FENNVILLE, Mich. — He's just 21 years old, but Tuesday night Tobias Hutchins was elected to a seat on the Fennville Public Schools board, making him one of the youngest individuals ever to be elected in Allegan County.
Hutchins was one of three candidates vying for two open six year term seats on the board. Managing to garner 1,150 votes, just 10 fewer than incumbent John Raak, he said his age was definitely an asset in the race.
“I think people are getting tired of the old cranky people who are always on school boards," he said. "They want something new, a fresh perspective, and that’s what I brought to the table."
“It definitely set me apart, it’s that new perspective, that millennial idea that someone is stepping up who’s young who actually wants to get involved and make a genuine difference.”
Hutchins, a senior at Grand Valley State University, said he is currently take 18 credits in an effort to still graduate in a four-year time frame, despite being a double major.
The 2011 Fennville graduate, who also periodically substitute teaches in the district, said he already has a few issues in mind he'd like to tackle once in office, from improving communication between all levels of the district to figuring out how to better prepare Fennville students for a graduation that might not always lead to higher education.
“College isn’t for everyone, and we need to be doing a better job in the state of Michigan of helping out students find their own path," he said.
"Right now we’re all about high stakes testing. They take the ACT, and hopefully they get into college. But what about the kids who aren’t going to college, how are we prepping them to be successful in the workforce?”
Quick to establish himself on the board, Hutchins said he's already sent out a 10-question survey to nearly 100 district staff members to gauge what they feel are the most important issues that need to be addressed currently in the district.
As with most districts in Michigan, Fennville is looking at declining student enrollment and a budget deficit, projected to be about $500,000 next year, all issues Hutchins says he feels qualified to adequately address.
“Student funding is always a concern," he said. "We need to be looking at how we’re funding schools that have higher economic at-risk students and higher needs students, as compared to wealthier districts who might not need that funding."
Hutchins said his decision to run was met with support from both current school board members and fellow candidates, as well as the district's superintendent. Above all, he said, he's hoping this political stint will at least encourage some of his peers to become more involved in their community and in politics.
“I definitely do think that younger people running for office can kind of prove that we do hold a spot, we do have a say, and we can actually make change," Hutchins said.
