School board

Board of Education Member, Portage Public Schools

4 Year Term

Vote for: 3
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 6
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

Roie Lord-Taylor

No party listed

Business consultant

The gist

Pledges transparency and no secrets from constituents
Supports locally sourced, nutrition-focused school food
Supports a living wage and benefits for all staff
Proposes a volunteer bank connecting students with local industries
Supports zero tolerance for harassment and bullying

More about Roie

View sources (1)

Pledges transparency and no secrets from constituents
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“work to ensure that secrets are not kept from the constituents and sound, objective decisions are made”
Supports locally sourced, nutrition-focused school food
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“The food served to our young people should be locally sourced with the emphasis being on nutrition”
Supports a living wage and benefits for all staff
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I living wage and benefits should be available to all staff”
Proposes a volunteer bank connecting students with local industries
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will work to develop a bank of volunteers who wish to support the school and students in this endeavor”
Supports zero tolerance for harassment and bullying
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“We must ensure that there is zero tolerance for harassment and bullying”

Ken Slocum

No party listed

Small business owner

The gist

Supports equitable funding for students with additional needs
Proposes easier volunteering options for working parents
Supports continued review of building security and mental health support

More about Ken

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Supports equitable funding for students with additional needs
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“continuing to ensure equitable funding for students with additional needs”
Proposes easier volunteering options for working parents
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“make it easier for working parents to volunteer”
Supports continued review of building security and mental health support
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Key safety issues include building security, mental health support, and emergency preparedness”

Koen Suender

No party listed

Manufacturing floor operator

The gist

Pledges to address board leadership, transparency and financial decisions
Supports multi-channel communication and flexible parent involvement
Supports addressing student substance use and self-harm through community
Supports more opportunities at Portage Northern High School

More about Koen

View sources (1)

Pledges to address board leadership, transparency and financial decisions
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“because of the current leadership, transparency, and financial decision issues facing the district”
Supports multi-channel communication and flexible parent involvement
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will advocate for better multi-channel communication and flexible options so more working parents can participate”
Supports addressing student substance use and self-harm through community
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Self-harm and substance use show students are hurting and need direction”
Supports more opportunities at Portage Northern High School
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“more opportunities at PNHS”

Sarah Trainer

No party listed

Hairstylist, self-employed

The gist

Supports stronger academic interventions and mental health resources
Supports better communication between leadership, staff and families
Supports maintaining working security cameras and technology

More about Sarah

View sources (1)

Supports stronger academic interventions and mental health resources
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Strengthening academic interventions, mental health resources, and support systems for students”
Supports better communication between leadership, staff and families
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I'd like to see the district continue to improve communitcation between leadership, staff, families and the community”
Supports maintaining working security cameras and technology
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Security cameras are helpful when they work and are necessary to keep our students and staff safe”

Emily Crawford

No party listedIncumbent

Customer advocate

The gist

Proposes communicating educational pathways to students earlier
Supports equal access to extracurricular and academic opportunities
Supports policies protecting students from in-person and online bullying

More about Emily

View sources (1)

Proposes communicating educational pathways to students earlier
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“We could do better to communicate these pathways earlier in the student’s academic career”
Supports equal access to extracurricular and academic opportunities
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“ensure all students have access to the same extracurricular & academic opportunities”
Supports policies protecting students from in-person and online bullying
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“ensuring our students are safe from bullying both in person and online”

Kimberly Larson

No party listedIncumbent

Special education teacher

The gist

Proposes clearer, earlier communication of program options to families
Supports career pathways such as Early Middle College
Supports board policies building a culture of speaking up

More about Kimberly

View sources (1)

Proposes clearer, earlier communication of program options to families
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Our opportunity for growth is communicating these options earlier and more clearly so families understand the choices available”
Supports career pathways such as Early Middle College
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Early Middle College, EFE, EFA, and the Career Connect Center provide hands-on and career-focused pathways”
Supports board policies building a culture of speaking up
Portage Public Schools School Board — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“the board must write and regularly review policies that give administration the tools and direction to build that culture”

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; 5 issues covered in this race.