Community Mourns Loss of Steve Drakos, Lake Orion Schools Seeks to Fill Board Vacancy
(Crystal A. Proxmire, June 20, 2024)
Lake Orion, MI – The Lake Orion community is mourning the loss of active volunteer, businessperson, and school board member Steve Drakos, who passed away June 14 at the age of 62. The Lake Orion Schools Board of Trustees is now accepting applications to fill the vacancy left by his death.
Drakos joined the LOCS Board of Education in 2010, and has served as Secretary of the Board.
According to the district, “Steve was a member of the Orion/Oxford community since 1970. A graduate of Lake Orion High School, he attended Oakland University and received his law degree from the Detroit College of Law in 1988. Steve has served as Vice President and Trustee of the Oxford Board of Education. He has also served as President of the Orion/Oxford Boys and Girls Club and served as legal counsel for numerous non-profit organizations such as the Lake Orion War Memorial and Lake Orion Lions Club. Steve was an active participant of the Court of the Schools Program with Judge Julie A. Nicholson of the 52-3 District Court, founding it in 1995. Her brought Judge Nicholson into the schools for years to educate students on the court system.
“As an attorney, he was awarded the Frances R. Avadenka Award by the Oakland County Bar Association for his contributions to the community of Oakland County. The Oakland County Bar Association also recognized him for his Pro-Bono activities for legal service to the underprivileged.”
He is survived by wife Teresa and their twin sons who graduated this year from the Lake Orion school district.
Board of Education President Danielle Bresett said of Drakos, “Steve’s passion for public education and dedication to the Lake Orion community were profound. Yet, this commitment was surpassed by his love for his family. Steve cherished every moment with them, from family dinners to supporting his children’s activities, and they remained his greatest joy and motivation in all his endeavors. Steve will be greatly missed by all.”
Superintendent Ben Kirby added “Steve’s kind heart and generosity defined him. He gave to others everything he had and as a school district we are thankful for his time on the Board of Education and as the Superintendent I’m thankful for his friendship.”
Because of the vacancy left on the board, Lake Orion Community Schools is accepting applications from qualified residents for a partial year Board appointment as a Trustee. The appointment runs from July 2024 through the certification of the November 2024 election.
Since this is a partial term and an appointed position, the vacant seat will be placed on the November 2024 ballot to fill the remainder of the term, which expires on December 31, 2026.
Board policy requires that Board members be U.S. citizens as well as registered voters of the Lake Orion Community Schools district.
Interested candidates should email a letter of intent, a resume and any other relevant information to: Lake Orion Community Schools ATTENTION: Julie Olko, Secretary to the Board of Education (julie.olko@lok12.org) Information must be received via email by Monday, July 1, 2024 at 4 p.m. Learn more about Lake Orion Schools at https://www.lakeorionschools.org