Six candidates are vying for an open seat on the Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education.
The board is seeking a replacement for Meghan Glabach, who resigned for an out-of-state opportunity. Glabach, who was serving as board president, attended her final meeting June 16.
The board interviewed six candidates during a special meeting June 23, including Len Pietila, Scott Horst, Danielle Custodio, Holly Austin, Allan Curtis and Joe Wallace.
The board will select a candidate during another special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 1. The board’s organizational meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 21, when members will vote on officers for the next year.
Here’s a breakdown of the candidate interviews:
Len Pietila
Pietila said his oldest child graduated from Hartland High School four years ago, his middle daughter graduated a couple of years ago and another daughter will soon be a senior. Pietila said he considered running for a seat in 2024, but decided against it for personal reasons. Pietila previously served on the Kensington Valley Hockey Association Board of Directors.
The role of a board member is to represent all students, Pietila said.
“It’s just about treating all students the same,” he said.
His top three priorities for the district are maintaining academic excellence, safety and retaining good teachers.
Scott Horst
Horst has three children who’ve graduated from Hartland High School. He was heavily involved in the school’s music program, including serving as treasurer of the Band Boosters. Horst has a background in operating laboratories at Ford Motor Company and was also secretary for Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church.
Horst decided to apply for the open seat to give back to the district.
“The district and the environment and the community has really benefited my family immensely,” he said.
His top three priorities are financial stability, staff and board continuity, and good curriculum development.
Danielle Custodio
Custodio is a former member of the Hartland High School Football Board, is a current member of the school’s Cheer Board and recently took over the district’s Gold Out, a fundraiser to benefit C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital, pediatric cancer patients and their families.
Custodio had a child graduate from HHS last year, with another daughter coming up. She said she applied to give back.
“Hartland Schools has done a lot for my family, and my children have flourished,” she said.
Her top three priorities are safety, student and teacher retention, and opportunities for students.
Holly Austin
Austin is a graduate of Hartland High School. She has two sons who graduated in 2023 and 2025, and her family hosted a Swedish foreign exchange student who graduated in 2024. Austin is a professor of nursing at Schoolcraft College and operated a business that created technology to help nursing students.
Austin also serves as a member of the Livingston County Health Advisory Committee. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Austin said she was a proponent of students not wearing masks in schools and was against social distancing.
“I feel I have a unique perspective to offer to this board and to the community,” she said.
Her top three priorities are safety, academics and the quality of the district’s educational offerings.
Allan Curtis
Curtis has three daughters who’ve graduated from Hartland. He’s the owner of a construction business and his wife was previously a coach for Hartland Gymnastics Academy. He credits HCS for helping his daughters become successful.
“Here’s an opportunity to give back to a community that has given quite a bit to me, especially my children,” he said.
His top three priorities are quality of education, having good athletics programs, and implementing after-school programs.
Joe Wallace
Wallace has two children in elementary school in Hartland. His wife teaches seventh grade math at Hartland Middle School at Ore Creek. The family took a seven-month trip across the country this past school year. Wallace previously worked in the automotive industry. He said the timing is right.
“As a board member, part of the role is to be a liaison between the community and the school district to make sure the voices of this community are being heard,” he said.
His top three priorities are school and student safety, curriculum, and pushing the three “Rs” of Reason, Respect and Responsibility.
— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @SalsaEvan.
(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Meet the candidates applying to replace HCS Board President Meghan Glabach
Reporting by Evan Sasiela, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
