After retirement, Cavanaugh elected to Lamphere board

By Jeremy Adragna
C & G Staff Writer

MADISON HEIGHTS — A new face will be seen at the table of the Madison District Schools Board of Education this summer.

One-time district employee Denise Collom won a seat on the board ahead of three other candidates and Kenneth M. Melchert who has sat on the board for the last four years.

Current board member Larry Lewis was also returned to the Board of Education last week after taking in the largest number of votes.

Much of the discussion among Madison District Schools officials in recent months has centered on the district’s $1.6 million budget deficit, whether to keep the district open to all students through the Schools of Choice program and how to deal with a hulking empty school that sits across the street from Collom’s home.

Last week, the candidates met at Madison High School to discuss those issues and others during a debate that also drew about 50 residents.                 

Collom has called for the district to begin dealing with the shuttered Monroe Elementary School, which once housed the district’s board office, alternative education high school and a preschool program. Each was moved out in 2007 and the building has remained vacant.

“I think the voters are looking for a change,” said Collom, who worked in the district for 18 years. “I think that my reputation stood on its own and (voters) believe in me and my honesty. 

Melchert, who served on the Board of Education since 2004, said he was glad to serve but he knows it’s his time to step down.

“It is what it is,” said Melchert of the election. “This is their choice. I did my job as strong and as hard as I could. I wish them the best of luck. I hope that I’ve made a positive change. It’s been a privilege.”

Melchert will serve on the Board of Education until the end of his term, which expires on June 30.

Lewis, a retired ironworker, has now been elected three times since joining the Board of Education in 2003. In recent weeks he has called for greater involvement from parents, reducing the district’s debt without eliminating programs and for the creation of innovative programs.

“I think we need strong, dedicated and experienced leadership,” said Lewis during the district’s recent candidate forum. “We need something new and we need to keep our programs we have in place. We don’t need to keep changing each summer.”             

Lewis took more than 27 percent of the vote and Collom took more than 24 percent. Incumbent Melchert received nearly 16 percent, while challenger Sue Barron took nearly 13 percent, Joseph J. Landino received more than 11 percent, and Dan McDonald received more than 8 percent.

Lamphere voters choose new board member after Nowak retires
Longtime Lamphere board member Lynn Nowak announced her retirement earlier this year, leaving vacant a seat on the Board of Education.

Voters cast ballots for Paul Cavanaugh, a one-time teacher and parent of five Lamphere students past and present. He received more than 51 percent of the vote. Current board member David Crawford received nearly 49 percent of the vote.

Each will serve a four-year term. Neither seat was contested. 

Nowak, who served 20 years on the Board of Education, plans to spend part of the year living out-of-state and so she decided not to run again.

The Lamphere District also includes areas of Troy and Royal Oak. Of Madison Heights’ 19,811 registered voters, 1,559 cast ballots during the election. The voter turnout was 7.87 percent of registered voters in 12 precincts in Madison Heights. The results of the election had not been finalized last week and are considered unofficial.

You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Adragna at jadragna@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1101.