Without question, Meredith Heuer is one of the most qualified people to ever run for a position on the Beacon City School District (BCSD) Board of Education. She has consistently shown her dedication to our community through her role as chairperson of the Beacon Arts & Education Foundation (BAEF), her work as a photographer with her Beacon Portraits series, and her attendance at school board meetings. Meredith’s dedication to the Beacon community stems from being the daughter of an educator as well as being a product of the Detroit public school system. She firmly believes in public education and wants to see it thrive in the city which she lives.

Her passion led her to become co-chair and eventually chair of the Beacon Arts & Education Foundation (BAEF), who since its inception in 2004, has supported more than $100,000 worth of programming in the BCSD that serves all grade levels. One of these programs is the Calico Ball, a tradition that has been part of the third-grade curriculum for more than 25 years. Funding for it was cut out of the BCSD budget in 2009, but under Meredith’s stewardship, BAEF has been able to fund this cherished Beacon tradition.

Ask any parent who has witnessed or student who has participated in the Calico Ball and they will tell you how much it is a part of the fabric of Beacon. BAEF is also proud to have funded new sound equipment in the high school, more than $5,000 worth of musical instruments, teaching artists, Shakespeare in the high school, live performances for the middle school and more. Meredith’s determination made all of that happen.

In addition to running BAEF, Meredith also makes certain to attend and actively participate in school board meetings. She is not a bystander by any stretch of the imagination. She believes in a rich, diverse and thriving school district. She is doer. A motivator. A parent. A role model. She not only wants what’s best for her children, but for the children of Beacon as well. Meredith is a selfless advocate for the students, parents, stakeholders and taxpayers of Beacon. Please join me in voting for her on Tuesday, May 17. I proudly and enthusiastically endorse Meredith Heuer for BCSD Board of Education.

Terry Nelson, Beacon

Behind The Story

Type: Opinion

Opinion: Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.

This piece is by a contributor to The Current who is not on staff. Typically this is because it is a letter to the editor or a guest column.