GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – From hiring a new superintendent to possibly closing more schools and changing school boundary lines, Green Bay’s school board has a lot of big decisions coming up.
It appointed a new member Monday night to help with those decisions. In doing so, it granted one request some community members had for the position: bring more diversity to the board.
Retired Army Lt. Colonol Rick Crosson, who was more recently running a trucking company, is the newest member of Green Bay’s school board.
He will serve the year remaining on Laura Laitinen-Warren’s term, who resigned shortly after the board accepted the resignation of former Superintendent Claude Tiller – the first African American to hold that position for the district.
“My own challenge to myself is that I should have probably been more involved with events prior to that happening,” said Crosson, who is African American. “So I did. I put my name out there as a resource going forward.”
Immediately after the school board accepted Tiller’s resignation in February, minority community members called for more diversity on the board.
FOX 11 asked Crosson if he is concerned the board appointed him to appease those calling for more diversity or if he felt it was more qualification based.
“I would say there are probably folks all along that spectrum,” said Crosson. “For me, I know my qualifications, I know what I can do. I know my limitations and what I need help on.Who I am has a role to play. I’m obviously unapologetically a black man and so I do have a perspective that I think can bring some good things to the group. For that we can only be better.”
Board members focused more on Crosson’s experience and knowledge of district issues when saying why they wanted him on the board.
“He has experience with change management, which is so critically important as we deal with the fiscal cliff, the closing facilities and the boundaries recommendations,” said Nancy Welch, a school board member who served her last meeting Monday after not running for re-election earlier in April.
“Out of a field of fantastic candidates, it’s clear to me that he understands the role of the school board, which I do not believe some of the candidates understand,” said Lynn Gerlach, a school board member.
Crosson was one of 15 people who put their name in to be considered for the open seat.
“I understand the responsibilities,” said Crosson. “I understand the challenges and I’m ready to do it.”
Crosson isn’t the only one bringing increased diversity to the seven-member school board. Voters elected Kou Lee earlier this month out of four candidates who were vying for two open seats. Andrew Becker was re-elected to the other seat.
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