Name: Amy Butters
Website(s): amybuttersforschoolboard.com
Occupation: currently a stay-at-home mom; formerly a newspaper copy editor, most recently at the Detroit Free Press
Education: bachelor’s degree in journalism, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
Previous and/or current elected positions: none
Community involvement:
2012 Ferndale Schools bond campaign committee
Operations subcommittee on Ferndale Schools bond proposal, summer 2011
Ferndale Education Foundation trustee
Vocal director for Kennedy’s musical “JFK on Broadway”
Kennedy Open Classroom secretary
Kennedy Open Classroom mentor coordinator
Kennedy PTA community-relations chairwoman
Co-coordinator of 2011 Art on the Town
OrchSupport committee member
Kennedy Elementary activities, including Book Fair staffer, bake sale baker, classroom volunteer, field-trip chaperone.
Session member, Greenfield Presbyterian Church in Berkley, 2009-2011.
Chairwoman of Music and Worship Committee, Greenfield Presbyterian Church, 2009-2011.
Volunteer at Vacation Bible School at Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church, Ferndale.
Hosted students visiting from Norway and Indonesia to participate in CISV peace camp.
Do you currently have students in the district, and if so, what school(s) do they attend?
Three daughters: one will be a 7th grader at Ferndale Middle School, one will be a 5th grader at Kennedy Elementary, one will be a 3rd grader at Kennedy Elementary.
Why do you want to be on the School Board?
I have three daughters in Ferndale schools and I want to play a part in ensuring the quality of our district. I want to offer my skills that equip me to communicate clearly with all parties striving toward the common goal of a strong school district.
Why should people vote for you?
I believe it is important that everyone’s voice is heard, and I am confident in my ability to make that happen. I strive to stay level-headed and give the benefit of the doubt when hearing different sides on an issue. I will provide leadership in the community, after listening to the concerns of all stakeholders.
What do you think are the top responsibilities of the School Board?
The board is responsible for hiring and evaluating the district’s superintendent. The board must represent the community in determining the priorities and policies of the district.
Are there any school board decisions or policies that you disagree with, and why?
I was disappointed when the board increased the amount of time a member serves from four to six years. The decision, made hastily to save money, did not need to include a six-year term and appeared to go against public sentiment.
Do you think parents sending their students out of district is an issue, and if so what would you do about it?
I believe strongly that the school decision is a personal one and parents must decide based on what’s best for their child. My frustration is when that decision is based on misperception of our Ferndale Schools, and I would like to see our district, both from the leadership and the grass-roots level, continue to work harder to make our case to those parents who are on the fence. Schools of Choice will continue to challenge the districts in our area to be the best they can be and to market those successes. For example, families considering Schools of Choice often look at test scores. Yes, we need to raise our scores across the board, but we also can do better at communicating the competitiveness of our district. It is an effort that must be ongoing: We never know when a new parent goes online or makes a phone call seeking that information.
Another issue is elementary-school lottery system. If a family doesn’t get their first choice, how many of them are leaving? The district can find ways to make it clear that second choices are not reasons to leave.
What does Ferndale Schools do well as a district?
We have fantastic teachers. We have strong fine arts programs. We send many Ferndale High School graduates to top colleges. University High School has performed well in a relatively short period of time. We have active parent-booster groups, and many strong extracurricular activities.
What can be improved upon?
Ensuring all students’ success. We need to prepare our young people for college, if that’s where they’re going. But others need to be prepared for the job market. We must have options for students whose skills or interests don’t lie, for example, with our outstanding music programs. And, as much as standardized testing does not sit well with many, we must find ways our students can perform better on them. Also, there is so much potential for cooperation between the school board and the other governmental bodies in the cities it serves.
Anything else readers should know about you?
I consider myself to be a relative newcomer, having been involved in the district for six years. I bring a fresh approach and put a priority on listening to all interested parties and finding ways to build bridges. I am committed to this district as a parent and as a resident, and sincerely believe that strong local leadership has the most potential to shape our community. I am raising my hand to participate in this most important mission.
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NOTE: Amy Butters is running on the “CLEAR” PAC slate for this election along with Kevin Deegan-Krause, Raylon Leaks-May, and Jim O’Donnell. Read more about CLEAR at http://makeitclearferndale.org/. While the four are campaigning together, voting is done on an individual basis. The election will be Nov. 6, 2012. More voting information can be found at https://oaklandcounty115.com/category/voter_info/.