Over the past few years, it seems that public education in general has come under "attack" by some private citizens, taxpayer groups and state legislators.
Why would that be?
It's a direct result of a general lack of financial accountability on the parts of local school districts. The solution: Demonstrate Accountability and be rewarded with generousity on the parts of those who make funding decisions.
What do I mean by "accountability?"
Any public entity that is funded with public dollars needs to be able to account for its spending. That spending will be scrutinized by taxpayers. If taxpayers don't like what they see, they will oppose future funding.
Here's an analogy. Your kid needs a haircut. You give him $$ to get a haircut. Two days later, he still needs a haircut, but has a new (game, clothing, makeup, whatever.) The money is gone, but the hair is still a mess.
What do you do? Give him MORE MONEY? Of course not. You reduce his funding because he was not accountable to you, and your scrutiny of his spending revealed WASTE, or at least, poor judgement.
Likewise, many of Michigan's taxpayers are responding to perceived waste among the state's 550 local school districts. They are asking their state legislators to reduce funding to public schools because they want to limit the amount of WASTE.
How do you turn this trend around? Local school districts should do what their taxpayers want them to do.
What do taxpayers want?
We want school board Trustees who are accountable to us. Lately, we've seen some spending similar to that of the shaggy teenager, mentioned above.
We want our local school boards spend public money carefully and wisely, in ways that benefit our students and boost education outcomes. If we pay premium local taxes to support schools, we want to have education outcomes that correllate to that premium funding. We want superior schools for our superior financial support.
Now, if you think that $70,000 was a lot to pay for a single-issue election in May, you may be correct. Please know that a May election for financial issues is legal in the state of Michigan, and if you have a problem with that, you should contact your state legislator. I think a well-developed, reasonable plan for school construction can pass in an even-year Nov. general election.
If you think that money from the 2004 Sinking Fund has been mis-spent, that's another issue for your state legislator. Legislation that supports the legality of Sinking Funds is flawed, in my opinion. Once sinking fund money is in the control of a local school board, the Trustees of that board have the authority to spend it, on any facilities-related items, including consultants, as they see fit.
I think the very first expenditures from the 2004 Sinking fund should have been rubber membrane roofs for both Lahser and Andover. Both schools continued to leak, while new sports fields were installed, with Sinking fund dollars.
Taxpayers around here want to put education FIRST.
Yes: School board Trustees have the authority to spend public money. They are elected to make spending decisions on our behalf.
And yes, the public has the authority to hold them accountable for how that money is spent.
This blog is about taxpayers and their expectations. If you want funding, the best way to do that is to make sure your taxpayers are happy. (More on "disconnect" in next blog.) Public funding comes from taxpayers. Public funding is regulated by Legislators, who often want to keep their jobs, and therefore act in accordance with the requests of those they represent. If public bodies want taxpayers to be generous, they should be very careful to be accountable to them. Right now, the BHSD is operating at 100% excess capacity, and also at a high ratio of employed adults to students. Those statements are FACTS. Please note: A high "bond rating" indicates an ability to borrow money, and is based on opinion, not fact. The fact that a public body (or individual) CAN borrow money does not mean that they SHOULD. More debt = More risk. How does operating at excess capacity help our students? It doesn't. It hurts them by draining resources away from education. As I have said since 2004: We need to right-size our district. What is the plan for Pine Lake, Hickory Grove and Lahser, now that all three are "closed?"
This response is really hard to follow? You seem to discount the Triple AAA rating? Is that right? You see something askance that potential lenders don't?
An AAA rating does not raise ACT (or other) scores! I think it's best to avoid debt and produce well-prepared graduates. Debt is bad. Well-educated students are GOOD!
Don't we know the plan for some of the "closed" buildings you referenced, Jenny? During the upcoming construction of Bloomfield Hills High School, Hickory Grove will serve as the building for our 9th grade students, and LHS for the 10-12 graders. After that point I trust our board and administration to decide what is the best use for those facilities. Re-purposing, selling...I trust them to thoughtfully consider the options. As a parent, taxpayer and involved community volunteer I want a school board that can work together. A board that is respectful and knows how to compromise and move forward...always FORWARD! But most importantly, I want a school board, administration and staff that has as its singular focus the best possible education for ALL BHS students. I believe we have that.
I have to say that I am starting to agree with you. I admire Ms. Greenwell's willingness to put herself out there, and I have seen how a District and Board can close itself off to a community or parts of a community, but -- having read several weeks of posts now - I can't see the need for a change. Ms. Greenwell is offering many restatements of 2020 bond issue arguments and, while I am pleased with the seeming change in tone, continues to shift ground. Ms. Greenwell,here for example, you say, "a Triple AAA bond rating" does not raise ACT scores. This makes little sense. You started the conversation about fiscal responsibility, now you shift it and say standard indicators don't matter. Further, we are back to either/or land. I want fiscal responsibility and academic excellence -- I don't think they are mutually exclusive.
A "high ratio" of employed adults to students is a subjective assessment, and subject to any number of factors. Private schools brag about a high ratio. Special education, remedial education, and DHH all require hire ratios. it all depends how those adults are deployed. Neither is a fact, upper or lower case.
There is no conflict between sound financial management and high educational standards.
I take it, then, that these are the charges of fiscal irresponsibility Ms. Greenwell brings against the current Board and Administration? Are there more? All of these to me seem to have perfectly logical explanations. They almost all involve a District's response to major shifts in the larger economy, no? And I don't see going to a single high school when there are dropping enrollments as an "obsession"? It seems to be normal and logical. Isn't Ms. Greenwell always saying we should right size? It is very hard to assess a candidate when there seems to be "two" candidates running for the same spot -- that is, you and Ms. Greenwell.
In terms of characterizing the motives of past and current Board Members, I have known and continue to know many of them personally, several for 10 years or more. To a person they are all dedicated, committed, caring individuals who want the best for the District's children, families and taxpayers. To suggest otherwise when you don't know these folks first-hand is, in my opinion, irresponsible. J. Wagner
First, to say that the current school board is "cut from the same cloth" is sour grapes, since you have not been able to get a B2020 candidate elected. However, if the same cloth references the fact that the entire sitting board is focused on our students, exemplary education and the future...then I might agree. These 7 individuals bring a wealth of experiences and expertise to the table. They work together for the betterment of all. They voice their opinions, strongly at times, but then move on with what the majority decides. This is an area where I have found Jenny and you yourself lacking. All 9 of your financial claims are mean spirited and you know it. But I will reply directly to #3. The community, including B2020 demanded more input on the High school project. The community wanted more detailed plans. The community wanted to see exactly what they were getting for their money. Enter FNI. The board and administration gave these work horses a TALL order, and I believe they were worth every penny. Had the district NOT gotten trained professionals, I shutter to think what B2020 would have done...oh I know, they would have complained about that too.
Jenny, are the moves Chris lists all decisions you would have opposed had you been on the board?
1. Fighting the Pine Lake battle once again, 2, Railing against the former superintendent 3. Arguing that the net effect of the bond issue would not be lower taxes even though it's a demonstrable fact--Chris assumes there has to be an increase in the sinking fund. 4. Micromanaging maintaining Bowers Farm and the buildings. Chris, you're making these choices, Why would anyone listen to either you or Jenny Greenwell (who steadfastly refuses to answer direct questions asked of her) on the school board? Your target market seems to be Linda P/Ulrey, Isaac Barr and the like. Fortunately for our community, it's a very small market.
Thanks for clarifying that. I look forward to getting answers directly from the candidate rather than the one you support -- particularly when a candidate posts a blog challenging the fiscal responsibility of the board where my kids go to school. I have no doubt that many are upset by past decisions of the BHS school board. I know I have my past beefs with other districts. That doesn't strike me, however, as grounds to maintain a perpetual "war" on the District especially when many, many thousands are looking forward to moving on.
1. Settle deed restrictions with heirs out of court. 2. Wondered why FNI's RFP response was so much higher than Ehresman and 3 others who were qualified and responded. Other questions exist. 3. Construction of new farm school facililty should have been decided by voters. That's a lot of sinking fund money; limited bond would have been appropriate. 4. Bond is new 26-year obligation. Not a tax "decrease." We know that! 5. Balance budget by sharpening pencils, not borrowing from reserves. 6. Don't know about the new road at WHMS...seems like a lot of SF has gone to pavement and parking lots. 7. Barton House has been deemed to have no historic value. I prefer to visit Greenfield Village for history experience. 8. Gaynor? Need to fix some mistakes. 9. Bretzlaf? Still on the payroll or not? Wasn't he supposed to facilitate transition? If he is fully retired, who takes on this role? Seems like we have some issues here, and "accountability" is not a dirty word. To many taxpayers, accountability is an important value, to be embraced. Anyone have data on ACT scores for our high school juniors? National rankings are important for our students, in terms of competition for admission to particular universities. BHSD should be nationally competitive, I think.
Accountability is a GOOD THING! It is a positive thing. Accountability is something to be rewarded. Taxpayers are not "cheerleaders," they are the source of all funding, and they deserve respect from those with authority to spend public funds.
We need to know how our tax money is being spent, and that it is being spent appropriately. Accountability is a good thing. I hope we can all agree on that!
Nobody said accountability was a dirty word. Please don't put words in the mouths of others and create distorted straw figures to argue against. Accountability is a wonderful thing, I agree. It is concept to be embraced by all citizens -- not just those in government. Most of this thread and a few others has been about your willingness to be accountable for some of your past words and actions as predictors for your viability as a candidate. Increasingly it seems you are unwilling to address the concerns many have about your interests in serving. It seems odd, for example, to acknowledge your own "war" making on the school board, the district, and significant parts of the community -- then disavow it -- then return to it when you get asked straightforward questions. It starts to look very much like you don't seem obligated by the same call for accountability you call for in others. I wish you well in your campaign. Had we met politically at another time I might have been willing to offer my vote.
7-0 votes... everyone on the same page... again and again... that's for sure the best way to vet an issue, no? Yep, we want diversity everywhere EXCEPT at board meetings, where diversity of thought is considered "chaotic". Time to call in the experts from the Ministry of Love.
Chris Fellin refuses to comment on any issue without thoroughly researching it. He is also a person with a lot of integrity. He is involved with local education because he cares. Someone has to dare to speak out on local overspending in our schools. I am glad that Bloomfield has Jenny Greenwell and Chris Fellin to do the job.
I think it's important to listen to what they have to say, and many have PLENTY to say! Recently, I met with a woman whose son was not eligible to graduate with his high school class. I am looking for a remedy for him. No young adult should have to go through life without a high school diploma. It occurs to me that adult ed might be necessary, even in our well-heeled community. Literacy problems and other deficits exist. Perhaps we should consider this?
Further, I do not have a staff, and am not paid to write these blogs. I receive lots of communications in various forms, both private and public, and do my best to answer questions and listen to comments. There are several new blogs in the queue. Some may be responsive to things you may want to know. I hope so! I will continue to write, and continue to listen.
Direct Question…..Are you suggesting that this school district increase it's mission to educating adults??