Campaign Against BHS High School Merger Begins
Voters voice their anger, concerns over $58 million bond request to unify Andover and Lahser campuses in one building on the May 8 ballot.
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Residents opposed to the Bloomfield Hills Schools' request for a $58 million bond to merge Andover and Lahser high schools on one campus voiced their concerns and commitment to defeat the May 8 ballot request during their first formal public meeting Monday.
The gathering, organized by Bloomfield 20/20 and Bloomfield Voice, drew roughly 50 people to the Bloomfield Township Senior Services building who learned more about the "No" campaign and left galvanized by their frustration over a tax they call unnecessary.
"People are fed up," said township resident Kris Enborg. "How many times have we voted for this and they keep coming back?"
The Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education adopted the plan to merge both schools at a partly renovated and partly new school on the current Andover campus late last year, and approved the controversial millage request unanimously last month.
It's the third time voters will decide to fund a millage aimed to address the district's aging high schools. The prior ballot requests for $121 million and $73 million lost convincingly at the polls in 2007 and 2010, respectively. Unlike prior attempts, the district has committed $20 million toward this $79 million project, and plans to open a unified Bloomfield Hills High School on two campuses in the fall of 2013, even if the millage fails.
But attendees at Monday's meeting said they fear the 26-year bond has the potential to sharply increase property taxes over time and that they already approved funds for building maintenance that they don't believe the district utilized properly.
"Where's the accountability?" asked Enborg, who was sitting with other equally frustrated mothers of children that now attend area private schools. "We already voted and approved that money."
Others called the measure an unfair, unnecessary tax that does not serve the students.
Michael Banerian, a junior at Lahser that started Bloomfield Voice to target younger voters in the district, said many of his classmates disapprove of the merger and the district's emphasis on facilities.
"We have two different communities at Andover and Lahser, and there will be a lot of issues mixing together," he said.
Banerian also said the plan limited opportunities for students, as there will be less spots available for sports teams, theater productions and music programs in a merged high school.
The current plan is a combination of new construction and renovation to parts of the existing Andover High School campus. If the bond passes, the hybrid building could house 1,650 students at a new Bloomfield Hills High School by the Fall of 2015. Students would leave the Andover site for two years and be split. Ninth-graders would move to Hickory Grove, and grades 10-12 would relocate to Lahser High School. Model High School would move to Pine Lake during the transition and would fit on the proposed new high school campus.
District officials said the plan offers more value than previous attempts to merge the high schools, and that the area would retain one of the lowest tax rates for schools in Oakland County as other tax levies phase out.
Superintendent Rob Glass said the plan is needed to address declining enrollment, capture annual budget savings projected at $2.4 million, and to draw a divisive issue in the Bloomfield community to a close. Board of Education Trustee Joan Berndt and a few other millage supporters were in attendance, but remained largely quiet during the 90-minute meeting.
Enrollment and state funding may decline, but closing a facility when the district has existing funds that the community approved is the wrong route, said Bloomfield 20/20 spokeswoman Jenny Greenwell.
"We want our two small high schools," she said. "If enrollment is down and you need to split them to a ninth and tenth (grade) building or 11th and 12th, so be it. We're not about to plow one under and we've told them so."
Greenwell handed out several bumper stickers and small signs to attendees and urged them to speak to their neighbors and contribute to their campaign to defeat the millage.
Bloomfield Township resident Ron Portser said he saw it as a "preventative spending."
"If they pass this thing, then we'll be paying for a very long time and it's not going to stop," he said after submitting a personal check to the cause. "I'm worried about what they'll want next for the middle schools."
For previous coverage of this issue please see our High School Consolidation in Bloomfield Hills Topic Page.
In This article
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Bloomfield Hills School District Central Administration Office
7273 Wing Lake Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI -
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Bloomfield Hills Andover High School
4200 Andover Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI -
Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School
3456 Lahser Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Judy Weiner
6:23 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Michael Banerian,,
I sure would like you to define your comment "we have two different communities at Andover and Lahser, and there will be a lot of issues mixing (them) together." Please tell readers exactly what you mean.
Also, I'm sure you are well aware that when the two schools merge in 2013, many opportunities for students will be saved. Did you forget to mention those?
Charles Gaba
8:44 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Yes. I, too, would be fascinated to hear about in what ways the communities at Andover and Lahser are so "different". Do the students breath a different type of atmosphere? Do they speak Esperanto at one and Swahili at the other?
Of course, this is a moot point anyway, since even if the bond fails, there will STILL be only one high school. 9th Graders from the entire district would be at Lahser; 10th - 12th Graders from the entire district would be housed at Andover, and they would still have to be shlepped back and forth between the buildings for many classes, just as they have been the past few years, an absurd waste of time and gas.
I'd prefer not to have my kid spending half his school day on a bus, thank you very much. Vote YES on May 8th.
Frank Laurinec
4:35 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Opportunities for some students will be lost, for instance there can only be one starting quarterback of the football team, but other opportunities will be enhanced. For instance, former Andover football freshmen will have a true freshmen team rather than being mixed with sophomores on a JV team. This will afford them the opportunity to play students from other schools of their same weight and size and give them the opportunity to grow more in skill development than in the past. In addition, new varsity sports can come on line. For instance, the OAA has a bowling league. I've been approached by several students who would like to explore the opportunity to start a new Black Hawk bowling team. So, while some things will pass away, from the ashes can spring new opportunities if we take advantage of them and look at the glass as half-full.
Frank Laurinec, Jr. President
Bloomfield Hills Education Association
Frank Laurinec
4:36 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Dear Michael,
First of all let me commend you on becoming involved in your community. This is something we in the social studies department have always tried to encourage.
However, we have also always encouraged and have demanded accuracy in comments and a reliance on facts. First of all, there will be one high school in the fall of 2013. I think we can all agree that that is a fact. What we are discussing is how will that high school look; a temporary separation of 9th graders while construction takes place, or a permanent separation of 9th graders if the bond fails.
More to come
john pasquel
3:29 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
The different communites are the types of students. Andover is full of priveleged kids who are not as athletic. while lasher is filled with athletes. not to mention the predominent jewish population at andover and also caldean. Lahser and Andover should never be joined. If you don't GO to lahser or Andover. or been there in the last 5 years. you have no right to comment on the "different communities." U have no bearing on the subject judy and charles.
Alexandrea Franklin
6:23 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
50 people? Looks like the entire B20/20 organization turned out. B20/20 is a joke, a very sad one at that. They keep twisting the facts so that they can stick to their one word vocabulary "No". I'm confident the majority of District residents will say "No" to B20/20 once and for all. They are a disgrace to this community and make it a laughing stock.
Linda P
10:19 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Mrs. Franklin, the only thing that matters is the size of the vote which much to your dismay has been large enough to defeat all of these spend rift proposals. Amen.
Elizabeth
7:46 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The length of this bond is no different from the length of bond Bloomfield Township Residents pay for the Library, Public Service Improvements and Senior Center. The school debt that will expire in 2014 was, I believe, approved for the same length. This argument presented by B2020 is a smoke screen.
Those opposing the millage (consolidation of the high schools on two campuses) aren’t looking at the long term implications. Students will still have to be bused for classes. Model High School students would be bused to the Lahser campus. 9th grade students taking more advanced classes would have to be bused to the Andover campus. This configuration will perpetuate operational inefficiencies. Jenny’s comment about wanting two schools seems to be more about wanting buildings than about the education within the walls.
Currently, the Andover and Lahser students mix every day. Buses take them back and forth for classes not offered at their home school. Along with that bus ride they get a loss of instruction time. The district’s decision to combine the high schools on ONE campus eliminates the busing. I am certain that our intelligent students will come together, weather the change and celebrate their differences and similarities with grace and dignity.
Voting YES on May 8th is the right decision.
Elizabeth
7:48 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
To be clear, those opposing the millage prefer one high school on two campuses.
M.G.
11:05 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Well Put!
Emily Eichenhorn
7:46 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The fact is that there will be only one high school beginning in 2013, whether there is one renovated building or two outdated ones. The student population will be merged. We will no longer have two tiny high schools, but will have one small high school.
Voting No will not prevent that. It will not keep the two school populations separate. It will not keep two football teams or two theater productions. What will happen by voting YES is we will be able to still have programming like that, and Latin, and AP classes and smaller clubs.
Don't be misled by spurious arguments that are really just the same complaints that have been raised for years. Vote YES for an actual solution.
Joan Berndt
10:00 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
" Board of Education Trustee Joan Berndt... in attendance, but remained largely quiet during the 90-minute meeting." And that was by design. I went to listen, not to talk; it is an exercise in futility to try to reason with people who have their minds made up to the extent that they are blinded by their negative fervor. On the plus side, I did get to talk individually to a few attendees who were willing to listen to the other side of the story. For anyone interested in hearing more, there is a school district bond issue informational meeting at the Senior Center especially designed for Gold Card/senior citizens at 9:30 a.m. Friday morning. Please come.
R Gibson
12:42 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Let me say for the records, I am voting in the affirmative on May 8. However, I must take issue with your comments. As defined on Wikipedia, a “Board of Trustees for an institution that operates for the benefit of the general public”. The whole public, not just those that you agree with. Joan your comments here perpetuate the perception that the board runs in lock step with the administration and that any dissenting opinions are from crack pots and nattering nabobs of negativism. Just because this group feels as strongly about this issue as you do, doesn’t make them wrong or crazy, just as your vote in favor of the mileage doesn’t mean you are right. As a representative of the whole community, you must represent the whole community, not just those that you agree with. Elected officials are there to represent all of us. Furthermore, I think you comments are unprofessional. As you said, "I went to listen, not to talk". Once you became critical of the 20/20 folks in this forum, you stepped over the line. I think it would be prudent for the Board Members and the Administration to read public comments, but not post or respond.
Ann
10:33 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Rob Glass will be around town offering information on the May 8 ballot. Please get the facts on the ballot proposal:
• Seniors: Friday, March 30, 9:30 a.m., Senior Center
• Friday, March 30, 1:00 p.m., Starbucks @ Maple/Telegraph
• Seniors: Wednesday, April 4, 10:00 a.m., Doyle Center
• Wednesday, April 4, 1:30 p.m., Starbucks @ Woodward/Square Lake
• Monday, April 9, 1:30 p.m., Starbucks @ Maple/Telegraph
• Preschool Parents: Wednesday, April 11, 7:00 p.m., Fox Hills
• Monday, April 16, 7:00 p.m., East Hills Middle School
• Moms & Tots (we will have district employees available to read to the tots while the moms ask questions and get information): Wednesday, April 18, 1:00 p.m., Bloomfield Township Library
Linda P
10:21 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
While Rob Glass is per your statement "running around town" it seems no one is leading the school district operationally, I guess instead of a superintendent we have a full time bond salesman.
mdt48302
12:37 am on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Or he could be sitting in his office, in which case the complaint would be that he's out of touch with the community. There's ALWAYS a complaint, you see.
Elizabeth
7:04 am on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Linda,
That is an unnecessary low blow. We can all support our positions without statements like yours. Your style of rhetoric leads to more division and unfortunately for you, will cast more doubt on what you and those who support your position say.
This district has the right person at the helm and he is doing a wonderful job operating this district, in or out of the office.
Ann
10:37 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
People should be aware of how sinking fund money has been used. All the district buildings are old, so significant roofing, HVAC and structural repairs have been required. For detail on how the $31 million collected to date has been used, please see:
http://onebloomfieldunited.com/blog/11/09/12/how_sinking_fund_money_used
Missy Small
12:45 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
My daughter graduated from Lahser in 2008 and my son graduated from Andover in 2011. Michael Banerian's quote - "We have two different communities at Andover and Lahser, and there will be a lot of issues mixing together," is only manufactured by people with blinders.....luckily 99% of the children in the district have their eyes wide open, with no preconceived prejudices. Let's hope that the district voters open their eyes as well.
Charles Gaba
12:59 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Well said. My brother graduated from Lahser in '82. My sister graduated from Andover in '84. I graduated from Lahser in '88. While we had our share of sibling rivalry, none of it had anything to do with which high school we attended.
And again, I hope people understand that there's NOT going to be a Lahser High School *or* an Andover High School after next year REGARDLESS of the outcome of this election. Those in the 10th-12th grades from both sides of the district would still be in a single building either way, so all of this "different communities having trouble mixing" nonsense is just that: Nonsense.
I voted No in 2010. I'm voting YES on May 8th.
Art Aisner
6:50 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
OK folks, we know this is an important issue that elicits a lot of emotional and passionate responses, and we appreciate the time you spend reading, commenting on, and contributing to our coverage. Please don’t stoop to the level of removing comments because they may hold a different viewpoint than your own.
If you believe in your position, one way or the other, let your ideas and those of others stand on their own merit and keep the conversation going. Flagging comments is a tool we use when people violate our terms of service, not just when someone disagrees. The flagged comments on this story are now returned and published on the site. Thanks for your cooperation.
R Gibson
12:53 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Art, thank you for providing this forum. I will admit that I have done this very thing. Sorry. But sometimes I felt that the poster had stepped dangerously close to a line that should not be crossed and this seemed a way to let you know that something had occured. Furrthermore, sometimes we get frustrated by some posters who view this as their own personal blog and put up post after post after post, maxing out the message in each one. In effect, they limit participation because of the length and volume of their posts. Lastly, the speech can get very mean in here with personal attacks, name calling, and insults. Sorry for my part, but sometimes it is more like the wild, wild west in here and some of us are trying to help our fellow neighbor.
GEORGE DERDERIAN
1:33 pm on Friday, March 30, 2012
On May 8th it is time to send a message to the rest of Oakland County that the discord and divide in Bloomfield Hills/Twp. is over. We have a new superintendent and a plan for a new sensible high school. We need to send a mandate to Rob Glass that we want the very best for our children and our community and we are willing to pay for it.
Even though " The Bond" will net out as a most likely a property tax DECREASE not a increase. Nine years is enough already! Get the facts, this is;
THE RIGHT PLAN, THE RIGHT COST AND THE RIGHT TIME TO VOTE YES..........
Very truly, George Derderian Jr. and Family 22 years in Bloomfield Twp.
Neal Charness
4:35 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
I have no idea whether Mr. Pasquel is part of B2020. I've seen Jenny's campaign flyers from years ago and comments by Linda P insinuating that people from West Bloomfield with lower taxes were taking advantage of Bloomfield but nothing like this. I do think it's incumbent on B2020 to take a strong public stand that they don't agree with these comments. A failure to do so is a very strong statement in itself. Since there have been things in the past I urge B2020 to strongly say these are not their values.
Neal Charness
4:47 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
"The different communities are the types of students. Andover is full of priveleged kids who are not as athletic. while lahser is full of athletes. not to mention the predominent jewish population at andover and also chaldean. Andover and Lahser should never be joined. If you don't GO to Lahser or Andover. or been there in the last 5 years. you have no right to comment on the "different communities." U have no bearing on the subject judy and charles."
This is word for word the post from Mr. Pasquel. I copied it with the spelling and punctuation issues because I don't want to edit it in any way and I'm posting it so that it can't be deleted and disappear.
His post makes me very sad that such rantings would take place in our community in this day and age.