Bolsen Sees Need for Experience on Farmington School Board

board member Karen Bolsen believes in these tough economic times, governmental bodies need a "mix of experience and innovation." That's why she decided to run for a third term in the Nov. 8 election.

So far, 12 members of her family have graduated from Farmington schools, she said. A graduate of , she majored in racial and ethnic studies at Michigan State University’s College of Urban Development and went on to work in the automotive industry before opening her own consulting firm. She holds a master's degree in management from the University of Detroit.

Bolsen believes her experience in the business world, her work with the Farmington & Farmington Hills Multicultural Multiracial Community Council and her understanding of the community, students and staff has led to "well-rounded decision-making" during her time on the board.

The district has "a lot on its plate" right now, Bolsen said, having to do more with less funding, serving students who come from a wide variety of backgrounds and focusing on achievement standards driven by the state and federal government.

She said she has primarily focused as a board member on academic excellence and addressing achievement gaps that have been identified between white students and black students. Students all need coursework that's rigorous and relevant, as well as strong relationships with their teachers. 

"All those things are good for every student," she said. "We need to make sure the district gives support to the staff to make sure all those things are achieved."

Bolsen sees the district's new International Baccalaureate program as a way to offer students a "world-class education." She said officials have also been "talking about and looking at a long-term instructional plan that uses technology, but we have to be careful about the type of technology."

But the district also must have a balanced budget, Bolsen said, and that has required painful cuts—$50 million over the past several years. Her priorities are "always classroom and student achievement. The classroom comes first."

Officials cited that priority as they explored the possibility of privatizing support services during contentious union negotiations held this past spring. Support staff and, later, teachers and administrators gave up 5 percent of their salaries and benefits to avoid outsourcing and help balance the district's budget.

"I was very happy we could maintain our workforce," Bolsen said, "because they are part of our family." Though board meetings were tense during those times, she said, faced with the same circumstances, she would take the same steps. "We all felt we owed that to our public," she said.

Those kinds of controversial issues—including the closure of four elementary schools and the sale of Eagle Elementary to the Islamic Cultural Center—have led some in the community to complain that school officials don't listen. Bolsen believes that's a "misperception" and said officials consider public opinion as part of their decision-making process.

"You never want to lose sight of the fact that that's your public and those are residents in the district and you need to hear their opinions," she said. She said officials often work with residents to resolve concerns outside of public meetings.

Bolsen sees the fact that there are Parent Teacher Associations in every school as an indication that parents are involved and connected. Among the things she is most proud of is the relationship between families and staff through those organizations. She's also proud of the district's diverse community and that "every facet of school life is inclusive of people of all backgrounds."

While her own children are grown, Bolsen said the next generation of her family, her 2-year-old grandson, keeps her focused on the future in Farmington schools.

"I'm excited to see education through his eyes," she said.