Watershed Voice sent out questionnaires to over 30 candidates running for elected school board positions in St. Joseph County and the surrounding area. Leading up to the General Election on November 3, Watershed will publish the questionnaires as it receives them back from the candidates. Leonard Hinkson, a two-year, partial-term candidate for the School Board of White Pigeon Community Schools, filled out our questionnaire. These are his answers.

Name: Leonard Hinkson

Age: 56

Address: 17081 Tomahawk Trail, White Pigeon, MI 49099

Family (optional): Married with one 13-year-old son at home

Background/Bio:

(question not answered)

Does your background include training or work, paid or unpaid, in education? What was that experience? What are some of your successes, and what have been some learning moments?

I was an Instructor of Electronics and Mathematics at Ivy Tech State College at the Elkhart and South Bend Indiana Campuses for 15 years. I worked a full-time job and taught 2-3 nights a week from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. I received Teacher of the Year award in 1999. The thing I believe in the most is to earn a college degree or learn a trade like HVAC, Electronics, RV service, welding, auto body, etc. There are so many things we can learn and do that will make us better in life.

Do you now or have you ever had children enrolled in the district where you are running?

I have a 13-year-old son named Luke in the White Pigeon school system.

How else do you currently participate, or have you participated in the past, in school district activities?   

I am presently an appointed school board member. I have been participating in monthly school board meetings since March of 2020. We enjoy going to sporting events, band competitions, quiz bowls, and Science Olympiads.

How has your school district handled the pandemic in both the spring and fall of this year? If anything, what would you have done differently?

I believe our administration handled the pandemic very well. We worked with the county health department in conjunction with state guidelines. We suspended school in the spring preventing any Covid cases. This fall students were offered on-line schooling if parents or students did not feel safe returning to school. Regular classes are split into 2 groups alternating days and every other Friday. This keeps the school at 50% capacity on any given day. This helps with social distancing and prevention of the spread of coronavirus.

Outside of the pandemic, what are currently the most important challenges your school district faces? How do you plan to address those challenges?

I do not have any other concerns. Our administration has set us up for success for the remaining school year. Other than that, I want to make sure we are keeping our children safe.

Are there other key points of your platform as a candidate for school board? If so, what are they?   

Our motto, “Every Student Every Day.”

How does running for the school board fit your broader views and ethics?

I just want to be a part of the community and help where I can. One way is to be a part of the school system.

Why is education important to you?

Without a basic education, where we would be as a society? Education is everything.

Is there anything else the community should know about you?

I enjoy fishing, camping, and the great state of Michigan. No salt, no sharks, and lots of water.