Northville Schools Achieve Beyond Academics, School Board Trustee Says

Adam Phelps — Trustee, Northville School Board

How long have you been on the school board?
I was elected to the Northville Board of Education in November 2012 and just finished the first year of my four-year term.

What is your role?
I'm currently a Trustee on the Board and I also serve as our representative on the Northville Parks and Recreation Commission. 

Why did you join the school board?
I chose to run for a position on the school board because I have two children attending Northville Public Schools and felt it would be an opportunity to make a difference for both my community and my family. There were a lot of important issues facing the Northville school district (boundary changes, teacher contracts, etc.) and I wanted to volunteer to help guide the district in a way that would best serve the interests of our students and residents.

Could you tell us about your personal or professional background, relevant to this position? 
Similar to many people in our community, I work in the automotive industry. During my career, I have held management positions in purchasing, project management and human resources. Combined with my academic credentials (BA/MBA), my experience provides a great foundation for managing the core school board functions: establish a balanced budget, set district policy, hire personnel and provide strategic leadership. I am also active at our school and I go out of my way to understand the voice of our students and parents.

What about Northville Public Schools makes you proud?
There is a lot about Northville Public Schools to be proud of and a lot of our residents move to Northville for the school system. One of the biggest points of pride I have in our school district is the diversity of student achievement. The school board receives frequent updates about our district’s accomplishments in academics and the arts and athletics. It is amazing to see the individual and team accomplishments that our students have earned in a wide variety of skills. The state and national recognition our school district receives is one of the many reasons why Northville is a desirable place to live.

What are your goals for the district?
I have two primary goals for the district: sustainable fiscal health and continuous academic improvement. We have made significant progress with our district budget in large part due to disciplined cost management. With a continued balanced budget, we will be able to invest more in teachers and facilities. For academic improvement, we have annual reviews of school performance and identify opportunities where we can improve. Most recently, there has been a need to 
work on the science curriculum at the elementary level. The administration has been working with some teachers and the school board on the plan for tangible improvement and we're expecting some positive changes for our students.

Anything else you'd like to add?
There have been some controversial issues in front of the school board this past year and I can assure you that every debate and decision has been handled as if my own family were personally affected. I think it's a privilege to serve on the Northville school board and I appreciate our teachers and administrators who dedicate their careers to making Northville one of the best public school districts in Michigan.

Check back with Patch Wednesday for the next board member profile.

Previous Northville school board profiles:

1. Scott Craig Aims to Add Teachers in Northville Schools
2. Northville Schools' Focus is Education in 21st Century, School Board President Says
3. Northville Schools Excel Despite Less Funding, School Board VP Says