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Milford Area Public Schools #124

BUILDING THE EXTRAORDINARY

Board of Education Home

MAPS School Board

Board of Education Representatives

  • Mary Ronna – President
  • Jeff Mabbitt – Vice President
  • Jodie Havens – Secretary
  • Josh Harris
  • Darren Bakken
  • Justin Lavicka
  • Scott Johnson

 

Contact Info:boe@mpsk12.org

School Board Member Training
Illinois School code reads, “Every member of a school board of a school district, within the first year of his or her first term commencing after June 13, 2012, the effective date of P.A. 97-08, shall complete a minimum of 4 hours of professional development leadership training covering topics in education and labor law, financial oversight and accountability, and fiduciary responsibilities of a school board member.”

 

The following school board members have completed the required board member training.

 

  • Mary Ronna
  • Jeff Mabbitt
  • Jodie Havens
  • Josh Harris
  • Darren Bakken
  • Justin Lavicka
  • Scott Johnson

Darren Bakken

  • Served on the BOE since September of 2021
  • Married and has two children who both currently attend Milford schools
  • 911 dispatcher for Iroquois County and have been doing that for 21 years 
  • Volunteers time to coach his daughter’s travel softball team and his son’s football team
  • Enjoys watching sports and going to music concerts in free time
  • Served on the board for almost 4 years
  • Has two children in the district, Evan and Leah
  • Graduated from Sheldon High School; younger brother completed his Senior year at MHS and was the first "Sheldon" class to graduate from MHS in 2004
  • Attended college at Illinois State University and earned Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders. 
  • Currently employed as a Speech Language Pathologist at Hoopeston Area School District, has been there 15 years
  • Volunteers around the community: soccer coach, BAT CIA volunteer, and a Sheldon TIES member.  
  • Owns a small clothing boutique (Simply Stylish Boutique) which is currently located in Kentland, IN and will soon be opening my own Speech Therapy business in IL!
  • Is honored to be part of Milford School District, Go BATS and BEARCATS!
  • First year serving on the MAPS Board of Education
  • Born and raised in Iroquois County, and has lived here his entire life
  • Currently has a 7th grade son enrolled in the district
  • Has lived in the District for 6 years
  • Part of a multi-generational family farm in Iroquois County - farm corn and soybeans
  • Has previously served on the IKAN Regional Board of School Trustees; has also served on the Shewami Country Club board for many years while serving as President of the Board for the past 8. 
  • Involved in the local Travel Baseball team as a Coach.  

Justin Lavicka

  • Served on the school board for around 27 years, first at Sheldon, then at Milford
  • Both his children graduated from Milford
  • Currently has a granddaughter at MGS, and a couple more headed that way
  • Farms around Sheldon
  • Has been in the automobile business for thirty+ years
  • Served on the board for 13 years
  • From Paxton, IL
  • Three sons graduated from Milford High School
  • Taught at Milford Grade School- junior high language arts and retired as assistant principal of MGS in 2013
  • Currently on Milford Park and Pool Foundation 
  • Volunteers at Iroquois Memorial Hospital
  • Enjoys reading, traveling, and time with family