1. education
2. school

VOTER GUIDE – NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION
PONTIAC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
POLLS ARE OPEN 7:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OAKLAND AREA
Website: www.lwvoa.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 248-594-6602
7 Candidates for School District Board Member for FOUR 4-year terms
CANDIDATES for
SCHOOL BOARD
FOUR 4-year terms
Vote for no more than FOUR
TORRE J. BROWN
1604 Prairie Drive
Pontiac, MI 48340
Question 1 (150 Words or less):
Please provide biographical information and
explain why you are running for School
Board and relevant qualities and skills you
would bring to the position that you are
running for.
Question 2 (150 Words or less):
What are the top three (3) Priority Issues
facing your school district and what actions
would you take to address them if elected to
the school board?
Hi, my name is Torre Brown. I was raised
in the city of Pontiac. I graduated from
Pontiac Central. I am married with two
young daughters. I have worked within the
Pontiac Schools as an independently
contracted clinical psychologist. I currently
work with juvenile delinquents in the
Oakland County court system. My desire to
run for the Pontiac School Board comes
from my frustration with the deterioration of
quality education and lack of support that
children of Pontiac have experienced over
the past several decades.
My first priority is to balance the budget
which first starts with meeting the consent
agreement. Having such a deficit looming,
inhibits the motivation and success of our
teachers, staff and students. To do this, we
must use all available resources and have
the resolve to make the appropriate cuts in
specific areas when necessary.
My second priority is to improve the quality
of education of our school district. I will
promote and help establish benchmarks that
our teachers and students must meet on a
quarterly, semi-annually and annual basis.
Additionally I will help enhance the
wraparound support services for the
students that are failing due to cognitive,
emotional or familial deficits.
My third priority is to reestablish a good
relationship with parents and district
employees. I believe that “it takes a
village” and it’s time we look at these
relationships and the impact they have on
our students.
Copyright League of Women Voters Oakland Area 2014
Page 1 of 7
Published by the League of Women Voters Education Fund
PONTIAC SCHOOL DISTRICT (Continued)
CANDIDATES for
SCHOOL BOARD
FOUR 4-year terms
Vote for no more than FOUR
WILLIAM A.
CARRINGTON
185 Carr Street
Pontiac, MI 48342
Question 1 (150 Words or less):
Please provide biographical information and
explain why you are running for School
Board and relevant qualities and skills you
would bring to the position that you are
running for.
Question 2 (150 Words or less):
What are the top three (3) Priority Issues
facing your school district and what actions
would you take to address them if elected to
the school board?
My educational journey: Candidate, Ph.D.
in Sociology-Wayne State University,
Master of Arts in Sociology, Master of
Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts
in Business Administration. I currently work
for Wayne State University’s-School of
Medicine as Data and Quality Manager in
the Infectious Disease Clinics as well as an
Adjunct Professor in Sociology for Oakland
Community College-Auburn Hills campus.
Our school district is facing a number of
challenges, but reducing the Pontiac school
district deficit 1.5 million dollars during the
next three years is a priority. I will work
with the current administration and School
Board to look at ways to reduce
expenditures, and increase school revenues.
I am running because I care about our
children, and their parents; I care about
educators in my district and I care about the
future of the Pontiac School District to
attract and retain the best and the brightest
students. Throughout my professional career
and volunteer efforts, I have worked
alongside others to create positive change
for Eastern Michigan. My work includes
working with diverse populations, working
to bring our diverse communities together,
managing annual operating and capital
budgets, fundraising, setting and evaluating
performance objectives and building
effective public/private partnerships.
Copyright League of Women Voters Oakland Area 2014
Page 2 of 7
Second, a priority is to ensure that all
students have access to a quality education
that prepares them to become productive
citizens. I will accomplish this by looking
for innovative ways to reduce the teacherstudent ratio, search for resources from
federal, state, and community partners to
assist the school district in continuing their
technological upgrades, seek more parent
participation in the learning process, and
work with local community colleges to
foster a college bound program.
Third, a priority is to support and retain our
best school principals and teachers. We
must invest in the professional development
of our teachers and principals.
Published by the League of Women Voters Education Fund
PONTIAC SCHOOL DISTRICT (Continued)
CANDIDATES for
SCHOOL BOARD
FOUR 4-year terms
Vote for no more than FOUR
BRENDA CARTER
86 W. Yale Avenue
Pontiac, MI 48340
Question 1 (150 Words or less):
Please provide biographical information and
explain why you are running for School
Board and relevant qualities and skills you
would bring to the position that you are
running for.
Question 2 (150 Words or less):
What are the top three (3) Priority Issues
facing your school district and what actions
would you take to address them if elected to
the school board?
Pontiac School District (PSD) is under a
consent agreement, yet we are turning
things around! I currently serve as Vice
President for our Board of Education,
Region 8 Representative for Michigan
Association of School Boards (MASB) and
Vice President of MASB. I am Master
Diamond Certified through MASB and have
extensive knowledge of educational policies
and laws. PSD’s greatest success stories
were downsizing our classes to 30 pupils,
and returning arts and sports to our
curriculum while adhering to a painstaking
budget. I serve Pontiac residents on the state
and national level, yet my greatest pleasure
comes from working in the community as
one of its residents. Our community is
rallying to offer opportunities to and for our
children, and I plan to continue working
with our Superintendent, staff and Board to
stay on target with our deficit elimination
plan while returning needed programs to our
district.
PSD main priorities are adhering to our
deficit elimination plan, increasing student
achievement and increasing student count. I
know community support is critical to the
success of PSD. With the help of our
community partners, I am working on these
top three priorities:
Copyright League of Women Voters Oakland Area 2014
Page 3 of 7
1. Bringing vocational/apprenticeship
programs back to our middle and high
schools.
2. Offering internship programs in both
civics and business.
3. Creating an etiquette program for our
high school students.
When Pontiac’s economy recovers, the
schools will recover. Until then, we must
work collaboratively to bridge the gap. In
order to achieve these objectives, these
additional educational opportunities should
be provided for our students. I am currently
working with building and construction
trades, educators in business, elected
officials and our local churches.
Implementing these programs into our
curriculum will offer initiatives for students
which will create additional opportunities
for jobs while interning in school and after
graduation.
Published by the League of Women Voters Education Fund
PONTIAC SCHOOL DISTRICT (Continued)
CANDIDATES for
SCHOOL BOARD
FOUR 4-year terms
Vote for no more than FOUR
PRINCE RAVANNA
EL
235 S. Sanford Street
Pontiac, MI 48342
Question 1 (150 Words or less):
Please provide biographical information and
explain why you are running for School
Board and relevant qualities and skills you
would bring to the position that you are
running for.
Question 2 (150 Words or less):
What are the top three (3) Priority Issues
facing your school district and what actions
would you take to address them if elected to
the school board?
I am Prince Ravanna Miles El, an American
National and candidate for the Pontiac
School District. I am a proud husband and
father of two sons, both currently earning an
education at the Pontiac School District.
Also, I am a proud son of Eirther Seay Bey,
who previously served for 11 years on the
Pontiac School Board. I am a proud product
of the Pontiac School System, graduating
from Pontiac Central in 2003. I have
education in the science of civics,
economics, education, sociology, business
administration, attending the religious
schools of the M.S.T. of A., and Oakland
Community College. My mission is to
ensure that the Pontiac School District
produce industrious citizens to stimulate our
National economic growth which will
decrease crime, poverty, homelessness, and
unemployment. With my experience and
expertise, I am going to ensure student
achievement and that our school district
meets the annual yearly progress (AYP).
The Pontiac School District is facing serious
issues including but not limited to the
District deficit, decreased student
enrollment, and the lack of student
achievement. In conjunction, with the
consent agreement, I will produce a
Strategic Educational & Economic Plan
(SEEP) to increase student enrollment,
student achievement, and eliminate the
District deficit. The implementation of
(SEEP) would be cost efficiency to the
District. However, it will require full
compliance and participation from the
board, state & federal government,
community, public and private organization.
I am serious about student achievement and
reviving our district. As a District, we must
have something to offer to our students,
communities, potential customers and
businesses. With the (SEEP) in conjunction
with the consent agreement and compliance
of all necessary partners the District will
have revenue building opportunities,
because the District will increase student
enrollment from producing results that
foster student achievement.
Copyright League of Women Voters Oakland Area 2014
Page 4 of 7
Published by the League of Women Voters Education Fund
PONTIAC SCHOOL DISTRICT (Continued)
CANDIDATES for
SCHOOL BOARD
FOUR 4-year terms
Vote for no more than FOUR
JAMES ENDRES
1855 Stratford Street
Sylvan Lake, MI 48320
Question 1 (150 Words or less):
Please provide biographical information and
explain why you are running for School
Board and relevant qualities and skills you
would bring to the position that you are
running for.
Question 2 (150 Words or less):
What are the top three (3) Priority Issues
facing your school district and what actions
would you take to address them if elected to
the school board?
Born in Belding, MI, 1944. Moved to
Waterford, 1977. Live in Sylvan Lake with
wife Karen since 1999.
SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY
“Kingdom building” is partly responsible
for where we’re at today. Sell every
building and property NOW. In the High
School, make a place to honor Central,
Northern and Pontiac High School’s
histories.
1961-1965, U.S. Navy. 1966 Greenville, MI
Police Department. 1967-1977 at maximum
Prison in Ionia, MI. 1977-1997 Parole
Officer at a Halfway house in Pontiac, MI.
1997 to 2013 owner of home remodeling
business.
Degrees in Correctional Science and
Criminal Justice from Montcalm College
and the University of Detroit.
Chairman of Sylvan Lake Planning
Commission. Chairman of Sylvan Lake
Board of Review (Taxes) and a
Commissioner on the W. Bloomfield Cable
Comm.
I want to serve because of the teachers in
my life that made the above possible. Also:
7 children, 11 grandchildren and 3 great
grandchildren.
Note: I haven’t missed a single vote since
1965 and I will be at every meeting.
Copyright League of Women Voters Oakland Area 2014
Page 5 of 7
BIDS AND CONTRACTS
I will NEVER vote to approve any bid or
contract without knowing who is involved.
The days of someone’s relative or friend
getting a bid or a contract are over.
MEETINGS
Strict adherence to The Open Meetings Act.
Agenda’s must be more detailed.
No more electronic attendance, look me in
the eye.
Citizens should be allowed to speak on all
motions.
Minutes for the past year must be published
on the web site and kept current.
No more closed/behind the door meetings
and deals. This is an outrage.
If a member can’t be at EVERY meeting,
then try something else, LEAD, FOLLOW
OR GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Published by the League of Women Voters Education Fund
PONTIAC SCHOOL DISTRICT (Continued)
CANDIDATES for
SCHOOL BOARD
FOUR 4-year terms
Vote for no more than FOUR
APRIL HERNANDEZ
2305 Allerton Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Question 1 (150 Words or less):
Please provide biographical information and
explain why you are running for School
Board and relevant qualities and skills you
would bring to the position that you are
running for.
Question 2 (150 Words or less):
What are the top three (3) Priority Issues
facing your school district and what actions
would you take to address them if elected to
the school board?
Hi my name is April Hernandez age 42. I
was born and raised in Pontiac and then
Pontiac Twp (which is now Auburn Hills). I
have two sons one that is still in school. I
worked in the hospitality field for eight
years in management position. I was a
previous board member who completed
classes with MASB. ( Full understanding of
openings meeting act and Roberts Rule Of
Order) I want to implement partnerships
with the community/parents/children/
business owners/outer communities that
have a stake within the district to focus on
improvement of education for all levels of
students and catching the at risk students
early in the year to implement a plan of
action to assist them in getting the education
to excel and compete past high school.
Student Enrollment continues to decrease:
Make attendance a priority with accuracy
Catch at risk students early on to bring all
parties to the table to implement a
action plan with checks and balances to
the board
Raise the bar for education and standards
for our children
Copyright League of Women Voters Oakland Area 2014
Page 6 of 7
Financial Deficit:
Sell off no longer needed properties and
vacant land.
Monitor all contracted companies and
employees to ensure we get the service
that is required.
Education:
Partnerships for tutoring one on one for
students who are in need of the extra
time
In house suspension to eliminate children
not reporting to school to get their
education
Offering of after school programs for
students.
Field trips to educate all ethnic groups
More activities with the students showing
respect for their communities and the
people within.
Published by the League of Women Voters Education Fund
PONTIAC SCHOOL DISTRICT (Continued)
CANDIDATES for
SCHOOL BOARD
FOUR 4-year terms
Vote for no more than FOUR
CAROLL Y. TURPIN
44 Vinewood Court
Pontiac, MI 48341
Question 1 (150 Words or less):
Please provide biographical information and
explain why you are running for School
Board and relevant qualities and skills you
would bring to the position that you are
running for.
Question 2 (150 Words or less):
What are the top three (3) Priority Issues
facing your school district and what actions
would you take to address them if elected to
the school board?
I am running for re-election because of my
commitment to our students, their families
and the community. I am an advocate for
Public Education. Professional
Development has been rigorous and
deliberate: MASB Master Platinum award,
Advocacy Skills Specialty and Data
Specialty awards, Oakland County School
Board of Directors committee member, and
member of the Council of Urban Boards of
Education (CUBE) Steering Committee
under the National School Boards Assoc.
(NSBA).The classes, conferences and
workshops increased my knowledge of Best
Practices, Effective School Board
Governance, issues on the local, county,
state and national level, and strategies to
secure resources for our students and staff. I
have initiated several programs with Board
support: A .S.A.P! (Adopt a School
Program), GEMMS Board Fundraiser and
the Community Advisory Committee. A
proud sponsor of the "Wings of Fire",
Robotics team, Art Clubs at ITA and PHS.
Priority Issues facing our district are
(1) Reducing our financial deficit by
continuing our commitment to the Consent
Agreement, Stabilizing our enrollment by
maintaining smaller class sizes, retaining
and supporting Highly Qualified and
Effective teachers and working with our
Partners to support opportunities for our
students and staff. We need to continue to
make Consistent and Signficant Academic
Gains Each Year in Every building.
(2). Increasing Parental Involvement: A Key
to Student Achievement. Objectives: (2)
increasing participation of parents in regular
two-way and meaningful communication
involving student academic learning (b)
invest in parent-leadership training and
develop joint parent-teacher training in
cultural competence (c) Develop an
evaluation measure to determine the impact
of the Professional Development on the
levels of Parent Involvement.
(3) We need to sell our closed buildings. We
are actively seeking buyers for these
buildings.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan national organization whose purpose is to promote political responsibility through
informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League never supports or opposes any candidate or political
party. Candidate responses are included as submitted and have not been edited except in cases where the replies have exceeded
the stated word limitations.
Spelling and Grammar were not corrected.
The inclusion of candidates’ statements and
opinions is solely in the interest of public service and in no way is to be construed as an endorsement by the League of Women
Voters which takes no responsibility for any views or facts stated by the candidates.
Copyright League of Women Voters Oakland Area 2014
Page 7 of 7
Published by the League of Women Voters Education Fund