The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Unions endorse school board candidates
Teachers and support staff endorse Berman, Devaney and Jackson
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: May 1, 2008
The Ypsilanti Education Association and the Ypsilanti Support Staff Association have issued a joint announcement of their recommendations of candidates for the Ypsilanti Public Schools board of Education. The selected candidates are Kira Berman, who is running for a one-year term, and Sarah Devaney and Edward Jackson, who are running for four-year terms.
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The process of selection included a joint committee with five representatives from each union assessing written responses to questions, attending the candidates forum that was held April 2, and meeting with the candidates individually. Incumbents were also reported on my representatives of the unions who have attended board meetings.
Kelly Powers, president of the teachers' union, and Larry Hankins, president of the staff union, listed the various attributes that had made these candidates their choices.
"Kira believes in unions and in kids," Powers said. "She believes in the best education for all. She's also union-friendly and has spoken up in favor of CUB agreements in recent contract talks about the bond issue."
"Kira has shown she is behind unions," Hankins said. "She is quiet, but very smart and thinks for herself."
"Sarah Devaney is consistent in what she says and does," said Hankins. "She has shown she supports unions and will work with us. She wants the best for the kids."
"Sarah has shown by her voting that what she says is what she does," Powers agreed. "She's against privatization and has shown she understands what unions are about."
"Ed Jackson used to be an electrical contractor and a union steward," Hankins noted. "He stuck out from the rest because of his background and understanding of union issues. And he's been involved with kids for a long time, working at the Maxey Boys Training Center. He cares."
"Ed believes in kids and their ability to learn," Powers said. "He understands what it takes to get and keep them on the right path."
Kathleen Conat is a longtime Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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