Baker, who was not present at the school board meeting, will be sworn into office during the board’s next meeting in April. Upon being sworn in, Baker said she plans to focus on learning the school board procedures.
“I’m looking forward to serving on the board,” the 59-year-old said after hearing the news of her appointment. “I think it’s exciting and I’m looking forward to serving the district and the community.”
Baker has lived in Grand Haven since 1975, and all of her three children are Grand Haven High School graduates. She worked for the Grand Haven school district for nearly two decades in several capacities — including community education, the district’s state and federal programs office, and Head Start program. She retired from the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District in 2011.
School board President Chris Houghtaling said each of the four candidates who applied for the position were asked a series of questions during a public meeting last week — two from each of the six board members — regarding their experience, accomplishments and critical challenges within the school district, skills they have that could help the board, confidentiality issues, and criteria the board should consider in filling the seat. The board also asked questions about time commitment and why the candidates wanted to run for the school board.
“We carefully considered their answers to the questions, and we had an open and frank discussion regarding each of the candidates,” Houghtaling said.
The school board ranked the candidates based on their answers, with the top candidates being Sandra Huber and Baker, according to Houghtaling. Late last week, Huber asked to withdraw from the candidacy, leaving Baker the top candidate, board officials said during Wednesday’s meeting.
To read more of this story, see today’s print or e-edition of the Grand Haven Tribune.
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Comments
WOW what a surprise that the school board choose one of its own. Do you the tax payer know that the first thing on the agenda for the board meeting was "where can we make more cuts in special ed, transportation, sports, ect.. so we (the teachers] can keep the same benefits,pay and pension plan. So when choosing a new board member why not pick one of your own to protect your own personal interest ,not that of the school district. This at the cost of the school children. All of you current board members be aware the election is coming soon and its time the board members skeletons come out of the closet
Shocking! It came down to two ex-school employee insiders, over a parent of an actual student. That must have taken a lot of courage. Is this Goldman Sachs or GHAPS? Let the muppet show begin.