Ann Arbor school board selects Christine Stead as newest trustee

Stead, who has the two children at Wines Elementary, is a health care consultant and served in a leadership position during the recent countywide enhancement millage.

“It’s an incredible time,” she said after being selected. “We have to be incredibly resourceful.”

This is the second time in recent months Stead had applied to fill a vacancy on the board. She also applied late last year when long-time board member Helen Gates-Bryant resigned.

At that time, Simone Lightfoot was picked.

Seven other candidates applied for the vacancy this time. The only other candidates to receive votes from the board on Wednesday were Victoria Haviland and James Corey.

Voting for Stead were board President Deb Mexicotte, Glenn Nelson, Randy Friedman and Irene Patalan.

Mexicotte said Stead’s involvement in the district, combined with answers on what the district needs to do in terms of achievement, impressed board members. Stead also served on the district’s strategic plan team.

With the appointment, two new board members are now on a board with several tenured members.

Mexicotte said the board will work with Stead and Lightfoot to bring them up to speed as fast as possible as the board grapples with budget deficits and other issues.

Stead will serve until the November election, when she will be up for election. Also up for election will be Lightfoot, Mexicotte and trustee Susan Baskett.

David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.