Milan Board Chat Explains School Board Service

With four Milan Area Schools board seats set to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot, board members used Thursday’s Big Red Board Chat to give residents a closer look at what board service involves and what potential candidates should know before running.

The informal session focused on how the board works, what the role involves and why board members said community involvement matters.

Board member Andrew Cislo said four seats will be on the ballot this year, including three six-year terms and one two-year term. Cislo said he does not plan to run again.

The six-year terms currently held by Thomas Faro, Michelle Heikka and Cislo are up this year. The two-year term is tied to the seat now held by Gabriel Burdette, who was appointed after a vacancy on the board.

Board members said vacancies must be filled within 30 days, either by board appointment or by the Washtenaw Intermediate School District if needed. Appointed members later must run to keep the seat.

Board members said Milan uses six-year terms to provide continuity and give members time to learn the role. Cislo said the work takes time to fully understand, with the first year often spent learning how the board functions and the second spent getting more comfortable in the role.

Trustee Cassie Prior said longer terms have not discouraged people from running in Milan and can help avoid major turnover at one time.

The board also discussed the basics of running for office. Prior said the filing deadline for nonpartisan candidates is 4 p.m. July 21.

She said candidates can either pay a filing fee or collect signatures to get on the ballot, but encouraged the signature route as a way to start connecting with voters.

“Every signature you don’t collect is a conversation you don’t have,” Prior said.

Board members said the role involves more than regular board meetings. In addition to meetings, members serve on committees, review materials prepared by district administration and attend trainings.

Prior estimated board service can take about 10 to 20 hours a month, depending on committee work and other responsibilities.

Burdette said he originally thought his accounting and finance background would mainly help with budget matters, but quickly realized the role involved much more.

“There’s so many other things that go along with school board service that you might not even think about,” Burdette said.

Cislo said the board’s work centers on three main responsibilities: setting district policy, overseeing and evaluating the superintendent, and managing district finances.

Board members emphasized that they do not handle the district’s day-to-day operations or supervise individual staff members. Instead, they said, the superintendent is the board’s only direct employee.

“You are one-seventh of that board,” Cislo said. “You can’t make a decision on your own.”

Members also said collaboration is essential and that boards can run into trouble when individuals try to take on responsibilities outside the board’s role.

The discussion also touched on the broader value of public education and the school district’s role in the community.

“The school system is the heart of the community,” Prior said.

Board members said they hope events like the Big Red Board Chat help residents better understand the role and consider getting involved.

Future Big Red Board Chat dates have not yet been set. Board members said a candidate forum at the high school, in partnership with the chamber, is also being considered ahead of the election.