Four seats up for grabs on Bloomfield Hills Board of Education in November election

Ten candidates are vying for one of four seats on the Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education. Voters in the district will decide in the Nov. 8 election.

School boards set overall policy for the school district, as well as hire and manage the superintendent, who oversees day-to-day operations in the school district.

Hometown Life sent identical questionnaires to the candidates, seeking to learn more about them and their views on issues. All 10 replied.

Candidates were asked to limit responses to 100 words per question. Responses that significantly exceeded that limit were condensed and are indicated with an asterisk.

Jim Baker is a trial attorney with a current focus on labor and employment matters. He is a U.S. Marine, and a widowed father of three teens.

Lindsay G. Baker has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and an A.B. in Economics with a certificate in Finance from Princeton University. She is a senior economist in the automotive industry. She is a married mother of four children in BHS and volunteers at church and school.

Sandeep Chada is dean and owner of a preschool, an entrepreneur and former public school science teacher and scientist. He is a member of the Bloomfield Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and PTO

Tareq Falah is a certified information systems security professional and certified information security manager formerly employed by a Utah school district, serving as a senior business systems analyst. He coaches youth soccer and volunteers as a cyber security presenter. He is married to Nancy.

Nicholas Haugen is a public school teacher with 20 years’ experience teaching middle school social studies, science, and technology. He and his wife Smitha have one son, Jayden.  

Meagan M. Hill is an attorney, former prosecutor, and commercial real estate professional. She has been an active PTO volunteer and classroom room parent. She and her husband have two daughters.

Paul Kolin is a current board member of the Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education, the Bloomfield Youth Assistance Program, and the Bloomfield Birmingham Community Coalition. His professional experience is in human resources, a leader in a tier 2 suppliers human resource team focusing on data analytics and process improvement.

Carolyn Noble has a bachelor’s degree from Beloit College, a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Madonna University and a law degree from Wayne Law. She works for the University of Michigan-Dearborn as director of development for the College of Business. She and her husband Evan Peterson have two young children.

Harris Ng is senior partner at a large global management consulting firm providing strategy and operations advisory to global C-suite executives. He serves as homeowners’ association board member, president of alumni association chapter, university alumni capital campaign committee, former board member and treasurer Children’s Village Foundation.

Lauren Wilson has a degree in psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo and several years of experience working among many populations including short and long-term, and acute care treatments, drug/alcohol addiction, eating disorders, and reintegrating patients back into the community. She has worked as a leader with major corporations, responsible for managing and delivering measurable metrics and results, leading large teams, and being accountable for overall fiscal and operational performance and efficiency.

What makes you qualified to be a school board member and why do you want to hold that position? What do you see as the role of a school board member?

Jim Baker: I am a district parent of three. I have served on corporate and non-profit boards and am known to build bridges rather than walls. That is very important in these days of misinformation, confusion, and mistrust. I see the board leading the district by supporting the superintendent, the administration, and educators in carrying the vision of the district.

Lindsay Baker: I hold a doctorate in economics, and I am data-driven and trained to research and problem solve. This background helps me drive business decisions as an economist in the automotive industry. As a mother of four BHS students, I see this as a pivotal time for BHS; there is opportunity for positive change as we undergo construction and reconfiguration, and my experience will bring a valuable perspective to the board. The role of a school board member is to work with board members to oversee the district and ensure that it delivers on its objectives and is fiscally responsible. 

Sandeep Chada: I worked as a public-school teacher, entrepreneur, and currently serving as the dean of a preschool. I have a BS in Biopsychology from U of M and a MS in Neuroscience from MSU. We have two boys in the district. have had wonderful teachers and a great well-rounded school experience. I want to run for the Board of Education trustee position to always put the students first and use my experience in education and administration to make informed decisions and construct best practices while working in tandem with the other board members. My role as a board member will be to advise and give consent to the superintendent when appropriate.

Tareq Falah:  *I made significant impacts for children working at a school district for 11 years. As a father of two children — Noah, 6 and Sophia, 8 — I want to be a part of making positive change in their life and subsequently improve the educational experiences for all children. The primary responsibilities for a school board member are: Hiring and evaluation of the superintendent; Creating district and board goals and monitoring progress; monitoring strategic plans for the district; annually approving a budget which reflects the needs of our students; approving and updating district policy; and serve as a community liaison to ensure transparent communication and engagement with all stakeholders.

Nicholas Haugen: *I have been a middle school public school teacher for the last 20 years. I have dedicated my life to educating children. I believe that public school education is the foundation upon which this country was created, and remains the greatest hope for its future. Opportunity, possibility and hope are nurtured, propelling young people to think in new ways. My years of classroom experience, coupled with my role as a parent, union leader and active community member will lend perspective to the BHS Board of Education that has not been present. I know how to work as part of a team and have a passion for helping students achieve their goals.

Meagan M. Hill: I have a diverse professional and personal background which applies to relevant aspects of the school board duties. My legal background makes me “due process” focused. My commercial real estate background makes me cognizant of proper district asset allocation. My motherhood role makes me empathetic to all human beings and their needs. The role of a school board member is to set measurable district goals and oversee the superintendent in carrying them through.

Paul Kolin: I have been a member of the Bloomfield Hills School district Board of Education for eight years and I have developed a significant number of relationships with parents, students and staff in the district. Board members have an individual and collective responsibility to taxpayers, district families, and employees to ensure the safety of the district and education of our students. I am running again to continue supporting these people. With a fresh slate of board members, I know that we will improve our education outcomes by putting education first. I will continue to stand with those that need help.

Harris Ng: My experience in creating positive change in large global businesses and my community leadership skills will provide the governance and accountability expertise to our board. I am a senior partner in a global management consulting firm providing strategy and performance improvement services to large corporate clients. My capabilities and experience will provide the leadership to improve our education performance in our district. The role of the school board is to provide direction, oversee the superintendent and district, approve budgets, and ensure our students are provided the best education possible.

Carolyn Noble: I am a resident and mother of two children in our school district. They are one and three years old. I have a stake in seeing our great school district stay strong. I currently work for the University of Michigan-Dearborn and have a passion for education and lifelong learning. I am running for the school board position because I want to ensure that Bloomfield Hills Schools remains a destination for young families seeking a stellar education. I know how important it is for students, teachers, and families to work together to provide the best education for our students. I believe all children deserve a good education and will work hard to empower our teachers with the resources needed to provide that.

Lauren Wilson: As a taxpayer and a mother of school-aged children, I want to see goals set in our district to drive measurable improvements. The duty of the board is to protect the investment of taxpayers by challenging the administration to reach goals as set by the board.

Are you happy with the overall direction of the district? Why or why not?

Lindsay G. Baker: Our district has all the ingredients to be the best in the state: supportive and engaged families, amazing teachers and staff, and generous funding. However, our test scores, rankings, and enrollment are trending down and our budget is not balanced. We cannot continue in this direction. We need to elect board members who have the professional qualifications, leadership skills, and perspective to set clear and measurable objectives focused on education. In collaboration with board colleagues and the administration, I want to help BHS become the premier district in Michigan once again.

Sandeep Chada: I am happy with the current direction of the district. The recently released M-Step results were great and showed progress in the right direction. I do not feel the current BOE is working as a team to address some of the problems facing the district.

Tareq Falah: I am a firm believer in continuous improvement. While I believe in general we are headed in the right direction, there is much work to be done and we must prioritize the needs of our students as board members to ensure each child reaches their full potential. A primary contributor for areas where I feel we are not performing well would be Board Leadership. We are not prioritizing items which will impact our students our Board does not operate in a way which we would be proud for our students to see. To make progress, we must operate transparently, communicate respectfully, and measure our performance to ensure accountability.

Nicholas Haugen: Overall, I am happy with the direction of the district. The BOE recently adopted a mission and vision that aligns with the strategic plan created with feedback from all stakeholders. I think as all strategic plans should be, this one is aspirational, it gives BHS things to work toward. I think we offer a wide range of courses for our young people, this gives them the opportunity to pursue their passions, and explore new topics.­Meagan M. Hill: This district has the financial resources for excellent academic outcomes. More importantly, this district has highly engaged families, teachers and administrators and I am proud to be a part of the community. Enrollment and academic rankings continue to decline at an alarming level and require real and focused attention moving forward.

Paul Kolin: I believe that there is always room for growth and improvement in education. We must be able to accommodate our entire student body. It’s essential that we have the staff and resources in place to support all of our learners at every level. I’m happy when the students are happy and thriving. When they are not, we have more work to do.

Harris Ng: Our district has tremendous potential with wonderful families, teachers, and staff. We also receive the most funding per student in the state. With these resources, our district should be the premier district in the state. More than half our students are not considered college ready. Our district had a $3M deficit. Our enrollment continues to decline. Our rankings also continue to decline. Without strong schools, we will lose more students to private options and our property values will decline. We have the resources and potential to be the premier district in the state with the right board leadership.

Carolyn Noble: In the aftermath of a pandemic, nearly all students have experienced some challenges to their mental health and well-being. Many young people don’t feel safe. My priority is to work on safety for our students, both mental and physical safety so that our students can experience the joy of learning without barriers. We are still coping with the effects of the pandemic, and there is evidence of disparity in the way our students fared.

Lauren Wilson: Bloomfield Hills Schools has many achievements to be proud. However, as a taxpayer in one of the most well-funded districts in the state, I expect to see top-notch academic, operational, and fiscal results. Bloomfield Hills High School is currently ranked #49 in the state of Michigan (61% student proficiency in math, 79% in reading), we are struggling to maintain existing bus routes and latchkey services, we reported roughly $3 million dollars over budget last year, all while we navigate a continuous decline in enrollment. These are examples of opportunities to address and improve performance and experience within the district. School ranking and proficiency percentages are according to www.USNews.com.

Jim Baker: Overall, I am happy with the current and more-recent direction of the district. We have seen some growth over the past couple of years. The School Board needs strong leaders who can continue to drive the district toward greater success. Leaders who speak truth through their actions, such that those who hear and listen, trust the words being spoken. Where we always need to improve is the overall education of our students. This includes academic, social, family, and mental and physical health. By always working with improvement our goal, we can assure our students they will learn to succeed in the second, third and fourth quarters of the 21^st century.

What should the school district’s priorities be coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, including how it spends ARPA funds?

Sandeep Chada: Teacher recruitment, retention, and recognition - many teachers are fatigued physically, mentally, and emotionally. A few things we can try to increase morale: a. More recognition of outstanding performance. b. Flexible schedules – to allow for peer planning time and breaks. c. More support in the classroom with emotionally disturbed or disruptive students. Second, security protocols - All staff must be trained to react properly to an intruder. Dead bolt on the inside of every classroom door. Single entry. Third, diversity training and mental health help for students who are struggling. The ARPA funds should be used to help with the above issues.

Tareq Falah: In terms of ARPA, BHS received approximately $400,000 in funding. This was used to implement optional programming in the summer for our students. Outside of ARPA, our priorities must continue to be to budget for and allocate funds to ensure all students are able to achieve academic success. That means ensuring equitable resources for every learner, additional mental health resources to create positive learning environments and introducing additional ways to differentiate at grade level to challenge our passionate learners, introducing STEAM and experiential opportunities to solidify a holistic learning experience.

Nicholas Haugen: *BHS used most of the funding we received toward optional summer academic classes. Although Bloomfield Hills just passed the largest bond in its history, the money is earmarked for renovating nine buildings, a farm and nature center to be right sized and efficiently meet the needs of the district. Additionally, flexible spaces and technological advances will accommodate the evolution of the district. It is important to maintain our buildings so that they remain safe spaces for our students to learn. Infrastructure is a priority and proper maintenance will not only reduce repair costs in the future, it will ensure our students have the proper spaces in which to learn and grow.

Meagan M. Hill: The district’s main priority should be targeting COVID learning loss. Remaining COVID funds should be spent on additional staff and tutoring of the students who have fallen behind the most.

Paul Kolin: The priorities should be to identify the learning loss and our students’ mental health. it is important to meet students at their level and recognize that is everchanging whether it’s due to expected or unexpected variables. We’ll use ARPA funding to provide the environment, infrastructure, resources and staff to continue to identify and address the hardships the pandemic imposed on our students.

Harris Ng: Our district has measurable education performance drops because of COVID learning loss. The COVID funds that are still available should target learning loss directly with our students. Summer programs, supplemental tutoring programs, and additional instructional support should be provided to students most impacted by the learning loss.

Carolyn Noble: Counseling and tutoring are my top priorities. The ARPA funds must be spent on developing programs to address the gaps in learning students have experienced during the pandemic, summer enrichment programs, after-school programs, emergency needs, and administrative costs. I would like to see funds directed to both mental and academic support for our students, allowing for as much individual customization as possible. The money could be transformative to our students.

Lauren Wilson: Our priority should be ensuring our tax dollars are responsibly and transparently spent and managed to ensure the elevation of student academic performance. Our students are demonstrating a need for academic rigor and we can be better at ensuring that students are prepared for the next grade and post graduation.

Jim Baker: Keeping our children safe and healthy is a primary concern whether we are coming out of a pandemic or not. And a great way to do that is through education. The district teaches the students; the board needs to educate the families about the realities, including the health options now available. As for the ARPA funds, assuming those funds are allocated with preconditions, the board will need to follow the mandates of the program. But applying those funds to areas earmarked frees up other district funds to use to promote teacher retention and hiring, and to improve the safety of our facilities.

Lindsay G. Baker: Disruptions to learning during the pandemic have created social and academic gaps that must be addressed and prioritized by the district. Students are adjusting to school expectations and routines, while also trying to make up lost ground academically. The district should use remaining Covid funding to provide support to the students most impacted by Covid through targeted summer school, tutoring programs, and additional mental health resources so all students have what they need to reach their potential.

Issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion are a recurring conversation among students, staff and the community at large. What’s one tangible action local districts can make to address diversity, equity and inclusion?

Tareq Falah: While BHS does have DEI initiatives in place, we must continue to focus on communication and community engagement. If the tragic situation which took place at BHHS last year taught us anything, it’s that we can’t make progress without communicating with our community. I would advocate to create townhalls and forums, inviting our students and community to participate. Additionally, creation of PLCs (professional learning communities) can help facilitate an avenue for all stakeholders to engage and communicate respectfully and work towards progress in our schools. Finally, we must implement meaningful metrics to ensure progress and share that with our community regularly.

Nicholas Haugen: We can commit to continuing to engage in hard conversations. Commit to continuing to bring awareness to racial equity. Commit to partnering with our stakeholders, so that our district's DEI vision is as comprehensive as our SEL vision. We must commit to review policies and procedures that have a disparate impact on certain groups of students, and where biased in intent or impact, changing those policies. Commit to making sure policy and practice are the same and that our words, written or spoken, are not merely promotional or aspirational.Meagan M. Hill: One tangible action is to provide resources to those students whose families cannot afford private tutoring. It is inequitable that one student can succeed more than another, simply because their family has the resources or background to supplement their public school education with tutoring. All students in Bloomfield Hills Schools should be given the opportunity to achieve high academic performance.

Paul Kolin: Making students feel safe and included is critical to learning and being able to thrive. Last year our district updated its Hate Policy and continues to offer training and development opportunities for our staff in order provide a safe environment for all our students. Hiring educators and administrators that have the experience and ability to connect with students is fundamental in our efforts for an equitable and inclusive district.

Harris Ng: Growing up in an immigrant family and with parents without high school education has taught me that a strong public school education system is the greatest equalizer in America. Our greatest opportunity to help those most in need is to ensure our schools have the academic rigor and education focus that provides everyone a great education. When our academics are not strong, students with personal resources and support will continue to succeed with tutoring support and parental help. Those without will not succeed. That is our greatest opportunity.Carolyn Noble: We can find programs and speakers to teach students to stay curious and accepting of differences. Hearing from someone about their struggles and successes changes hearts and minds. I also believe in mentorship and think we could provide opportunities for students to mentor other younger students going through similar challenges. I am a proponent of face-to-face conversations. I work as a relationship builder and fundraiser. I get great pleasure out of meeting new people and hearing their stories. Speaking to so many people make you realize we are all fundamentally the same and want very similar things.

Lauren Wilson: An education is something that no one can take away from an individual. If we commit to delivering a fair and unbiased education to all students, our students will be prepared for life post-graduation whether that be in higher level learning, the trades, or whichever path they decide.

Jim Baker: A district can appoint a diversity equity and inclusion director who can work with each school to address its focal points regarding DEI, implementing large scale, as well as focused programs (e.g. diverse ambassador program).

Lindsay G. Baker: Some families in our district have the means to hire private tutors and provide other educational support, but not all can do so and it may come at great sacrifice. Our district should level the academic playing field to ensure that we provide all students with the support needed for them to successfully complete coursework without having to seek outside resources. No student should be at a disadvantage because they do not have access to outside support; our schools should challenge students at all levels and provide them with what they need to succeed.

Sandeep Chada: It is important that the classrooms at BHS are equitable and inclusive, and every student has equal access to learning, is treated equitably by the learning community, and feels valued and supported by their instructor and peers. When designing courses with inclusivity in mind, they should reflect diversity of varying viewpoints, opinions, and perspectives. To achieve equity within the classroom and beyond, designing a course that creates an authentic environment and offers autonomy is intended to influence students’ success. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to consider the inclusivity of learning outcomes, teaching methods, assessments and activities.

School districts saw student enrollment drop dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic to private-, charter-, home- or non-school options. With school funding tied directly to enrollment, what are your thoughts on schools of choice policies, and how would you attract new, returning students to the district?

Nicholas Haugen: I am in favor of parents having a choice of schools. I am not in favor of any type of voucher programs. We attract new students by doing good work. By passing progressive policy that strengthens our district's vision. We attract students by embracing all learners, by strengthening our DEI foundation, by understanding that we must meet each child where that child is.

Meagan M. Hill: To start, we need to reach out to every single family that left the district during and after the COVID pandemic. Rather than guessing why they left or wondering how we get them back, we need to talk to them and ask those questions directly. If there’s one universal trait of human beings, it’s that they want to be heard and listened to. The collective feedback of those conversations will create a framework for how we recruit them back into the district and retain them for the long haul.

Paul Kolin: I have been working with our administration and superintendent to develop a robust exit interview process that will help identify the issues that are impacting the decisions that families are making when leaving the district. My goal is to help the district address those issues for both retention and reenrollment.

Harris Ng: Many families left the district during COVID due to in-person learning policies. Now that COVID has passed, we must work hard to retain and attract families by providing a superior education experience with a breadth of programs and education options that only public schools can offer. When our academic rigor matches those of private schools, families will see the value in public schools.

Carolyn Noble: I think we will naturally attract more students back into enrollment as COVID-19 wanes. To remain able to meet the evolving needs of our families, we need to continue to deliver options that work for a spectrum of learners. That means being innovative and open-minded. We need to find out what is being offered in other educational settings that appeal to people and assess whether we want to spend our resources to develop similar offerings. 

Lauren Wilson: Every family in our district should want to consider Bloomfield Hills School District for their child’s education. We have a fantastic district with incredible resources however the district needs to build trust with parents in order to bring children into the public school system. This means being transparent and acting with urgency to address parent concerns. Parent involvement is essential for a child’s education and symbiotic relationships with teachers and staff support the success of a child.

Jim Baker: As a parent of public school kids, choosing to run for the local school board for a public school district, my view on school of choice policies is simple: if a family chooses private, parochial, or charter schooling for their student, it should not be at the expense of a public school student. And if Let MI Kids Learn or similar proposal/legislation passes in Michigan, a public school student will pay the expense.

Lindsay G. Baker: Stopping and reversing the enrollment decline is critical to ensuring sustainable funding for public schools. The best way to attract new families and bring back families is to address the reasons they consider alternatives. We must restore confidence that the district will provide students the best education in the area. To do this, we must shift the focus and priority toward improving student outcomes and helping students reach their potential. This should be evident in our programming and communications, as well as our test scores and rankings, in order for families to entrust the district with their children’s education.

Sandeep Chada: I am not in favor of school of choice policies that redirect funds from public schools. Public schools take care of students that many times are not allowed into some private schools. The best ways to attract students into the Bloomfield Hills School District is to attract the best teachers and offer the most comprehensive education to all students. Parents will be drawn to excellence through high standards and increased diversity.

Tareq Falah: I believe we must focus our tax dollars on improving public education.  Charter schools and vouchers harm public education by utilizing valuable resources for institutions which are not transparent, not measured and typically fail within three years. To attract and retain, we must continue to focus on improving our academic rankings as well as develop robust programs which challenge learners and allow children to reach their potential. Lastly, we must trust and advocate for the teachers we have, by promoting competitive salaries and removing obstacles from our teachers in their pursuit of growth due to heavy responsibilities they now carry.

What is an issue facing the district that isn’t on residents’ radar that should be? What steps would you take to address that issue?

Meagan M. Hill: As I’m out discussing our schools with members of the community, the data I share regarding 55% of our students not being college ready is shocking to them. As a board we need to make Education First when it comes to setting policies, creating budgets and outlining measurable goals for academic performance

Paul Kolin: Many residents who don’t have children in the school district are not aware of the capital improvements we are making at all of our schools. These will not only impact the issues I mentioned above but also provide resources that can better connect the greater community to the district through accessibility and outreach.

Carolyn Noble: *The director of Bowers School Farm and the Johnson Nature Center, Alan Jaros, has a wonderful vision for these unique outdoor learning environments. While he is doing an outstanding job, he could use additional resources from the community. Second, the Board should find a cost-effective way to ensure that all students have a schedule that fits their needs for optimal sleep schedules. This may mean a later start time for Bloomfield Hills High School students. Third, there is a shortage of staff for various positions within the BHS and we need to find a way to prioritize funding for competitive salaries for preschool teachers, substitute teachers, bus drivers, and other key positions.

Harris Ng: The shocking fact to residents is 55% of our students are not college ready. Amongst our peer districts, we spend the least percentage of our funding on instruction, and yet we are the highest funded per pupil school district in the State. To address the issue, we must make Education First. Before other priorities or agendas, we must address education. We should direct more resources toward instruction and ensure the academic rigor is in our classrooms. The board, as the policy setting body in the district, can set priorities, direct funding, and set goals and objectives focused on education.

Lauren Wilson: *Currently, over 25% of district 3rd graders are not measuring as proficient in reading. This is an improvement post COVID as the children were measuring in the 30%+ not proficient range for the prior 5 years. This measure is critical because this is the age when children go from learning to read, to reading to learn. If children at this age do not have a firm grasp on reading, their projection for success becomes much more challenged. This is a reality that we must address and discern why this has happened so we can course correct. Reading proficiency percentages are according to www.MISchoolData.org.

Jim Baker: The issues surrounding curriculum being taught, select books being in school libraries, perceived indoctrination, and other hot-button topics are very noticeable in other districts. Bloomfield Hills is benefited by not being seriously plagued by such division … not yet anyway. The Board needs to meet with the community, in and out of the Board room, to make sure every district family knows the truth of what is being taught, transparency as to how their student is being taught, thus eliciting from district families their trust that the amazing educators of Bloomfield Hills Schools are doing an amazing job educating their children.

Lindsay G. Baker: Most of our graduates are college bound, yet, according to the most recent data, the majority of our students (55%) are not considered college ready by the state of Michigan. This comes as a surprise to many voters. Test scores are not the be all and end all, but are among the many signals we should consider when evaluating district performance. In order to address this issue, I want to make Education First in BHS and will take a data-driven approach to ensure that everything we do ties back to the fundamental goal of improving educational outcomes for all students.

Sandeep Chada: The mental health needs of students is currently underestimated, many students are still struggling with the isolation caused by the pandemic. We need to have more social workers and psychologists on staff to make sure that all of the students are getting the help they need. Without adequate mental health support, students will not be able to meet their curricular objectives.

Tareq Falah: Bullying in our schools is at an all-time high. Recent statistics show that one out of every 5 students reported being bullied. This creates unsafe situations where children can not learn, promotes hate which can manifest into violence and distracts educators from their primary focus. We must address bullying with zero-tolerance policies and hold students accountable for unacceptable behavior. Additionally, we need to promote district-wide programs which foster leaders in our schools who will advocate for safe environments and be the voice needed to prevent these situations from happening.

Nicholas Haugen: I think everyone in our community should read this article by Nancy Kaffer - Opinion: School board elections on troublesome course. I am running in the Bloomfield Hills School board election, I hope to protect the books in our libraries, our DEI policies, and our LGBTQ students.