School board

Board of Education Member, Kalamazoo Public Schools

6 Year Term

Vote for: 3
Term: 6 years
Candidates: 4
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A school board member is one of the officials who set policy, approve the budget and hire the superintendent of the school district.

Candidates Compare by issue

Mariah Bryant

No party listed

Director of Programs, Voters Not Politicians

The gist

Proposes more flexible ways for parents to engage with schools
Supports steps to reduce absenteeism and enforce rules consistently
Proposes trauma-informed crisis procedures to prevent gun violence
Proposes an annual school safety audit gathering community feedback

More about Mariah

View sources (1)

Proposes more flexible ways for parents to engage with schools
Kalamazoo Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will help the district create variety in the ways parents and the community can engage with schools”
Supports steps to reduce absenteeism and enforce rules consistently
Kalamazoo Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“The district must continue to proactively fight absenteeism, ensure the consistent enforcement of rules across schools”
Proposes trauma-informed crisis procedures to prevent gun violence
Kalamazoo Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“create trauma-informed crisis intervention procedures for when a student is in crisis”
Proposes an annual school safety audit gathering community feedback
Kalamazoo Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“The Board should conduct an annual safety audit to gather feedback from students, staff, and parents”

Karen Morton

No party listed

Retired

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Karen

TiAnna L Harrison

No party listedIncumbent

Executive Director, Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association

The gist

Pledges to continue board focus on graduation and achievement
Supports secure buildings, emergency preparedness and mental-health resources
Pledges to prevent bullying, violence and online harm
Proposes listening sessions and accessible board meetings for families

More about TiAnna

View sources (1)

Pledges to continue board focus on graduation and achievement
Kalamazoo Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Advanced a unified board vision focused on student achievement, graduation, safe learning environments, mental-health resources, and support for educators”
Supports secure buildings, emergency preparedness and mental-health resources
Kalamazoo Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I have prioritized safety by investing in secure school buildings, emergency preparedness, mental-health resources, and respectful school climates”
Pledges to prevent bullying, violence and online harm
Kalamazoo Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will continue preventing bullying, violence, and online harm; strengthening early-intervention systems”
Proposes listening sessions and accessible board meetings for families
Kalamazoo Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“clear, consistent communication; accessible board meetings; listening sessions; and strong partnerships with parents”

Patti Sholler-Barber

No party listedIncumbent

Retired educator

The gist

Supports bond-funded upgrades to school technology and facilities
Supports secure entries and trained campus security staff
Supports grant writing for school safety funds
Supports Communities In Schools as a key district partner

More about Patti

View sources (1)

Supports bond-funded upgrades to school technology and facilities
Kalamazoo Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Successfully passing bonds in my tenure ensures improvements to existing sites, upgrades in technology & HVAC systems”
Supports secure entries and trained campus security staff
Kalamazoo Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Monitored secure entries, strong district wide emergency focused networks, current security aimed technology implementation, well-trained campus security”
Supports grant writing for school safety funds
Kalamazoo Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“the writing of grants for additional funds for safe-secure schools and hiring expertly trained & responsible safety personnel”
Supports Communities In Schools as a key district partner
Kalamazoo Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I’ll always champion CIS as a key partner in providing comprehensive care to aid students succeed”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 2 issues covered in this race.