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Ê BOYNE CITY - The Boyne City annual school elections are set for May 6 and voters will have three candidates to choose from for the two open seats starting in July. The three candidates are Kelly Looze, Marty Moody, and Ed Vondra.

In addition to the board elections, the May 6 ballot will also include three millage renewals that impact the operating revenue for the district.

Kelly Looze, 44, has lived in Boyne City her whole life and is married with three children that are in the Boyne City Public School system. She is currently employed at the Bay Street Orthopaedics and has a Bachelor of Science degree and is a Board Certified Radiographer.

Looze co-chaired the Boyne City Middle School PTO president seat for three years and has never served on the BCPS Board of Education.

"I have no agenda for wanting to serve on the School Board althoughÊI do have a vested interest within our public school system," Looze said. "I currently have a child in each of our schools, Elementary, Middle and the High School."

Marty Moody, 45, has also lived in Boyne City his whole life and he and his wife, Connie, have four daughters. Moody is a realtor with Lynda's Real Estate Service and is a past member of the BCPS Board. Two of his kids are still in the BCPS system.

Moody's experience includes the Boyne City Performing Arts Chair, Boyne School Boosters, Boyne City School Board member, Boyne Valley Lions, Boyne City Drama, and for the past 10 years worked with the "Young Teen Nights" for the Middle School.

Ê "I served on the board through some very tough times and was proud to be one of the members that got us through those times, and back to being the school of choice here in Northern Michigan," Moody said. "I believe that I am a good communicator, as well as businessman, and have the ability to make the tough decisions that have faced us over the years, and that we will continue to face in the current state of our state."

Moody believes in being involved in the community and with two children in the system he feels very in touch with the school and the community. He has been involved with the school system over the past 17 years.

"I think that I have been able to contribute to the school community through volunteering. While we have one of the best school systems in the state, it takes a lot of work to keep it that way," Moody commented. "We have a great superintendent in place, as well as a lot of wonderful staff, but it is something that you have to continually work at.

"I enjoyed serving on the School Board in the past, and believe that I was effective. I never came in with an axe to grind or an agenda, and I think that is the only way you can be an effective objective participant. I would be honored to represent our community once again."

Ed Vondra, has lived in Boyne for 22 years and has had six children graduate from BCPS. He works at Ace Hardware and his volunteer activities include the School Board, the Library Board, and the Church Board.

"I want to help our children be successful. We want the best for all the children," Vondra said.

Vondra currently holds one of the two seats that are open and is re-running for the spot.

Superintendent Robert Alger said the new candidates will begin their term on the board during the July board meeting and that date has not yet been set. It's called the Organizational Meeting of the Board and the date will be set at either the May or June meeting.

"In this day and age it's not easy serving on a Board of Education. I think for the most part, I have been very fortunate with Boards of Education that I have worked under and the people are truly interested in doing what's best for kids," Alger said. "It's working as a unit is where a Board of Education has strengths, it's important for people to work as a group."

The other three proposals on the ballot are all going to be renewals. Up for renewal is the proposal to allow the district to continue levying 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its full revenue per the pupil foundation allowance. This millage does not impact the principal residence that the homeowner has established as their "homestead" or qualified agricultural property.

The second request is for one mill which will be assessed only to enable the school district to restore the mills that may be lost as a result of a possible Headlee reduction on the 18 mills applied to all property other than homestead and qualified agricultural properties.

The third proposal is for a 1.16 mill renewal to allow the Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District to continue to support all of the districts in the two county area, including Boyne City, with its special education services.

"The purpose of that one mill kicks in year two and three of the proposal for three years, for year two and three in case of heavy rollback. Sometimes that is difficult to understand," Alger explained. "I want people to understand it, for most of our voting public it won't affect them, people need to understand that. It affects a lot of our resorters and businesses but for the most part it doesn't affect their homestead."

Jeff Bergren can be reached at jbergren@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-582-6761.ÊÊ