On Tuesday, May 8, Lake Orion voters will have the chance to vote from three candidates to fill two available seats on the Lake Orion Board of Education.
Current board president Leanne Bartley has announced her retirement effective at the end of June. She served on the school board for 12 years, of which the last eight, she has served as board president.
Current board vice president Bob Gritzinger’s term is also up at the end of June, and he is running for reelection. Lake Orion residents Kelly Roy and Tiffany Weber-Phillips are also running.
Below are profiles The Review has received from each of the candidates running for election. They will also be present at a candidates forum hosted by The League of Women Voters in conjunction with The Review on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Orion Township Public Library.
The polls will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, May 8, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the 14 Orion polling locations.

Name: Robert Gritzinger
Age: 47
Lives on: Pinnacle Court
Family: Wife, Julie; two children, Katie, sophomore at LOHS, and Erik, sixth-grader at Scripps Middle School
Employment: Senior Editor’News, AutoWeek magazine, Detroit
Education/Background: 1977 Lake Orion High School graduate; 1981 graduate, Bachelor of Arts, Journalism, Michigan State University; Michigan Association of School Boards, Certified Board Member
Clubs/Organizations: Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 233, Lake Orion, serving as adjutant; Automotive Press Association, member; Lake Orion Youth Baseball League, team manager; Lake Orion Girls Softball League, assistant coach
Why are you running for the school board?
I originally ran for the school board because of my deep roots in the community and my knowledge of school issues developed during 17 years as a newspaper reporter. My added knowledge from two board terms will be invaluable as we face substantial financial pressures combined with ever-higher scholastic expectations.
What are the important issues facing the district next year and beyond?
The number one issue facing Lake Orion Schools’and every district in the state of Michigan’is adequate funding to maintain programs for students. With the lion’s share of our expenses in employee salaries and benefits, unless we intend to make substantial changes in employee compensation, we must reduce programs for students.

Name: Kelly (Kinnee) Roy
Age: 38
Lives on: Indianside Drive
Family: Husband, Wes Roy (1983 L.O. graduate); two children, Zackary, 9, Paint Creek, and McKenna, 6, Blanche Sims
Employment: Works at home and volunteers in collaborative efforts involving educational programming, committees, and research. Formerly a teacher for LOCS with seven years experience teaching third, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.
Education/Background: Master’s Degree in Curriculum, Instruction and Leadership; Bachelor’s Degree in Education with a major in mathematics; also has attended numerous educational workshops and seminars over the last 17 years.
Clubs/Organizations: former board member/current active member of TEAM, member of ARC, member/teacher of the Community of Christ, trained through ONTV for video production, support my husband’s role as manager of a LOGSL team and participate in an informal book club.
Why are you running for the school board?
My life’s fulfillment, work and education are found in our children. They are the reason that I am running for this position. Seventeen years of experience in the educational field and interfacing with dedicated professionals at local, county and state levels has provided the kind of preparation I feel is necessary to meet the challenges of this role.
What are the important issues facing the district next year and beyond?
The primary goal of LOCS is to prepare students to face the challenges of an ever-growing diverse, technological and global society. Responding to state reduced financial revenue while facing increased mandates for greater educational responsibility, managing multi-faceted complex change, establishing greater community partnerships and empowering everyone with the necessary tools will be the challenge.

Name: Tiffany Weber-Phillips
Age: 34
Lives on: Park Island Drive
Family: Matthew Phillips, Husband; three children, Gabrielle Phillips, 8, 2nd grader at Stadium Elementary; Cole and Connor Phillips, 4, preschool, School of the Mind and Body
Employment: 14 years of proven business leadership; Current: Realtor, Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty; Past: VP Operations, Walltek Design Build (created corporate infrastructure for start up company and established strategic operating plan); Past: Human Resources Mgmt., GRI, Division of Ford Motor (Recruiting, Employee Training, Benefits, Quality Teams)
Education/Background: Graduate of Lake Orion 1990, Bachelor’s in Business Administration; Master’s in Business Administration with a Finance and HR Concentration
Clubs/Organizations: Lake Orion Education Foundation, Stadium Drive PTA Member and Chamber Member
Why are you running for the school board?
I have great pride in our community and district. I want every child to continue to receive the best education possible! I believe my involvement within the school system, non-biased approach to addressing the critical issues, commitment to the success of every student and experience in business qualifies me to build upon the high standards that have been established.
What are the important issues facing the district next year and beyond?
The issues facing our schools are funding, declining enrollment and preparing our students for the ever-changing global marketplace. We must work with our legislative leaders to find creative solutions, draw attention to our educational strengths to attract families to the area and strive for quality programs that will prepare our students for the challenges of the 21st century.