Cinnamon Mellema is back on the Wayland Board of Education.
She was selected Monday evening after interviews with three finalists, herself, Jeff Koon and former Supt. Norman Taylor, to succeed Jason Shane after he resigned last month because he is moving out of the district.
Mellema, who served one full four-year term, two years as president, will be return to the board as a trustee at least until January of next year, and she will be eligible to finish the last two years of Shane’s term if elected in November.
Nine candidates applied for the seat in writing and the board late last month whittled them down to the three finalists. Shane, just as he was leaving, suggested the board choose Mellema, who lost in her bid for re-election in November 2020.
“I’m excited to be able to find a way to find common ground to bring our community together and work on behalf of the kids,” she commented.
In other business at the regular meeting Monday night, the board:
• Learned from Supt. Dr. Christina Hinds that the school district is getting back to normal in terms of attendance. She told the board between 88 and 90 percent.
“We’re finally coming back after another Covid surge,” she said.
• Was told the district’s health resources advocate is Ashley Wilkins through the Allegan County Health Department. Her job will be to improve communications with families on health issues.
• Learned from Hinds that the recent EPIC-MRA telephone survey showed support from the community for a bond issue to build a new pool. However, the No. 1 priority appears to be increased security.
She said the community will be invited to tour the pool at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 14 and at 6 p.m. March 17.
• Noted that all purchases of tickets for athletics and extra-curricular activities will be handled on line, beginning next school year, and there will be a 60-cent service charge.
• Discussed but took no action on the teachers’ union’s proposed calendar for the next two academic years, suggesting school start in late August before Labor Day.
• Noted there are vacancies for the varsity volleyball and varsity baseball coaching positions at the high school.
• Heard Hinds lavish praise on Baker Elementary Rachel Cimik, saying, “She’s been there through all of the challenges” and suggested she has a bright future ahead of her.
• Was told three people now are getting training to be full-time bus drivers to help meet a need.
• Approved a recommendation from Assistant Supt. of Finance and Operations Patricia Velie that prices for adult lunches be raised from $5 to $5.25 to keep up with inflation.
• Approving the expenditure of $34.053 for the purchase of a new dishwasher for Dorr Elementary School.
• Listened to a presentation by Food Service Director Scott Larson, who said the program served 41,198 breakfasts last year, 40,400 lunches and 387,797 summer meals. He added that he foresees continued supply chain problems for at least another two years, mostly because of staffing challenges.
• Noted that all purchases of tickets for athletics and extra-curricular activities will be handled on line, beginning next school year, and there will be a 60-cent service charge.
This seems like a bad idea if grandpa shows up to the game and gets turned away because he didn’t go online in advance and buy a ticket for a high school football game, or girls basketball game. Or am I misunderstanding the word “all”. In my opinion this shouldn’t be buried in the middle but should have been the headline if this is the case.