The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Board members address parents' concerns
Board confronts each other on contract termination
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: February 1, 2007
The Ypsilanti Board of Education addressed public concerns and learned about a new program at a meeting last week.
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During the public input section of the meeting, the issues of the high school's former logo and team name were brought up. Board Vice President Amy Doyle clarified her vote on the issues, explaining that a compromise in May did not allow her to vote as she had wished. When the issue came up again in December, she cast her vote as she had originally intended in the spring, she said.
Superintendent James Hawkins explained the rumors of the cost of removing the Braves emblem were inaccurate.
"While removing the symbol immediately would be substantial, that is not going to happen. We will wait until the gym floor is resurfaced in the normal course of maintenance, which will be at least a couple of years," he said.
Hawkins said other areas would also await normal maintenance for removal of the name and/or symbol. Most symbols already have been removed or covered over. He said the school's Spirit Store was not ordering any more items with the logo, either.
Another issue brought up during public input was in relation to the Parkview Apartments adjacent to Perry Child Development Center. Parent Tyrone Bridges voiced concerns with the complex, which, he said, is not well maintained by the city. Bridges expressed concern about a criminal element being in such close proximity to the school.
Hawkins agreed with Bridges, saying he would again contact Ypsilanti Police Chief Matt Harshberger and Housing Commission Director Walter Norris about the problem.
Executive Director of Educational Services Richard Weigel and Ypsilanti High School English teacher Pam Montoye gave a presentation on the Saturday Academy, a new educational program being offered at the high school. Montoye and social studies teacher Chad Bickel are in charge of the instruction.
The 16-week course is offered to juniors and seniors. It is designed to increase student achievement. Montoye referred to it as "teaching outside the box."
The course uses World War II as the core of the study. The 40 enrolled students will learn about local connections to the war effort, the roles of women and African Americans, "code talkers," victory gardens, fashion, hairstyles and cultural influences.
Montoye said the course would involve different activities to enforce the learning process. A scavenger hunt using cryptography and map reading was one example she gave. In addition, students have to write a research paper and read the novel "Enigma."
The students meet on Saturday mornings for four and a half hours. Parents signed a contract ensuring they would get the students to the class prepared to learn.
A late addition to the agenda was a motion to termination the district's contract with InSight Media, a company that places advertising on the district's school buses. Doyle and trustees Cameron Getto and Andrew Fanta raised the issue, saying the company had breached its agreement by putting forward an ad that did not meet the agreed upon criteria.
Getto said he had thought the advertising idea was great, at first, and had defended the positive ads put out by other companies. He said he felt the latest submission was "a bait and switch."
"It's far afield from what we agreed on," Getto said.
Hawkins said he did not "like doing business like this," with no prior discussion with him. He said the committee that was set up to approve the ads had already approved the one in question and called the board's concern micromanaging the committee.
Board President Floyd Brumfield said he had not known about the motion until it was presented and thought that showed disregard for the board president.
"We should disband the committee, if you feel this way."
Doyle, who with Brumfield sits on the committee, said according to the board's bylaws, committees are in an advisory role. According to those rules, the board has the final responsibility and final say.
Fanta said the resolution to terminate the contract was not a personal attack on Hawkins or Brumfield. He said he felt the submitted ad was a violation of the agreement.
"I think we have an obligation to our youth to educate and insulate them from hard sells while in the school atmosphere," Fanta said.
Hawkins asked that the motion be tabled for further discussion, saying he thought ground rules needed to be established before termination was considered. The trustees agreed and the motion was tabled.
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