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AMA ESD board celebrates School Board Recognition Month

ALPENA — January is School Board Recognition Month and the Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District is joining the 541 local and 56 intermediate school districts across the state to thank the volunteers for their dedication to public education.

Superintendent Scott Reynolds said that serving on a school board has been described as the “toughest volunteer job in America” and Michigan’s public school board members dedicate countless personal hours to meetings, school functions, and hours of preparation for the decisions they make.

The AMA ESD board develops policies and make tough decisions that help shape the future of the education system. The board also has a total of 52 years of service, Norm Sommerfeld with 13 years, Naomi Deo with 11 years, Richard Matteson with 10 years, Donna Baranyai with 7 years, Kevin Brown with 4 years, Gailen Thornton with 4 years, and Michael Mahler with 3 years.

“That doesn’t take into consideration any experience they have on other local school districts,” Reynolds said. “It’s quite impressive.”

Reynolds said it’s important that there is a governing board that assures there are policies and practices that are good for kids and work toward achievable outcomes.

“Where would we be without public service?” Reynolds said. “As members of the AMA ESD board and across the country, there are stipends in most cases and I can say for our board for attendance at meetings, so it’s a minimal amount and a disportionate amount of time and commitment that they spend on issues important to our community.”

Reynolds said the AMA ESD is very fortunate to have a board that comes to the table focused on the kids and be able to come together, work toward a common goal, and hold themselves to a high standard.

“It was just a few months ago that our board worked on adopting their own governance standards,” he said. “That was the rules and expectations that we have of ourselves so that we’re setting by example, that we’re not going to give anything less than 100 percent, and what can we do to support the organization.”

The AMA ESD board oversees an annual budget of $12.9 million, 5,267 students, and 96 employees.

“The AMA ESD couldn’t be in better hands with our Board of Education and we’re just very fortunate,” Reynolds said. “As a superintendent, I have considered that a great advantage to come in to be able to work with a board that is so cohesive and focused on children. We can’t thank them enough.”

Julie Goldberg can be reached via email at jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688.

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