Grosse Pointes

New board members chosen for leadership roles

By April Lehmbeck
C & G Staff Writer

GROSSE POINTES — The two new school board members jumped into the deep end of the pool on their first day, so to speak, by snagging two of the four leadership positions on the board.

There was some disagreement at the table about who should fill the roles as new president, vice president and secretary, with concerns about experience raised by some during a school board meeting Jan. 23. The only unanimous vote was for veteran Brendan Walsh as the board’s treasurer.

The board voted 4-3 to make Judy Gafa the new president and newcomer Lois Valente the vice president, and cast a 5-2 vote for new Board member Daniel Roeske as the board’s secretary. Some board members raised concerns about choosing a board rookie for a major leadership role.

“An officer on the board should be well-versed on the policies,” Trustee Tom Jakubiec said of the nomination of Valente as vice president.

Roeske stood behind his fellow newly elected board member for the No. 2 leadership role on the board by saying that Valente has experience in strategic planning and marketing.

“These are skills that would best serve us on the board here,” Roeske said.

Board member Cindy Pangborn also raised concerns about the new board members as officers.

“It’s usually unprecedented for someone who is new to an organization … to step in such a high position,” she said.

Others were ready to see the newcomers take seats as officers.

“I, too, think Lois will bring a lot to the table,” Gafa said during the vote for vice president. “I think some people get set in a rut, and it’s nice to have a fresh perspective and new eyes on situations.”

During the vote for president, Jakubiec favored longtime board member Joan Dindoffer, saying she would be a better fit at this time and felt that there is a path of succession to positions on the board. He said it wasn’t that he thought anything negative about Gafa’s qualifications.

Jakubiec voted against the motion for Gafa, who has been on the board since 2008, as president along with board members Pangborn and Dindoffer.

“I feel that Ms. Gafa did an outstanding job as secretary,” Jakubiec said. “I do feel that there’s someone else on the board that has served as vice president these last two years that I think would be an excellent choice in helping the board move forward in a collective, collaborative fashion.”

He said that he believes Dindoffer “seems to have a very good way of bringing all the board members to focus on a topic, especially difficult topics, in a very collective fashion.”

Pangborn asked whether a concern Gafa had raised in the past about time constraints concerning meetings had changed.

Gafa said things had changed, but also said that in the last three years she has been to every school board meeting except one due to her attending her son’s last baseball game.

“I have dedicated myself to this school board,” she said. “I take issue with meetings that I feel are unnecessary and don’t move the business forward that we need to move forward.”

While some on the board voted against Gafa, Roeske said he felt she was right for the job.

“I believe that Mrs. Gafa has the leadership experience,” Roeske said. “She is ready for the next position.”

Valente, Gafa and Walsh also voted in favor of seeing Gafa as the new president.

“Everyone brings unique skills to these types of positions,” Walsh said, asking the board to dismiss the idea that someone is better on a board that is full of leaders. “Let’s collectively lead our district. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Ms. Gafa for many years. She’s an outstanding leader.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1043.