Board of Education

Jim Turner: President

Jim Turner was elected to the Board of Education in May 2005. His term expires in December 2018.  His community involvement includes volunteering at the Gerald R. Ford Job Corps Center. Mr. Turner graduated from Rogers High School in Wyoming, Michigan.  His course work has been in labor studies and in waste water treatment.  Jim is a retired waste water treatment operator from the City of Grand Rapids. Jim and his wife Pat have two children Melissa Tichelaar and Kerrie VerWys, as well as 7 grandchildren and 3 great grand-children.  All of his children and grand-children have attended Lowell Area Schools.  When asked to tell something fun about himself that no one would expect, he said that he likes listening to the Oldies station and occasionally tries to dance.

Brian Krajewski: Vice President

Brian Krajewski was elected to the Board of Education in 2011.  His term expires in December 2020.  Brian is the Director of Administrative Operations at Blue Cross Blue Shield.  He holds a Bachelor of Science Plastics Engineering Technology Degree from Ferris State University. Brian is a tireless volunteer in our community:  Pink Arrow Board Member; Gilda’s Club Charter Board Member.  Brian and his wife Julie have a son, Derek (Lowell Class of 2014), who is studying Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell, and a daughter, Danielle (Lowell Class of 2015), studying Plastics Engineering Technology at Ferris State University.  The Krajewski family have lived in Lowell for over 18 years.

Pat Nugent: Secretary

Pat Nugent was elected to the Board of Education in June 1998.  His term expires in December 2018.  He serves as Chairman of the St. Patrick Church History Committee, member of the St. Patrick Cemetery Committee, and has held the position of president of the Grattan Township Historical Society.   Mr. Nugent earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History Education from Michigan State University.  He also has a Master of Education degree in Secondary Education from Grand Valley State University.  Pat has been serving as Secretary of the Board of Education since 1999.  He also serves as the Board representative to the Lowell Education Foundation.   Pat teaches at West Catholic High School.  

Gary Blough: Treasurer

Gary Blough was elected to the Board of Education in 2010.  His term expires in December 2018.  Gary is a Partner with Family-Owned 3000+ Acre Crop Farm, Blu Sky farms in Lowell and is a retired mail carrier from the Lowell Post Office.  Gary earned an Associates in Business Administration, from Grand Rapids Junior College and 36 Years as Chief financial Officer and Co-Owner of Growing Dairy and Crop Farm.  Mr. Blough has volunteered as a docent and for other activities at Lowell Historical Museum.  A long time Lowell resident, Gary has a wife Laurie, and two children who are graduates of Lowell Area Schools.  Gary embraces the educational philosophy that our local values as parents, teachers, and community leaders, should serve as the educational guide for the students of Lowell Area Schools.

Tom Kaywood: Trustee

Tom was appointed to the Board of Education in November 2011.  His term expires in December 2020.  Tom and his wife Lisa have lived in the Lowell school district for more than 13 years, have a graduate of Lowell High School and one child still in our district.  They are active supporters of Lowell Area Schools.  Tom is an architect who has spent much of his career designing public education facilities.  We are excited about the unique experience and perspective he brings to the Board.
 

Laurie Kuna: Trustee

Laurie was elected to the Board in November 2012.  Her term expires in December 2020. She retired in 2010 after 29 years teaching English—including literature, composition, journalism and creative writing—at Lowell High School. Now days, she spends her time in various writing pursuits and traveling. She holds both a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree from Michigan State University.  Her Board goal is simple in theory—find economically responsible ways of providing Lowell Area Schools’ staff and students with the tools and resources necessary to succeed. She also accepts the far more complicated challenge of making that goal a reality.

Dan Stephens: Trustee

Dan was appointed to the Board in September 2017.  His term expires December 2018.  He has been married to his wife Kim for 28 years and has lived in Lowell for 21 years. They have 7 children, 4 have graduated from Lowell (all currently attending college) and 3 are still in the district.  Dan is the program manager for General Motors and has worked there for 32 years. Dan spends time following and supporting his children’s sports activities. Dan feels he lives in the best school system and very much appreciates what Lowell Area Schools offers his children.

Regular Meetings
October 8, 2018 - Posting, Agenda, Approved Minutes
September 10, 2018 - Posting, Agenda, Approved Minutes
August 13, 2018 - Posting, Agenda, Approved Minutes
July 9, 2018 - Posting, Agenda, Approved Minutes

Work Session Meetings
October 22, 2018 - Posting
September 24, 2018 - Posting
August 27, 2018 - Posting

Special Meetings
Facilities Ad Hoc - August 23, 2018 - Posting
Student Reinstatement Hearing - August 1, 2018 - Posting