GROSSE ILE GRAND
John Gatti
October 11 - November 9, 2018• Page 15
Steve LeMoine
Suzanne Sassack
Three are Running for School Board By Sarah Hemsworth Meet the candidates for this years School Board election: Steve LeMoine, Suzanne Sassack and John Gatti. John Gatti Gatti has served trustee for the Grosse Ile School District and is running for this position as his term ends this fall. “My professional background as an attorney and certified public account has been helpful in serving the district,” said Gatti, “I am privileged to serve with an outstanding group of individuals who currently serve as Trustees. “Although we may not agree on every issue, we seek consensus and common ground through trying to understand each other’s opinions and concerns. By reaching common ground and consensus, we are able to give the administration clear guidance and eliminate conflicting agendas. “If re-elected, I will continue to express my views and work with the other Trustees to reach a consensus that is in the best interests of our district’s students.” When asked about difficulties Grosse Ile faces, Gatti responded, “like many other districts, our district has two pressing issues: Finance and curriculum. Every district should be committed to improving not only student achievement but also student improvement. “The district’s third-grade reading score is among one of the highest in the state and all grade levels are substantially above state averages. The middle school, in particular, has improved in the last few years. The administration and teachers have worked vigorously at re-aligning math curriculum across all grades which have improved our success and we are currently re-aligning English and Language Arts. “Further, the district has implemented a new internal testing system which permits teachers and administrators to monitor student performance in real time rather than waiting for the results of state
standardized tests to be published months after. However, I believe we can do better.” Steve LeMoine Newcomer LeMoine is a determined resident with a love for Grosse Ile. “I am running for school board to be involved in the community I am passionate about. My wife, Stephanie and I have four children remaining in the schools, fueling a personal commitment for our students education,” said LeMoine. “I bring to the office the viewpoint of a parent with children currently in elementary, middle and high school. Having this spread of children, along with one in college, allows me the opportunity to connect with many parents and community members on issues concerning the schools. I am able to be the voice and ears of many who will share not just the opportunities, but the things that are working well and should not stop. “I understand many ask about the biggest challenges, and far too often people do not ask about the biggest successes. That is one item I do want to make an impact on with this opportunity. We should be promoting our school successes more.” LeMoine said he feels a few of the biggest challenges facing our district are “financial stability and growth, capital allocation, recruitment and retention of top notch educational leaders for the classroom, enrollment metrics, graduation metrics and key performance indicators for how educational systems are evaluated.” LeMoine ended with, “I am excited for this opportunity to serve our community.” Suzanne Sassack Sassack is finishing her term as board president and running again. “I continue to place a high value on our education system,” She said. My experiences in the district has allowed me to gain a keen understanding of how our district functions. I feel comfortable discussing issues with teachers and parents for an accurate view
of the needs and expectations of our community. “I believe that GITS can continue to be an exemplary school district that prepares the children of GI for a successful future.” Sassack has lived in this community for more than thirty years and said, “ I take pride in what it has to offer. Being an effective board member requires a significant time commitment. I am willing to continue to devote the necessary time to make informed decisions for the education and success of all children in our district. “My experience on the board since 2006 has allowed me to gain valuable knowledge and expertise that will continue to move this district in a positive direction.” Sassack said she believes the issues facing our district include “attracting new families to the island and maintaining a consistent enrollment. “As a district, we need to continue our efforts to attract families to Grosse Ile. I think we could do a better job of partnering with the township to advertise and market the qualities that Grosse Ile has to offer new families. “Since I’ve been on the Board of Education, we’ve struggled with budgetary needs. The uncertainty of State funding and the elimination of local control has made addressing the immediate needs of the district more complex. Increasing costs of healthcare and pension contributions tighten budgetary spending since this continues to account for over 80 percent of our budget when combined with salaries. “Another area of concern is monitoring our student growth and determining areas of opportunities. The past ten years has been a moving target for board members and administrators when reviewing data related to student achievement. Due to frequent changes to testing assessments, curricular mandates, and cumbersome interpretations of data, it has forced our district to implement other types of assessments so that we are able to quickly assess individual students throughout the year.
