"Group-think" hurts students and communities
Local school boards are not a "team sport," and diversity of opinion often leads to enhanced discussion, examination of issues and better outcomes.
Here in the Bloomfield Hills School district, we have a board of 7 trustees who agree on pretty much everything. Most decisions are 7-0, and those votes follow very little discussion and no debate at all.
If all seven Trustees agree on everything, then why do we need seven? Why not have ONE trustee?
Because discussion and debate begets better outcomes, that's why.
I don't agree with a lot of the decisions our school board has made over the past few years. For instance, I would not have voted to award a contract to Fielding Nair International, a virtual consultant, for $863,114 from our 2004 Sinking Fund. I would have chosen the low bidder, Ehresman Associates, a Michigan firm, for a contract award of $195,000. Both are qualified bidders who responded to the same Request for Proposals that was published by the BHSD. Why pay so much more for the same service? This vote passed 6-0, with soon-to-quit David Lubin absent.
I don't agree that financial issues should appear on stealth ballots. I would not have approved a $70,000 expense for a school bond vote in May. I know that the best way to get valid community input is at the polls, in an even-year November election. In general elections, the BHSD pays only the printing costs for the portion of the ballot that concerns schools. In a single-issue election, we pay the entire cost of the election. Ridiculous!
I would have voted to KILL the plan for an employees-only medical clinic. Right now, the project is tabled. The start-up cost of this fiasco has gone from $80,000 to $500,000 to $1.5-million. We are already paying a "health care consultant" and BHS employees have already made a "site visit" to one or more medical clinics in Florida. If I am not elected, this plan will be back before the board, and approved, ASAP. It's a bad idea, and a waste of precious education funds.
As to our new high school, I don't agree that a 12-lane pool makes any sense at all. Two smaller pools would be better; one for competition, one for lessons and practice. A 12-lane pool is a small lake, and unless we plan to teach indoor sailing, I think this part of the new high school plan should be changed. Eight lanes are plenty for high school competitions. There isn't enough parking at teh site to handle a state event, anyway.
I don't agree that Hickory Grove school should have been closed. The school was fully-enrolled, and served a large geographic section of our community. The school was not operating at a financial deficit. Why close it? Closing Hickory Grove was a mistake, and I would not have voted to do it.
Six year terms? An obvious mistake. I would never have voted to circumvent voters and extend my own term, as all seven of our Trustees did. Sure, we'll be back to 4-year terms in a few years, maybe, but look at the Nov. 6, 2012 ballot: Six year terms for BHS Trustees. Another mistake. Six year terms are why we have two appointees on the board. Both chosen with just FIVE votes, from their board peers.
Public education is being taken out of the hands of the public, and that's the biggest mistake of all.
We need one or more independent thinkers, who represent taxpayers of this district. That's why I'm running: The BHSD needs a better board of education.
We need a Trustee who directs spending to the classroom, where it belongs. Not on consultants, more consultants, and junkets to Florida.
Let's spend education tax dollars on education, instead.
Please vote for me (for BHSD Board of Education Trustee, 2-year term) on Nov. 6. I bring diversity of thought to the Board of Education table. We need it now, more than ever.
Neal Charness
10:08 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
We'd be better off voting for the ex-Mayor of Detroit.
S Sera
10:23 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
Everything on this piece has been explained again and again and again to Mrs. Greenwell, including why there are times not to go with the lowest bidder! This "newest" piece of writing clearly demonstrates why Mrs. Greenwell shouldn't be elected to be a trustee. The students have a better command of reasoning and certainly a better learning curve! Her arguments are the same old arguments which are entirely about her desire is to put her foot down and behave like a two year old throwing a tantrum. Electing her would only foster hostility in the community while completely disregarding the future of our students. Do NOT vote for Jenny Greenwell for to do so would be putting a noose around the necks of the students futures and slowly tightening it.
Carl C.
11:06 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
A nattering nabob of negativism.
BH Resident
11:21 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
Thank you, Mrs. Greenwell, for your relentless efforts in watching out for taxpayers and caring about all of our students, including those with special needs.
You are correct that Hickory Grove never should have been closed. It had been targeted as the site for a fantasy administrative office location by ex-supt. Gaynor, but that plan got leaked out before he could launch it. It is a large school and had a capacity population. One part of it was newly constructed just a couple of years before the school was closed.
But, please do visit www.bhsforum.com and click on the Pine Lake School topic to see how that local community wails at another wrongful closure as well.
The board's bond passage saga was, of course, handled as another farce.
We understand that you do not have the wheeler dealer backing like some other candidates and, hence, you may lose again, unless the community at large will properly recognize your contributions and your efforts at defeating the exorbitant multi million dollar bond in 2003. Thank you again for all you have done, and for all that you continue to do, for our district.
Best wishes to you, Mr. Moigis, and Mr. Baron in the upcoming election.
Jon
12:40 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
What is "the wheeler dealer backing"? If you look at the campaign reports, the campaigns are funded by local residents. The only anomaly is the $8500 campaign donation an out-of-district relative made to the Moigis campaign. This one donation is 133% of the entire Day budget, and 150% more than either the Berndt or Herner budgets. I don't know if Mr. Moigis's relative is a "wheeler dealer", but it at the very least indicates a very pricey vanity campaign.
Mac
12:45 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
No child currently at Lone Pine ever went to Pine Lake. The closure was that long ago.
Amy Cardin
11:33 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
Jenny, while I agree that operating a school district is not a "sport" I firmly believe that a community, school board, administration, staff and students ARE part of the same team. On a TEAM everyone brings their own unique set of strengths and talents to the "field." In the BHSD the ultimate goal, or end game, is the educational success of every student. On a successful team often times you don't get what you want. The coach has a different vision, or another player is playing better. Often times you make sacrifices for "the good of the team." This appears to be a foreign concept to you Jenny. Let's see...15 "I" references in your blog. Guess Jenny Greenwell isn't a team player. In reality, she has been CUT from the team. We don't need her as a pinch hitter, bench warmer, water girl, trainer, player or coach. There is NO place on our BHSD team for Jenny Greenwell.
Vote for individuals who can voice their opinions, work toward solutions and have respect for their teammates. Vote Day, Baron and either Berndt or Herner for school board.
S Sera
12:36 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
Well put Mrs. Cardin!
Charles Gaba
12:25 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
I've finally realized why Mrs. Greenwell hasn't bothered to set up an actual campaign website (standard practice for any political campaign in 2012): She's decided to use the Patch as her personal stream-of-consciousness blog. This is starting to remind me of those Twitter/Facebook junkies who have to post EVERY random thought that wanders into their heads.
You know what I mean:
8:32am: @TwitterJunkie: "About to brush my teeth."
8:34am: @TwitterJunkie: "Just brushed my teeth."
8:39am: @TwitterJunkie: "Ewww...shouldn't have drunk orange juice right after brushing my teeth."
Timothy
4:45 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
Mrs. Greenwell,
I believe you misunderstand what a 12 lane pool is. It is 8 competition lanes (standard for most High School, and ALL USA swim meets), the a bulk head running across the pool, and then a 4 lane warm up/down pool, which is absolutely vital to any swim meet. So really, having a 12 lane pool is like having 2 smaller pools, they are not the same size. I challenge you to find ANY swimmer, and ask them if having a 8 lane competition pool and a 4 lane warm up/down pool is better than 2 six lane pools at different locations. Their answer will be YES. The swimming community loves Seaholm's and Groves' 11 lane pools, and use them around the clock, why would we not want to have wonderful facilities that are embraced by the swim community? I extremely disagree with you that having 2 smaller pools is better than a 12 lane pool.
Neal Charness
11:42 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
That Ms. Greenwell keeps arguing about a 12 lane pool shows how totally disengaged she is from what a school board member should do. There's a very good reason she didn't get to vote on the items she mentioned: she's not on the board. The good citizens of our community had the good sense not to put on the board 3 time. Any idea why? Because she's so busy nitpicking and criticizing there's no positives coming from her.