children’s Center Northport is the answer.