The purpose of serving on a school board is to govern with an unbiased perspective, keeping decisions focused with the best interest of students & the school system. It involves following established policy, respecting leadership and professional input from the superintendent, seeking legal advisement and making objective decisions without risking financial burden to the district.

During my 20 year tenure as a board member on both the APS Board of Education and the AMA Intermediate School District, I was honored by the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) with an Award of Distinction for the completion of more than 208 educational credits. I strongly encourage each board member to continuously learn, stay informed on policy and topics that benefit the school system without prejudice.

Other valuable assets of board membership include consistent attendance to board meetings, respect for the established system, personal integrity to place the overall good above personal interests and to govern with non-partisan leadership, leaving personal and individual ideologies at the door is imperative.

In the past year, I’ve been appalled at the decision making by the APS board; i.e. the refusal of a funded rain garden project; the acceptance to retain legal counsel whose position contradicts standard educational policy; the violation of board policy when accepting a higher bid proposal for asphalt; and seeking to impose a bathroom policy at the high school against legal advisement causing potential risk for a law suit by ACLU.

For the above reasons, I support the effort to recall the 3 board members whose decisions have not been made with the best interest of the school system.

I, therefore, encourage the community to pay close attention to these actions of some board members who seek to put the APS school district in jeopardy.

Richard A. Matteson

Alpena County