Mackinaw City
McFarland, Dullack on Ballot for Two School Board Seats

Marilyn McFarland

Incumbent Mackinaw City district school board members Marilyn McFarland and Valerie Dullack are seeking reelection Tuesday, May 8. The race is uncontested. The terms are four years.

Marilyn McFarland

Marilyn McFarland serves as the executive director of the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau. She attended Mackinaw City High School, Davenport College, and Southeastern Academy. She and her husband, David McFarland, owner of the Architect Forum in Mackinaw City, have two children enrolled in the district, Spencer, a senior, and Annaliese, a freshman.

Seeking her second term on the board, Mrs. McFarland sees the school's biggest strength in its small size, and its biggest challenge in funding issues.

She has a working knowledge of school board procedure, policies, and the process in which a board member is most effective, she said, and understands why the board is integral in producing the correct policies for the district. The school board not only makes the policies, Mrs. McFarland said, but ensures they are implemented with the intention with which they were formed.

"When it comes right down to it, the board's main focus is to give the administration and faculty policies in which to operate the district and to be good stewards of the funding recourses available to the district," Mrs. McFarland said.

Funding is the most important challenge facing the district, she said.

"Relative to the new state mandated curriculum changes, funding is the number one issue all school districts are facing. Currently, our district is undergoing strategic planning sessions outside of the regular board meetings to address the funding issue as it is now and look at the next three- to five-year year prognosis. We want to have a plan of action that is proactive. It would be detrimental to the district to sit on its hands and expect funding from the State to improve the Michigan education problem anytime soon."

One of her top goals as a school board trustee is to continue to contribute to the district's financial stability, Mrs. McFarland said.

"Recently, I worked with staff to develop a financial report that is more applicable as business management tool. I also continue to encourage student, parent, and resident involvement in the decision and program development process."

The best thing about the Mackinaw City school district is its size, Mrs. McFarland said.

"Having been a student of Mackinaw City Public Schools and now having two children in high school, [I know] the teacher/student ratio is personal and comfortable. It gives students a learning environment that encourages and develops character and accountability. Second, we have the best faculty! I hear it from the parents, and the kids. When your own children look forward to being in a teacher's class, you now something really good is happening. Additionally, Mackinaw City Public Schools has always been a top performer in all education benchmarks."

Mackinaw City Public Schools does a good job of preparing its students for the future, she said, in the face of a state mandate that is more demanding of smaller school districts than larger ones.

The district "has consistently been a top producer for higher education enrollment. Currently our staff has been working on the Michigan Merit Curriculum Requirements for the next school year. I have spent a considerable amount of time researching the mandates as well as talking to the faculty on how they are being prepared for the requirements. In my opinion, the mandates are more demanding of small districts due the limited resources, however, our students will be better prepared for the future. If that future includes college or any further education, it's our job to give our students the best possible advantage," she said.

Mrs. McFarland has been active in several other organizations, currently serving as a board member for the West Michigan Tourist Association, Straits Area Community Foundation, and the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum as well as Mackinaw City Public Schools.

"In all circumstances, I feel privileged to serve my community," she said, "and consider it my responsibility to be well informed on all matters."

Valerie Dullack

Declaring that her school board seat is uncontested in this election, candidate Valerie Dullack declined any further comment on the issues.