Vote for two candidates: (two four-year terms)
Name: Jeff Gardner
Previous office/term: None
Age: 39
Occupation: Vice-President of Sales ? Reliance One, Inc.
Family: Married for 14 years and I have a son in seventh grade at GMS.
Education, experience & skills: Goodrich High School 1988. U.S. Navy 1988-1992. 17 years in the technical staffing industry. Responsible for the company’s business development. Strong communication and managerial skills.
Which issues do you most want to address if elected? Setting short and long term goals. Improve communication between the board, teachers, administrators and the community. I will be approachable, listen and collaboratively work with everyone.
How do you plan to save the district money in tough economic times without jeopardizing education?: Examples include delaying technology upgrades, new buses and shared service savings through the GISD. It is important we do all we can to avoid cost savings affecting the classroom.
Position on schools of choice?: We must ensure any growth within schools of choice takes infrastructure requirements into account. It does not benefit the district if the cost of more students outweighs the added revenue.
School board meetings attended: More than 20.

Name: Mark Griffiths
Previous office/term: None
Age: 58
Occupation: Salesman for Akzon Nobel Coatings
Family: Two daughters: Laurel, a Kalamazoo College graduate, and Kelsey, a senior at GHS.
Education, experience & skills: 105 credits General Motors Institute and Oakland Community College. U.S. Navy 1975-1977. Education is my passion. I listen, I am approachable, I research everything, my decisions are based on facts.
Which issues do you most want to address if elected? Upcoming negotiations handled in a collaborative way. Keeping the high levels of achievement through diligence. Becoming compliant in special needs with training and perhaps hiring a full-time director.
How do you plan to save the district money in tough economic times without jeopardizing education? Keep tight controls on energy costs, use shared services where possible, and press the state and federal governments to fund what they mandate (everybody should contact their legislators).
Position on schools of choice? I support 105c, it has served us well. I do not support 105. I believe it is disruptive and unfair to the children and the district. Mid-year transfers are very difficult.
School board meetings attended: I have rarely missed a meeting in four- and-a-half years. I have been to as many finance and curriculum committee meetings as I knew about.

Name: Michael Tripp (incumbent)
Previous office/term: I have served on the Goodrich Board of Education for 14 years. I am also a member of the Executive Board for the Genesee County Association of School Board Members.
Age: 52
Occupation: I am currently the Director of Internal Audit for Hurley Medical Center where I have worked for 17 years.
Family: I have been married to Janice for 32 years. We have one child, Ryan, who is 26 and a graduate of Goodrich.
Education, Experience & Skills: I have Master’s Degrees in Business and in Educational Leadership. I achieved State Certification in school administration and have served on several educational committees including college advisory and curriculum committees.
Which issues do you most want to address if elected? Aside from funding issues, I will continue to work with administration on areas that need additional improvement such as special education. These have not been ignored and progress is occurring.
How do you plan to save the district money in tough economic times without jeopardizing education? We must continue searching for cooperative programs that fit our needs, implement more cost savings programs such as the energy management program, reduce redundancy and assure all expenditures are essential.
Position on schools of choice? I voted against the State 105 School of Choice program. I did not feel the district was prepared and the public did not express support.
School board meetings attended: I have an outstanding attendance record over my 14-year tenure as a board member. I estimate I have missed one regular or special meeting in the past four years.