Hawley is facing challenge from Fosmore, Hazelton.

Left to right: Ken Fosmore, Joan Hawley, and Ross Hazelton

Three candidates are seeking the only 4-year term available on the Glen Lake Board of Education.

Board president Joan Hawley is being challenged by a longtime district resident and retired businessman, as well as a 1985 Glen Lake graduate.

Hawley has lived in Glen Arbor since 1990 and has served on the Glen Lake school board for 12 years. She received a bachelor of arts degree from Western Michigan University with a secondary teaching certificate in English and Speech. She and her husband Bob operated their own business in Grand Rapids for 17 years. They have three children in the area and 10 grandchildren, three of whom attend Glen Lake School.

Also seeking election is Ken Fosmore of Maple City. A 39-year resident of the district, Fosmore retired from Century Telephone after 33 years of service in 2000. He owned the Sportsman Shop in Glen Arbor from 1985 through 1997, and in 2000 started I-Kon construction, which he sold in 2004. Now retired, he and his wife, RuthAnn, a secretary at the school, had two sons graduate from Glen Lake and have two grandchildren attending the school.

Ross Hazelton graduated from Glen Lake 23 years ago and went on to earn a degree from Albion College in 1989. He is employed in sales at Grand Traverse Container. Hazelton and his wife, Roni have lived in the Glen Arbor area for 10 years and have two children, Sydney, 7, a first grader at Glen Lake School, and Elliot, 4, who will attend Glen Lake in 2009.

The following are questions asked of the candidates, and their responses:

Question No. 1: Let’s say you have a crystal ball that is capable of showing your school district’s budget at the end of four years. What does that budget show and what steps did you lead the district through to get there?

Fosmore: It is always hard to predict a future budget. My goal would be to make sure we had fiscal discipline in all spending. I would also like to get community support for special projects that would benefit our kids and our community. My priority would be to use tax dollars in the most effective manner to ensure that each student’s education provides him or her the necessary skill set to be successful.

Hawley: Predicting future school budgets is difficult in light of state controls. G-L, having received a federal impact aid grant, will restore important items cut in previous years, such textbooks, technology and related curriculum pieces. The board will take steps to maintain a healthy budget that will show .65 of every dollar going directly into the classroom: an 80/20 percentage split between salaries/operations, and a minimum 15 percent fund balance. This will be accomplished through conservative board decision-making…

Hazelton: The ability to manage a balanced budget is an important job of the school board. Taking steps in current good budgetary years to ward off potential shortfalls in bad years is the key to future balanced school budgets. Careful, equitable spending to ensure our students have an enriched learning environment will be the challenge.

Question No 2: More than 30 percent of all students at Glen Lake do not reside in the district, opting to exercise a “school of choice” option. Is having so many students commuting to Glen Lake a healthy situation for the future of the district?

Fosmore: 30 percent of Glen Lake students do not reside in the district, which tells me that our district is interesting and attractive to students. School of choice has been a bonus for our school in the classroom and on the athletic fields. The dilemma is keeping classroom excellence without overcrowding.

Hawley: With our in-district enrollment declining, schools of choice students provide numbers needed to offer program variety and depth. To manage school enrollment, the board has established a “school of choice” policy to maintain a healthy balance of students without straining our financial resources.

Hazelton: A healthy student body must exist to provide ample student participation in all offered classes and extra curricular activities. The optimal size should accomplish this and not over burden faculty, infrastructure, and finances. In our current situation it should be monitored and evaluated every semester to determine that optimal number.

Question No. 3: As recently as two years ago Glen Lake and Suttons Bay shared the same superintendent, although the outcome of that arrangement has not been lauded. Are you reluctant to enter into future collaboration agreements with neighboring school districts, or would you embrace more collaboration?

Fosmore: As a board member, I would ask what is in the best interest of our community and I would welcome input. Allowing additional courses through teleconferencing seems to be a good way to collaborate. In the case of a superintendent, I believe leadership needs to be on-site.

Hawley: Presently, Glen Lake is successfully collaborating with our neighboring county school districts in many areas, such as co-op sports, course exchange through Polycom technology, shared professional days, busing and bus maintenance. With the declining school-age population in our area, continued and expanded collaboration will provide efficiencies and additional options for our district’s students.

Hazelton: Collaboration of teaching innovations, technology, funding assistance, and best practices should be a continuous goal of our administration and faculty with other school districts. This could be achieved through a multi-school committee. Administratively, the district should remain a stand alone entity.