Four Candidates Seek Two Spots on Saline Board of Education

On Nov. 8, 2011, voters will elect two members to the Saline Area Schools Board of Education. Seeking election are David Friese, incumbent, David Zimmer, David Holden and Patti Tanner. The seats are four-year terms.

David Allen Friese

Family

Wife Diane and son Michael

Education

BS and two MAs from Eastern Michigan University

Employment

Retired

Government history

• Current member of the Saline Area Schools Board of Education. 

Community involvement

• Saline Rotary
• Past SASA coach and board member (vice-president)
• Community Ed coach
• FFA judge for regionals
• Past volunteer with Huron Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Why are you running?

Serving on the board fulfills two of my passions, a strong sense of community and a life long commitment to public education.

David Holden

Family

Married to Raye for 29 years with three sons all educated in the Saline Area Schools -- Dylan, Class of 2007; Derek, Class of 2011; and Reed, Class of 2012.

Education

University of Michigan (BA 1979), Robert Morris (MBA 1992)

Employment

Manager Strategic Accounts, Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP

Government history

• Pittsfield Township Zoning Board of Appeals (Current)
• Pittsfield Public Safety Millage Executive Committee (2011)
• Opposed the February 2011 Saline Area Schools Bond Proposal

Community Involvement

• Past President Warner Creek Homeowners Association
• Saline travel baseball and basketball coach for 15 years
• Member, Pay to Participate Committee 2010 Saline Area Schools
• Michigan High School Athletic Association Basketball Official
• Dearborn Public Schools Finance Committee (1981-85)

Why are you running?

I am running for the school board to preserve and enhance the excellence of Saline Area Schools. The present economic environment is challenging and the current financial model is not working. To maintain the student educational experience we need to create a sustainable financial model. I opposed the February bond proposal as passage would have increased long term debt, kicking the financial can down the road. For the past several years the current financial model has led to draining the reserve fund, increasing student fees burdening parents, staff lay offs, and increased class sizes. This trend must be reversed to provide our students a quality educational experience. I believe my business acumen can bring value to the Board as we face the difficult task of creating a sustainable financial model that can break the cycle . My priorities will be students, parents, and taxpayers.

David Zimmer

Family

Married to Susan for 24 years with two children both educated in Saline Area Schools: Rob, Class of 2011 and Allison, Class of 2013.

Education

Michigan State University (B.A.) Dual major in Labor Relations and Organizational and Industrial Psychology.

Employment

Principal Consultant - Human Capital Partners

Community Involvement

• Member of the 2004 Long Range Planning Committee.
• Activist for retaining the foreign language program at Saline Middle School in 2006.
• Active in the development of the Pay to Participate Committee of 2008.
• Member of the 2009 Activity and Club Fee Committee.
• Led the effort for the development and eventual adoption of the weighted grades policy for Advanced Placement Classes at Saline High in 2010.
• 20 years of experience in senior management and executive level roles with a focus on turnarounds and rapidly expanding businesses.
• 11 years of human capital consulting experience with a focus on strategic initiatives for higher education, non-profit organizations, and human resources organizations.
• Helped to build programs for the children of Southeastern Michigan which create early learning literacy capability for urban and economically disadvantaged children.
• Helped to redesign the Admissions, Scholarship, and Financial Aid Programs at the University of Michigan Dearborn Campus which included the creation of a special scholarship program for students from economically disadvantaged communities.
• Has also been active in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, the Saline High School Touchdown Club, the Saline Lacrosse Program, the Saline High School Dance Team, the Girl Scouts of America, and the PTO programs at Pleasant Ridge, Harvest, Heritage, Saline Middle School and Saline High School for over 12 years.

Why are you running?

I was involved in the creation of the Long Planning Committee concept beginning in 2003 and have worked tirelessly since that time to see this roadmap become a reality. Unfortunately, our actions taken are not as the long range planning effort envisioned.

Today our financial position is unsustainable, our classroom student size is unacceptable, and, for the first time in my memory, we are beginning to see evidence of a decline in our academic performance.

I remain committed to the objectives of the Long Range Planning Committee. I believe a balanced approach of academic excellence, fiscal excellence, commitment to our community and ensuring a positive and constructive work environment for our teachers, staff and administrators of the district is still within our reach.

To achieve these objectives we need the engagement of the community, our teachers and staff, our students, our administration, and our school board. This work will require difficult conversations, difficult decisions, and a focus on our long term and short term interests at the same time.  In my many years of activism I have demonstrated that I am willing to do these things.  I remain committed to the future success of our young people;   with the support and engagement of our community we can reach these goals.

Patti Tanner

Family

Husband, Rick; son, Jacob, a ninth grader at Saline High School

Education

BA University of Michigan 1986

Employment

I work as a remote Implementation Specialist for AutoNation.

Government History

I have been a trustee on the Saline District Library Board since 2009.

Community Involvement

• I have served on various PTA/PTO boards since 2003, most recently as President of Saline Middle School PTO last year.
• I have been on many district wide boards and committees, including the Gifted and Talented Advisory Board, the Strategic Vision Planning Committee, the Wellness Committee & the Project Lead the Way Advisory Board.
• I helped develop the district’s Counting on Math afterschool program and oversaw the program at Pleasant Ridge for two years.
• I supervised the afterschool Heritage Buzz newspaper for two years. Working for the PTOs, I wrote two successful CARES grants: at Heritage School to build a new playground and at SMS to build a cafeteria courtyard.
• I also wrote a successful grant with Samsung last year to fund Project Lead the Way at the middle school.

Why are you running?

My interest in the school board is to continue the current high quality of education in Saline, while maintaining the best learning environment for our students. After years of PTOs, I am ready to move to a larger arena to help effect and improve the entire district instead of just one school at a time.