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New Look For Ypsilanti Community Schools Board Of Education

ycschools.us

The Ypsilanti Community Schools Board of Education will have a much different look following Tuesday's election, and there are a couple of reasons for that.

For one, the board will be comprised exclusively of women.  The five men serving on the original board were not elected. 

And only two incumbents will be returning - Maria Sheler-Edwards and Dr. Celeste Hawkins. 

Washtenaw Intermediate School District Superintendent Scott Menzel says having so many new trustees will pose challenges, but will also offer opportunities for moving the district forward. 

Menzel says the new trustees should spend some time getting to know the work of the original board.

"It's one thing when you sit outside of a board table and you have judgments or observe things that are happening without maybe all of the information," Menzel says.  "So I would encourage any new board member to take the opportunity to really understand the decisions that have been made over the last two years, and why they were made."

Menzel says Maria Sheler-Edwards and Celeste Hawkins have that history and context. 

He says it's good that along with two incumbents, voters elected two others with school board experience. 

Menzel says Sharon Irvine's experience as former Human Resources Director for Ypsilanti schools will be valuable, as will Meredith Schindler's background as Executive Director of the Ann Arbor Academy.