Letter: 'Leadership Counts,' Writes Ferndale School Board Incumbent

Ferndale Patch welcomes letters to the editor.

The following was submitted by Keith Warnick, current Ferndale Board of Education president, who is seeking re-election.

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Why are Collins, Warnick, Pfleger and Parks the right choices?  Because leadership counts!

There has been much rhetoric, hearsay and innuendo during the last several months about what is best for Ferndale Public Schools.  Which candidates are the right candidates to lead the school board for the future?  The right candidates are Collins, Warnick, Pfleger (incumbents) and Parks.  Why?  Each one of them has held district leadership positions in organizations that have been directly involved with the lives of our Ferndale students on a daily basis.  The opponents can’t say that. 

Many citizens will say that experience doesn’t matter.  But it certainly matters when it comes to education issues.  Serious, complicated reforms are being proposed and those with the knowledge of these reforms can make the right decisions.  Do you want experienced, informed board members, or those that have little to no knowledge of the simplest legislation mandated to schools such as election cycles?

Let’s look at the experience:

Bradford Parks: 25 year resident; Elementary PTA President; PTA Council President; Ferndale Education Foundation President; Board Operations committee member (3) years; Bond oversight committee chair; Superintendent’s Advisory Council chair (2) years; dedicated and informed parent; two children currently in FPS.

Jim Pfleger: 17 year resident; spouse of FHS graduate; 2-1/2 year Board member (current Board treasurer): Board Finance committee member (6) years, current Chair; current Program/Technology committee member/chair; Fine Arts Booster member, leader and volunteer (6) years; Theater construction team leader and member (11) years; two daughters graduated from FHS.

Katrina Collins: 28 year resident; married to Ferndale graduate; Athletic Booster member from inception; helps cook pre-game meals for JV and Varsity football teams weekly;  wrestling team supporter; 17 year PTA member and leader; 5-1/2 year Board member; current Board Secretary, served on or chaired all Board committees; (2) FHS graduates and one current FPS student.

Keith Warnick: 27 year resident; 25 year PTA member; Jackson Elementary PTA president; PTA Council Secretary, 2nd V/P, 1st V/P, President; BOG/FEF Golf Outing committee member & door prize chair (10) years; Michigan PTA Field Service Rep; Michigan PTA Region D V/P; Elected Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) Board of Director twice; National School Board Association (NSBA) FRN lobbying representative; Oakland County School Board Association Legislative Committee representative; facilitated University High School ASBJ Magna Award receipt; (8-1/2) year Board member; current Board President; (5) year Board V/P; (50) classes totaling (153) hours of MASB Board member training resulting in Master Platinum award, Level 6 of 7; top 10% of Board members across the state; two FHS graduates; a grandson at Grant pre-school.

Higher test scores, balanced budget (8) years in a row, award winning programs, alternative student opportunities, respected across the county, region and statewide all guided by vision and outside the box thinking.  And all supported school bond improvement millage from the beginning not after the fact. Continued support means continued successes!

Leadership counts.  Select proven results, by proven leadership, this November 6th.  Vote Collins, Warnick, Pfleger, Parks!