Heyboer, Jason - Grandville Public Schools
Are you an incumbent?
Yes
Brief Intro of Candidate
I have lived in the Grandville District for nearly 50 years and I am a 2nd generation alumnus of Grandville Public Schools. My wife and I have been married for over 20 years and we have 3 kids who are/have attended Grandville. I have served as a high school lacrosse coach, I am a member of the Athletic Boosters, I have been parent volunteer for numerous events, and currently I serve as the School Board President. I have worked in Human Resources for most of my career and presented to numerous schools, colleges, and universities about the skills needed to be marketable in the 21st century workplace.
Endorsements
Not at this time
Top financials Contributors
Website and social media links
Myself, small donations for the public
votejasonheyboer.com, Facebook - ReElect Jason Heyboer - Grandville School Board
How would you engage and include parents, caregivers, community members and students in decision-making in your district around things like curriculum, budgeting and district policy?
I am lucky to have kids who participate in a wide variety of school activities from sports to theater to music to student government. Through these different groups and organizations, I have the ability to interact with a wide variety of parents, students and staff. Many of them have no idea I am on the school board and it allows us to have open conversations about what is happening in the district and get a true sense of the issues they have. In addition, I always make myself available before and after board meetings and welcome comments from our residents.
What are your thoughts on school discipline and the way it is exercised in your school district? What are your thoughts on restorative practices?
I have used restorative practices in my professional life throughout my career and believe it to be a useful practice. I have found when you are able to have sit down and have meaningful conversations about how actions are impacting the work community, you are able to set the tone for what everyone believes to be acceptable and it is easier to hold each other accountable.
What are your thoughts on how to improve student mental health
Grandville has a very active Be Nice community that actively encourages a healthy environment for our students and teaches them how to identify the changes in their peers that may be of concern. In addition to this wonderful program, they have built Seminar time into the week for every student. This is time every Wednesday where kids can use time during the school day to work on projects, reach out to their teachers for extra help and schedule time for test retakes.
What are your thoughts on ways to improve Black student achievement in your district and in Michigan schools overall?
We have added a Student Academic Excellence and Well-Being Coordinator whose focus is to find ways to assist students who are struggling and come from traditionally underserved communities, which includes students of color. This added resource is vital to help students who are struggling academically, and a model I would suggest.
What are your thoughts on how to ensure that all students and their families, regardless of race, gender identity, sexuality, disability, religion, income status, etc., feel safe and included in your district?
It is important for a school district to reflect the community that they serve, so having staff that looks like your community is vital. This helps students and parents feel like they too are a part of the school community and not left out. In addition, having progressive policies that address the needs of these groups are important and not ignored.
What are your thoughts on how to recruit and retain staff, particularly staff of color, in your district with regard to pay, benefits, and working conditions?
I do believe it is important to have a diverse staff, regardless of the community demographics. In communities that are less diverse, this may be the first opportunity a student has to interact someone that doesn't look like them and it can help combat and eliminate implicit bias and stereotypes. And in order to maintain these valuable employees, we must maintain a competitive contract with our teachers and compensate the rest of our staff fairly and maintain our status as a destination district.