ROBERT CRIBBS
Commitment to FHPS
I am running for the FHPS board because I want to improve the current divide among parents and guardians within our community. This divide affects our kids’ educational performance more than many parents realize. I want to work with the board and the superintendent to create a more neutral environment for ALL students. My goal is to help the district emphasize focus on reading, history, science, and math.
Hi, I’m Robert Cribbs
My 10 Point Promise to the Forest Hills Community:
1). Committed to serve all the people of Forest Hills all the time
2). Be respectful to all the people of the district and their ideas
3). Total commitment to academics and extracurricular activities
4). Always be attentive to the safety needs of the district
5). Always seeking what is best for students, teachers, staff, parents, and the community
6). I will be available to all parents by listening to their concerns, ideas, and comments
7). I will make myself visible and approachable before and after board meetings to discuss concerns and comments of parents and guardians attending these meetings
8). I will explain my position on any topic that is voted on by the board
9). I will respond to all parent’s and guardian’s inquiries received through emails and phone calls in a timely manner
10). I will make a conscious effort to follow the Michigan Legislative School Code 380.10 which states; that it is a natural and fundamental right of all parents and legal guardians to determine and direct the care, teaching, and education of their children to develop the pupil’s intellectual capabilities and vocation skills in a safe and positive environment. The public schools of this state serve the needs of the pupils by cooperating with the pupil’s parents and legal guardians to develop the pupil’s intellectual capabilities and vocational skills in a safe and positive environment. (http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-380-10)
I am a 20-year Grand Rapids resident, father, coach, and a business leader. I appreciate you taking the time to review my website to get to know me. I would be honored to serve the Forest Hills Community as a Board of Education Member. Thank you for your vote!
When my boys were going to Northern, FHPS was in the top 10 of the school districts in Michigan. Today, according to (USNEWS), FHPS schools rank 21, 28, and 29 respectively. To me, being ranked near 30 of the top school districts in Michigan is not a success story. My goal is to get the academic rigor back in our school system striving to become the number one school district in the state! Why is this not possible?
Many of my goals as a school board member will be:
* Having a clear vision for improving Forest Hills education.
* Creating a quality education for all students.
* Focused on student achievement by implementing policies ensuring success for all students.
* Bringing the community together as there is too much divide within the district, by listening to all sides of an issue, and whatever is decided, will communicate effectively as to why a decision was made.
* Being an effective communicator and a good listener by making myself visible and approachable before and after board meetings to discuss concerns and ideas of the parents and guardians attending these meetings.
* Be respectful to the school board and superintendent.
* Constantly strive for a secure environment for all students, teachers, and employees.
* Overseeing school transportation so that every student will get to and from school each day and listen to the concerns of the bus drivers that are responsible for their safety.
* Standing up for parents’ concerns, as stated in the MSC 380.10, being sure that the district focuses on education.
* Adopting a fiscally sound district budget. Paying attention to finances and regularly monitoring the fiscal health of the district.
* Being very visible and supportive of the district and community activities.
* TRANSPARENCY! I will make it a top priority that the communications director set up all board, curriculum, and budget meetings to be live so that parents and members of the community that cannot attend these meetings can sign-on during these proceedings and be able to participate during public comments. These meetings are recorded so will be posted on the FHPS website within 24 hours of the meeting.
* With all the anxiety, social issues, and stress students have experienced especially since the lockouts and virtual classes, I want to be sure that FHPS has a proper staff of counselors and if needed mental health providers to help students that need support.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
* Founded RowOne Home Entertainment furniture manufacturing company, sold in 2019
* Executive at Hekman Furniture of the Howard Miller Clock Company, Grand Rapids, MI
*General Manager Kimball Home (division of Kimball International), Jasper, IN
*Sales Manager at La-Z-Boy, Monroe, MI
*Owner of AmeriCon West Hospitality & Restaurant Supply Company
*Assistant Scout Master Troop 290
CURRENT
* Forest Hills Central Middle School boys & girls’ Basketball Coach
* Junior Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach, Potter’s House High School, Wyoming, MI
* Sports official at Mary Free Bed YMCA
* Transportation & Logistics Manager for Asia & USA shipping, delivery and warehousing at Gulfstream, Lenoir, NC
* Business Mentor for SCORE, a branch of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Personal Info
* Married to Dorothy, 28 years
* Father of two, ages 22 and 25 years old (both graduated Forest Hills Northern)
* B.S. in Liberal Arts from Southeast Missouri State University with emphasis on education
* Grew up in Louisville, Kentucky
* Moved to Grand Rapids from Jasper, Indiana
* Lived in Grand Rapids over 20 years
* Member of Keystone Church in Ada, MI
Working with the district
I have attended every board meeting since October and starting in December attended the majority of the monthly afternoon budget and curriculum meetings.
I got very involved with FHPS after seeing how divided the community is with more than 200 parents attending school board meetings. When my kids attended school, going to school board meetings, if there were 50 parents attending was considered a crowd. Now we are a seriously divided community, we need to do better / our board needs to do better!
Robert Cribbs 4 FHPS
FHPS Transportation
I make it a point when there is a problem or a concern I will investigate to find solutions and bring the concerns and solutions to the attention of the board and superintendent to try and resolve the situation.
After listening to the complaints regarding transportation for months, it seemed nothing was being done, I decided to become very active working on my own within the transportation system to learn about the problems and to come up with solutions to prevent to the board and superintendent. Over the months, I met with drivers, admin, and parents, realizing that the problems were not just regarding wages but other areas of concern involving the drivers. Hourly wages needed to be increased which was finally done in the new contract offered the drivers at the end of the school year. How I got involved with transportation was by assisting a group of parents that organized monthly Transportation Appreciation Breakfasts and Luncheons, and the year-end award banquet supporting the difficult job that the drivers have with the responsibility of getting our students to and from school.
I met with the assistant superintendent regarding what I had learned the last several months regarding pay, insurance, and support. The drivers got a substantial increase in their hourly pay and hope that the other points discussed have been addressed so that the district will not have to worry about their kids getting to and from school in 2022-2023.
Parents should be aware of The Michigan Legislature School Code which states very clearly that the public-school system MUST PROVIDE transportation to and from the school if more that 1.5 miles from their home. If none is provided, the school system needs to compensate the parents for getting their children to and from school. If not aware of this provision in the Michigan Legislative School Codes, here is the link.
380.1321 Transportation for pupils; requirements; the legislative school code is as follows:
Sec. 1321
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, if a board of a school district provides transportation for its resident pupils, other than students with a disability transported under article 3 or other pupils who cannot safely walk to school, the school board shall provide transportation to and from school for each resident public or nonpublic school pupil if both of the following requirements are met:
(a) The school district provides transportation for the elementary school level, middle or junior high school level, or high school level, as defined by the local school board, in which the pupil is enrolled.
(b) The pupil attends either the public or the nearest state approved nonpublic school in the school district to which the pupil is eligible to be admitted.
(2) Transportation provided under subsection (1) shall be without charge to the resident pupil, the parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the pupil.
(3) A school district is not required to transport or pay for transportation of a resident pupil living within 1-1/2 miles, by the nearest traveled route, to the public or state approved nonpublic school in which the pupil is enrolled. A school district is not required to transport or pay for the transportation of a resident pupil attending a nonpublic school who lives in an area less than 1-1/2 miles from a public school in which public school pupils are not transported, except that the school district shall transport or pay for the transportation of the resident pupil from the public school within the area to the nonpublic school the pupil attends.
(4) A school district is not required to transport or pay for the transportation of resident pupils to state approved nonpublic schools located outside the district unless the school district transports some of its resident pupils, other than students with a disability under article 3, to public schools located outside the district, in which case the school district shall transport or pay for the transportation of resident pupils attending a state approved nonpublic school at least to the distance of the public schools located outside the district to which the district transports resident pupils and in the same general direction.
Commitment to Kids
I believe that school boards play an integral part in building character for all kids that want to go on to college or go into a trade. I am a firm believer in helping students find a vocation outside of college so students learn about the different opportunities and skills that do not need a college education.
There may be students who choose not to go to college but feel pressured to do so. Some students may not be aware of good high paying job opportunities in the trade field and it is my goal to help incorporate these favorable circumstances within our school system so all students may succeed in whatever path they choose.
Michigan college students have a high dropout rate their first year (est. 40%). Among those remaining students, a high percentage that graduate took a different career path (as I did) than their chosen field and/or degree (Education Data).
There are a number of opportunities in trades like mechanics, automotive, avionics, construction, welding, engineering, HVAC, etc., professions that do not need a college education. I would try to partner with local companies in the Grand Rapids area that will offer students a chance to “shadow” these alternatives and/or partner with technical schools where students can take courses, just like students that take AP courses for example, in the trade the student wants to pursue.
As a district we need to widen our approach to education by providing a well-rounded education in the core subjects. I want to highly encourage extracurricular activities for children of all ages. I personally believe these connections are very important to kids. They need to be involved in group activities because many students feel left behind. Often it leads to students within the school system becoming loners or introverts. It is important to highlight assemblies at the beginning of the school year casing all the different clubs, sports, and associations available for students, even coming up with an approved group of their own not offered. Students should be encouraged to be part of something while in school which will round out their education and help them be successful when they are in the job market.