By Crystal Hayduk
Chelsea School District Board of Education (BOE) Trustees Laura Bush and Jason Eyster resigned their seats on Jan. 15, according to a press release from the district dated the same day. (See press release.)
In the press release, Superintendent Mike Kapolka thanked Bush and Eyster for their service. “They approached their roles as board members with a profound commitment and sense of duty to the Chelsea community, our students, and staff,” he wrote. “Their selfless contributions to our district will be remembered fondly, with a deep sense of appreciation for many years to come….”
Bush was first elected in 2012 to a four-year term. She was elected again in 2016 for a six-year term, which ended in 2022. During her terms, Bush served on various committees, including bond, reproductive health, personnel, and curriculum. She also served as the board’s secretary for six years.
When BOE trustee Tammy Lehman resigned on Nov. 14, 2022, Bush offered to extend her service to fill the vacant position. “I have given one more year of service to help transition the four new board members that were elected in November of 2022,” said Bush. “I feel that this is a good time to step down. I am honored to have served for such an amazing school district for the past 11 years.”
Eyster was elected in 2018. His first term was due to expire in 2024. In his five years of service on the board, he held the offices of treasurer, vice-president, and president. He most recently was a member of both the finance and negotiations committees, and was a BOE representative to the Chelsea Senior Center.
During his term, Eyster said, “I used my best efforts to ensure cohesive and productive relationships within the board and with the administration and staff. It has been an honor to be part of this model school district.”
Eyster also credited his research conducted in the process of writing the historical musical, “The Only Man in Town,” with factoring into his efforts. He learned that Frank Glazier, who built Chelsea’s clocktower, served several times as president of the local school board. “I gained valuable insights into what in the past—and today—make this a special city, and this aided me in my small contribution to governance of our school district.”
Kapolka said Eyster resigned due to “…increasing work and travel commitments.”
Michigan Election Law and school board policy (po 0142.5) determine the process to fill a vacancy.
The board has 30 days from the date of the trustee’s resignation to fill the vacancy.
To qualify for consideration, a candidate must be a U.S. citizen at least 18 years of age, a registered voter in the district, a resident of Michigan for at least 30 days, and a resident of the Chelsea School District.
Interested persons must submit the completed application materials in writing to Beth Starkey at [email protected] by 3 p.m. on Feb. 8. More information and links to application materials are available here.
The BOE will review application materials during the open school board meeting on Feb. 12. School board members will vote on the appointment recommendations and fill the seats at the meeting.
The appointed individuals will retain their seats until the next regular school board election, Nov. 5, 2024. The seat currently held by Trustee Scott Moore also expires in November.
