By Sterling McGinn
Following the resignation of Tahquamenon Area Schools (TAS) Board of Education trustee Kristine McCraren, the board appointed Newberry resident Michael Havens to fill the open seat until the term is up in December.
The TAS Board held a special meeting on Wednesday, August 14 to hold an interview of Havens prior to his appointment later in the meeting.
Havens is a Physician’s Assistant and is active in the Newberry Elks Lodge. He is married to Alesha, a 2nd grade teacher at Newberry Elementary School.
During the interview, Havens was asked questions by each of the board members. When asked about positives he sees at TAS, Havens noted how close the community is and that you see the school board members out in the community.
“I think we have a good group of dedicated teachers, and the athletic groups seem to be very stable, and the kids have a great opportunity and safety net around them that they can go to and trust,” Havens said.
Havens recognizes challenges the district is facing, including a decrease in student enrollment. He feels that with the current class sizes, the board made the right move in closing the old high school and the renovating the middle school facility.
He also feels recruitment of educators in a rural area is also a significant challenge to TAS.
“There is not as many people going into teaching and to recruit to a rural area is a difficult issue,” he said.
Following the interview process, Havens was unanimously appointed to serve until the position expires December 31, 2024. He will be on the ballot for election for a two-year term on the board.
According to Luce County Clerk Sharon Price, three four-year seats and two two-year seats will need to be filled by the November election.
Current trustee Lawrence Vincent is seeking reelection for a four-year term. Colleen Duflo, Jeffrey Puckett, and Amanda Kitzman are also seeking to be elected to the board. Trustees Veronica Edwards and Eric Feldhusen are currently filling seats that are not up for re-election.
Trustees Laura Generou and Bruce Klusmeyer are not seeking re-election.
Current board president Stuart McTiver, who has served for 10 years, has announced his intent to resign effective December 31 for personal reasons. McCraren also resigned for personal reasons.
