Novi Times

The South Lyon School Board welcomed a new board member during their Dec. 5 meeting.

Teresa Laszlo has come onto the board to fill a vacancy for the remainder of term that will end on Dec. 31, 2024. She was elected in the November election and was sworn in just after the election was certified.

The board also had two members whose terms are expiring at the end of the month, with new members replacing them on the first of January. Stephanie Junkulis-Pierce was recognized for her dedication to the school district despite her busy schedule with the Education Foundation, being a mother of two and maintaining career as a lawyer.

Eric Kennedy, the vice president of the board, was also recognized for his input to the board as a teacher who still cares about each and every student.

“I always appreciated, you know, what a cool presence, an even keel you brought to us. You're a deep listener, you know? And when all of us, like me included, are just rambling, you're taking it in. And when you finally do, you know, share your thoughts, it's obvious that you've weighed what you've heard from the group and taking that into account with what you've shared,” said Trustee Anthony Abbate. “And I've always appreciated that. I feel like you've always been an asset for us too in the unfortunate times when we've had disciplinary hearings and you've kind of reminded us to think about the long-term well-being of kids and the human element of what we were dealing with in those situations. And I appreciate that about you, Eric.”

Board President Craig Dashner was also coming to the end of his term. The board members recognized all his dedication to students, especially the youngest ones.

The board acknowledged his depth of research and knowledge, and his very personal way of thinking and thanked him for his leadership on the board in the past few challenging years.