Brenton Bell, a senior at Grand Ledge High School, is running for a seat on the Grand Ledge School Board and gave a little preview of what he will be campaigning for and the changes he hopes to make to the Grand Ledge Community.
“Sitting here as a student and paying a little more attention to the goings on than most students would, and watching just the way the kids are misbehaving, they are not afraid it seems of getting caught, but if they do get caught, they are not afraid of the punishments. I think we have a real lack of discipline and I think it is hurting us as a district and as a school especially.”
Bell talked about his connection to Grand Ledge, how his family is deeply rooted in this community, and how problems in Grand Ledge schooling could be solved if they could end it before it began
“My family has been going here for 5 generations. My great-great-grandpa went here, he was a graduate. I love Grand Ledge and we are a good school and we could be so much better if when we saw a problem we nipped it in the bud before we let it get into a huge situation.”
Bell then talked about the proficiency as a school and how kids are graduating but not being able to meet the reading, writing, and arithmetic requirements.
“Our graduation rate right now is 96%, the last time that I checked. But our reading proficiency is only 64%. And our math proficiency is atrocious, it’s 32%. If we are only at 64% reading and 32% math proficiency, why are kids graduating? If they don’t know the material, we shouldn’t just push them across the stage, that is us failing them as a school district.”
Bell continued to discuss what would happen if he got elected to the school board, and what he could bring to the table of his fellow 8 members.
“If I get on the board we’re gonna have a conversation. Now I’m only one person, I’m not saying I’m going to change the school in the snap of a finger right, but I’m going to put thoughts in people’s heads, and I’m going to make people think. If they give me the opportunity then yes, we will work together and will make a change.”
Bell talked about what he thinks he has compared to the other candidates and board members, and why his perspective as a student going through Grand Ledge, is an important need for the school board.
“I think the best thing I have going for me compared to any other candidate that might come along or the candidates currently on the school board is I’ve been here every day for 180 days a year watching it happen from a student’s perspective. There is no better perspective than a student perspective.”
Bell is an independent candidate and his name will be on the ballot on Nov. 5, 2024 Bell recommends voters curious about his platform and what he advocates for contact him through his
email at [email protected].
