Archive: Around Town

When Lansing votes on the school budget this May two school board seats will also be on the ballot.  Board of Education (BOE) members David Dittman and Michael Cheatham's three year terms are up this year.  Lansing School Superintendent Stephen Grimm says the district is looking for candidates.

"This is probably a good time for me to let the public know I am not seeking reelection," Cheatham told the board.  "I'm done.  Three years was good."


Cheatham won his seat in a whirlwind one-week campaign three years ago after another board candidate withdrew from the race.  He made quality education his focus in the campaign and throughout his term.  Dittman's focus has been on fiscal responsibility.  Recently he has strongly urged the BOE to balance its budget.

It has been typically difficult to find candidates to fill the seven-seat board.  Last year Aziza Benson was elected as a write-in candidate when the district failed to attract enough candidates to fill all the open seats.  If candidates do not run and are not written in the board has the authority to appoint members.  But a campaign gives the community the opportunity to learn about how candidates will represent them if elected.

Education law requires school board candidates to be able to read and write, to be a qualified voter of the District, a U.S. Citizen, 18 or more years of age, and a registered Voter.  Candidates must have been a resident of the district for an uninterrupted period of at least one year immediately before the election, may not have been removed from any district office within the preceding year, may not reside with another member of the same school board, and may not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office.

Grimm said the deadline for submitting materials and petitions is 5pm Monday, April 19th.

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