School board

Board of Trustees Member, Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Vote for: 2
Candidates: 3
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A community college trustee is one of the board members who set policy, approve the budget and hire the president of the college.

Candidates Compare by issue

Paul Foust

No party listed

Amateur journalist, self-employed

The gist

Proposes moving KVCC board meetings to evening hours
Pledges to address nepotism and favoritism among administrators
Supports refocusing on traditional skilled workforce programs
Supports cutting niche programs such as Cannabis Industries
Proposes redefining transfer relationships with four-year universities

More about Paul

View sources (1)

Proposes moving KVCC board meetings to evening hours
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“The KVCC Board of Trustees needs to move its meeting times to evening hours”
Pledges to address nepotism and favoritism among administrators
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“KVCC needs to take steps to address the apparent, systemic Nepotism and Favoritism being promulgated by KVCC Administrative Officers”
Supports refocusing on traditional skilled workforce programs
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“KVCC needs to recommit itself to traditional skilled workforce education programs”
Supports cutting niche programs such as Cannabis Industries
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“KVCC offers too many niche programs, such as Wind Energy Academy and Cannabis Industries”
Proposes redefining transfer relationships with four-year universities
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Until KVCC takes bold steps to redefine its relationships with four-year universities, the graduation rate will continue to be stagnant”

Mary T Gustas

No party listedIncumbent

Executive director, Comstock Community Center

The gist

Supports securing adequate state and federal funding for students
Supports manufacturing, health, education and culinary programs
Supports counseling software that guides students to completion

More about Mary

View sources (1)

Supports securing adequate state and federal funding for students
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“it is important that we receive 📨 adequate funding from the state and federal program”
Supports manufacturing, health, education and culinary programs
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Programs that support manufacturing, health careers, education and culinary programs all support the community”
Supports counseling software that guides students to completion
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“New online and in person counseling software help students look at various programs and necessary courses for completion”

Lucinda M Stinson

No party listedIncumbent

CEO, Lending Hands of Michigan

The gist

Pledges to keep the KVCC education affordable for students
Supports curriculum preparing students for transfer and careers
Supports the culinary school and Food Innovation Center model

More about Lucinda

View sources (1)

Pledges to keep the KVCC education affordable for students
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Priority 1: ensure educational experience for students is affordable”
Supports curriculum preparing students for transfer and careers
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“ensure that the curriculum continues to meet the needs of the students”
Supports the culinary school and Food Innovation Center model
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“This business model prepares our students for real life opportunities”

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; 4 issues covered in this race.