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Battle Creek Board appoints Kate Flores to vacant seat after five-candidate interviews
Summary
The Battle Creek Public Schools Board of Education appointed Kate Flores to fill a board vacancy after interviewing five candidates. The board discussed candidates’ community ties and experience before voting and administered the oath of office to Flores.
The Battle Creek Public Schools Board of Education on Aug. 25 appointed Kate Flores to fill a vacant board seat after interviewing five candidates and voting during the regular meeting.
The six-member board heard three-minute introductions and standardized questions from each candidate — including Brandon Phoenix, Catherine LaValle, Nalia (Naliaia) Smith, Rochelle Hatcher and Flores — before members discussed and voted. President Abby Fulbright explained the candidate process at the start of the evening and said a candidate needs four “yes” votes from board members to be appointed; if no candidate receives four yeses the Calhoun Intermediate School District would make the appointment.
Flores, who told the board she previously served as executive director of VOCES and has participated in district strategic planning and community partnerships, said she views public education as “a transformative experience for our communities.” She told the board she is “looking forward to getting up to speed quickly” after being selected.
After discussion, the board took a roll-call vote and approved Flores’ appointment. Flores then took the oath of office at the meeting and thanked the board and other candidates for their participation. “I was back there feeling like, yes. What great choices,” she said after being sworn in.
Board members who commented during the discussion cited different priorities when evaluating candidates. Some said they valued familiarity with the district’s new strategic vision and the ability to advocate for it; others said they were interested in adding youth perspectives and new voices to the board. Several members urged the candidates who were not selected to run in next year’s election.
The board also acknowledged the high level of community interest and encouraged interested candidates to run in the upcoming election so the public can weigh in.
The appointment fills a vacancy through the calendar period set by state law; the board noted the next election opportunity for the seat will be at the regularly scheduled fall election (candidates and timelines were not specified during the meeting).
