School Board Members Honored for Years of Service

Board of Education members were acknowledged at Tuesday night’s meeting in honor of January being Board of Education Recognition Month.

While some districts pay board members an annual salary or a per-meeting stipend, Wyandotte board members don’t earn a penny.

"A board member is an elected position, without pay and with great responsibility," a resolution honoring them said. "Board members are policy makers ... (who) have a huge responsibility."

Board members were recognized for overseeing nearly 5,000 students, more than 900 employees who work in six unions, six schools with a general operating budget of nearly $34 million and three special education centers with a budget of an additional $29 million.

Honored were Michael Swiecki with 19 years of service, Rob Kirby with 12, Kathy Bedikian with eight, Dana Browning with six, Chris Calvin with four, Patrick Sutka with four and Stephanie Miello with two.

Each received a certificate and a personalized thank you from school superintendent Carla Harting.

• Swiecki: "He always makes himself available year-round to see if anything is needed in the district. We rely on him for his institutional memory of the school board."
• Kirby: "He is constantly investigating ways to improve our district."
• Bedikian: "She is a passionate individual (and is) vested in ensuring the district moves forward in a safe manner."
• Browning: "She’s a caring individual who always shows concern for our students’ well being."
• Calvin: "His focus is data driven to make sure that we make improvements to our district."
• Sutka: "He always ensures that we are fiscally responsible. ... We appreciate his ability to always help build consensus on the board."
• Miello: "She studies everything as it relates to school board business. ... She is very detailed oriented and has an excellent memory. She never says 'no' when I ask her to take on an additional duty."