Battle Creek Times

On Monday, January 9, our BCPS school board came together for their first meeting of the new year. During the meeting, the board welcomed new members and assigned new roles and building assignments for each board member.

After wishing a fond farewell last month to former board members Kyra Wallace and Jacqueline Slaby, the board kicked off the meeting by welcoming and swearing in newly elected members Nicole Perry and Dr. Elishae Johnson, along with the reelected board member Art McClenney.

Nicole Perry is a Battle Creek Central graduate well known locally for her success in track and field. She now works as an attorney with the employee relations team at Kellogg Co. and has two children currently attending BCPS. Dr. Elishae Johnson, also a Bearcat graduate, has a professional background in healthcare and currently has a child attending BCPS. Art McClenney is a retired Battle Creek law enforcement officer who has been serving in various roles on the BCPS school board, up to and including board president from 2016 to 2018.

Following the induction of the newly elected board members, the board voted on and approved the following newly assigned board roles (board member building assignments are included in parentheses):

° Nathan Grajek: Treasurer (Fremont International Academy, Outdoor Education Center, Adult Education)

° Art McClenney: Secretary (Battle Creek Central High School, Dudley STEM Elementary)

° Charlie Fulbright: Vice President (Post-Franklin Elementary, BC Area Math & Science Center)

° Patty Poole-Gray: President (Northwestern Middle School, Ann J. Kellogg Elementary)

° Catherine LaValley: Trustee (LaMora Park Elementary, Valley View Elementary)

° Dr. Elishae Johnson: Trustee (W.K. Kellogg Preparatory High School, Springfield Middle School)

° Nicole Perry: Trustee (Battle Creek STEM Innovation Center, Verona Elementary)

New board president Patty Poole-Gray shared, "I'm grateful to serve in this position and would like to thank the board members and community for entrusting me with this important responsibility. I'd like to offer special thanks to [former president] Mrs. LaValley for her support and mentorship since I began my time with the BCPS school board several years ago."

BCPS Superintendent Kim Carter added, "We are fortunate at Battle Creek Public Schools to have an incredible school board supporting the success of our young learners. I am so appreciative of the hard work and commitment of every board member to the many great things happening in Battle Creek Public Schools. I am thrilled to welcome Mrs. Perry and Dr. Johnson to join our work to increase opportunities and improve outcomes for the children of Battle Creek." 

Original source can be found here.