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The school board elections will be held May 8 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There will be races in the Carsonville-Port Sanilac, Croswell-Lexington, Deckerville and Marlette districts. In Sandusky, two write-ins are running for office.

CARSONVILLE-PORT SANILAC

There are three candidates for one 4-year term. Two will be on the ballot - incumbent Mary Anne Magri of Port Sanilac and Phillipa Zylanoff of Applegate. The third candidate, Linda S. (Susie) Ploep is a write-in.

Mary Anne Magri

Personal: address Ð6521 E. Sanilac Rd., Port Sanilac; age-60; occupation Ðretired CPS teacher; incumbent Ð1999-2007.

Qualifications: for almost 40 years served as teacher, coach, class/club adviser, publications sponsor, student services coordinator and board member.

Priorities: "Our board is dedicated in having CPS remain strong in all areas and maintain its financial integrity. An additional concern is increased student security."

Linda (Susie) Ploep

Personal: address Ð1110 Greening Rd., Carsonville; age Ð44; occupation Ðformer industrial electrician; children Ð11th grader, 8th grader and 2nd grader.

Qualifications: National Honor Society in high school, associate's and bachelor's degrees in industrial automation and robotics with honors. 3 years in army.

Priorities: "To represent the community and the school system in a completely fair way. I want to ensure that taxpayers' money is well spent, and that all have the opportunity to be heard. I also want to be at all meetings."

Phillipa L. Zylanoff

Personal: address Ð1925 Ridge Rd., Applegate; age Ð64; occupation Ðphysician; children Ð 4 adult daughters and 1 son.

Qualifications: She and her children attended rural public schools and were prepared with basic education to pursue diverse interests in college, post graduate studies and life.

Priorities: "Basic education of children needs to focus on mastering basic skills in early grades, particularly reading. Reading well is the key to learning in any subject area. There is a modern tendency to try and emphasize gimmicks and technology in schools which have nothing to do with educationÉMost parents want their children to exceed their own achievements and will willingly be involved if they understand that they are an indispensable part of their children's education."

CROSWELL-LEXINGTON

Jill Prouse of Croswell and Cheryl L Loomis of Croswell filed for one 4-year seat.

Cheryl Loomis

Personal: 5363 E. Burns Line Rd., Croswell; age Ð60; occupation Ðretired teacher; children Ð2 graduates of Cros-Lex who earned college degrees.

Qualifications: lived in district 30 years. Master's degree. Taught in middle school 22 years. Served on district, county and state curriculum committees and MEAP test committees. 30 years business experience in area.

Priorities: "Educating students must be our first priority. It is absolutely essential that we provide the best possible educational opportunities for our students. They truly are the future of our community, our country and the world."

Tax proposal: Yes. "The tax proposal is a tax renewal on business and second home properties. It does not affect homestead taxes. In these difficult economic times when state financing fluctuates, it is important that we keep the current financing in our community. Our schools are a source of pride and need our support."

Jill Prouse

Personal: address Ð509 Roach Rd., Croswell; age Ð32; occupation Ðspecial education teacher.

Qualifications: worked for Cros-Lex 2 years and lives in area entire life. Extreme interest in schools because plan on being life-long resident and my children will attend Cros-Lex Schools. Taxpayer and want to be informed as to where and for what taxes are being spent on.

Priorities: "Balancing our budget in a way that doesn't hurt our students, regain a friendly relationship with the community."

Tax proposal: "I support a tax renewal, but don't support a tax increase."

Vote at: Lexington Twp Hall, Worth Twp Hall, Grant Twp Hall or Croswell Community Center, depending upon where you live.

DECKERVILLE

Incumbent Tom O'Mara, Brian Klaus, Robert J. Hornby and Roger Baumeister are contesting for two 4-year terms.

Roger Baueister

Personal: address Ð 4371 Hunt Rd., Deckerville; age Ð52; occupation Ðsecurity guard, farm laborer, EMS and truck driver; children Ð2 daughters and 2 granddaughters.

Qualifications: Deckerville graduate. 1 1/2 years of college. Taxpayer. Seen a lot of different things. Security Ðlook at things different as officer of law. EMS Ðworking in the public to serve people no matter what the call is.

Priorities: "My big concern with being on the board is what is going on in our location. I want to keep the school open. I know we are losing jobs here but maybe things will change, we hope."

Robert Hornby

Personal: address Ð5325 Russell Rd., Palms; age Ð47; occupation- DTE Energy planner, planning and design; children Ð2006 graduate & 11th grader. Former board member Sept. 2005-June 2006.

Qualifications: U.S. citizen, qualified & registered elector of school district, school board member for 9 months.

Priorities: "To fully understand and apply all board policies and procedures that we as board members are expected to use to base our decisions on facts and information gathering and not from negative comments of individuals or personal agendas."

Brian Klaus

Klaus did not return the candidate survey form.

Tom O'Mara

Personal: 5150 Nichol Rd., Carsonville; age Ð47; occupation ÐCawood Auto business manager; children Ðcollege freshman, senior, sophomore; incumbent Ð2002 to present.

Qualifications: familiarity with current staff and administration and working knowledge of the business aspects of the district.

Priorities: "Continue to give our students a quality educational experience, helping prepare them for successful futures."

MARLETTE

Incumbent Les King and Nik Woods are seeking one 4-year term.

Les King

Personal: address Ð3182 Watson Rd., Marlette; age Ð52; occupation ÐLapeer County Road Commission; children Ð2 Marlette graduates; incumbent Ð2001 to present.

Qualifications: vice-president of school board last 2 years. Served on finance, negotiations and building & grounds committees. Certified board member. Past president of AFSME 1071. Helped negotiate road commission contracts.

Priorities: "Offer the students of Marlette the best education that we possibly can. With the dollars and student count dropping we need to work with the staff sand public so that everyone understands why certain things are done; including working within the budget and making certain cuts."

Nik Wood

Personal: address Ð4328 Walker Rd., Marlette; age Ð37; occupation Ðconstruction; children Ð3 1/2 year old.

Qualifications: two bachelors' degrees, one in education. Worked construction trades 13 years in residential and commercial construction. Marlette's buildings need work. I hope to be insightful with this.

Priorities: "The student. To help see that they get the best experience out of their school years as possible. Academics, athletics, etc. The whole experience that is education."

SANDUSKY

There will be no candidate on the ballot for the one 4-year term. However, Robert L. Hassler and Duane Paehlig are write-in candidates.

Duane Paehlig

Personal: address Ð976 S. Sandusky Rd., Sandusky; age Ð41; occupation- Michigan Lumber Sales, Account Manager; children Ð9th and 6th graders.

Qualifications: Honest person who enjoys working within a team. Work within budgetary constraints daily basis. Creative person, well rounded and experienced many different business situations. Problem-solving and communication skills strong points.

Priorities: "The students. Be part of a team that has the best interest of the students in mind to provide the opportunity for a quality education. I would encourage community involvement, your kids/grandkids are the future."

Robert Hassler

Personal: address Ð65 N. Gates Rd., Sandusky; age Ð46; occupation Ð19 years licenses veterinarian, co-owner of Town & Country Animal Care; children Ð16 year old Sandusky student; 20 year old, 25 year old.

Qualifications: life long resident of Sandusky. Familiar with traditions and values of school district. Experience on other boards and as business owner help with tough financial decisions that have to be made.

Priorities: "Maintain the high quality of education while dealing with decreasing state funding."

No races

There is no race in Brown City, where Mark A. Mittlestat of Brown City is the sole candidate for the four year term.

In Peck, incumbents Rodney Gordon of Croswell and Larry L. Cook of Peck are running for two four-year seats.