GHAPS board president steps down; others feel vitriol at recent meetings

Sep. 3—School board meetings typically are a place where polite arguments and differing opinions are welcomed. But in Ottawa County, and across the state, animosity has been swelling in recent meetings, leaving school board members wondering if it's all worthwhile.

That hit home locally Friday as Grand Haven school board President John Siemion announced his resignation, ending a two-decade-long stretch on the board. He said the resignation is due to the escalating concern of his physical, emotional and mental health.

"My health has been in a steady decline for over a year now and my doctor said I need to do something about it before it's too late," Siemion said Friday. "I have put my heart and soul into trying to become the best board member I can be over the past 22 years. Sometimes that isn't enough.

"For the most part, my time on the (Grand Haven Area Public Schools) Board of Education has been enjoyable," he continued. "I can't say that anymore."

Siemion's resignation was effective Thursday morning.

School board members are largely unpaid volunteers, traditionally former educators and parents who step forward to shape school policy, choose a superintendent and review the budget. But with recent meetings devolving into shouting contests between deeply political constituencies over COVID-19 vaccines and masks in schools, school board members are in a heap of apprehension.

"It's a no-win situation for board members no matter how they vote," Siemion said. "Many board members across the country are resigning out of fear of threats, harassment, the fact that they aren't paid for how they're treated, and because politics are being put ahead of the children."

Across the Grand River, Spring Lake Public Schools Board of Education Vice President Kathy Breen says she feels like she's in the old movie "Young Frankenstein."

"Where villagers come after what they fear with pitchforks and burning torches," she said via email. "I have never experienced such hostility that has been exhibited at recent school board meetings and in the communications sent to us.

"I firmly believe the greatest majority of our students, families, teachers and staff reasonably understand that while none of us like masking, we support masking to keep our kids safe and in school, face to face," she added. "My common sense directs me to continue to follow reputable, sound science when considering decisions."

The executive decision to require masks among Ottawa County schoolchildren was made by county Health Officer Lisa Stefanovsky. It was a decision she said she agonized over, consulting Ottawa County Department of Public Health staff and health officers across the state.

"We all understand COVID-19 mitigation strategies are unpopular especially after feeling the weight of these restrictions over the past year and a half," Stefanovsky said in a statement during the county health department's last meeting. "We sincerely hoped we would not need to issue this order. ... I know many oppose this order and we may never be able to reach a consensus on this issue, but I want you to know I am not motivated by any conspiracy or any political platform. I am motivated solely and completely by protecting the health of our children."

While experts say the widespread use of masks can effectively limit virus transmission in schools, opponents say they restrict breathing and the ability of children to read social cues.

But for Spring Lake school board member Curt Theune, the decision comes down to putting students in the best, most healthy and normal-like situation possible.

"Some attendees have made the masks the mental health issue," the eighth-year board member said. "I speak on behalf of my own two kids. The bigger factor is the students' mental health in regards to depression and anxiety with remote learning.

"My kids were locked in their rooms for hours on end," Theune added. "Does that cause depression and anxiety? It certainly did for mine."

Theune, who works at Oakridge Public Schools and comes from a background of law enforcement, said he hasn't lost sleep over the current atmosphere at school board meetings. However, he did say that he knows a few board members who have had trouble sleeping because of the vitriol.

"There's certainly been moments of audience members trying to intimidate the board, the intimidation in pointing out our ineffectiveness in decision making," he said. "But every board member puts a lot of time and energy into this, and our superintendent keeps us very well informed to make educated decisions that we don't take lightly."

Although the "snowpocalypse" that ravaged West Michigan a few years ago, forcing snow days for more than a week straight, was a hot topic, Theune says nothing has been more hostile than the mask mandate.

"This is a decision we don't take lightly at all," Theune said. "I want our kids to be in-person, that's my goal. How can we do that safely without mandating vaccinations? We move forward with the mask policy. We don't know where the pandemic will go. Football didn't happen last year. If we can do a few preventive things, we can provide a school year in-person. That's what's most critical for the kids. That's so important for building relationships."

Contact Matthew at mehler@grandhaventribune.com.