The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Emotions boil over at board meeting
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: April 5, 2007
A tense meeting of the Ypsilanti Board of Education erupted into a shouting session late in the evening as Ypsilanti residents and parents voiced angry support for high school Principal Layne Hunt.
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The issue of Hunt's administration has been a simmering controversy within the district for several months. It reached a crisis point at the board meeting when resident Lee Tooson accused certain board members of conducting "a Klan meeting" with teachers from the school.
Trustee Cameron Getto, taking exception to the description of the meeting, called a point of order, asking Board President Floyd Brumfield to end Tooson's tirade. When Brumfield said nothing, Getto gathered his belongings and left the meeting. Superintendent James Hawkins attempted to call Tooson to order and Tooson then ended his remarks.
Earlier in the meeting, public comments both in support of Hunt and expressing concerns for safety and racial division in the high school were met with board responses supporting Hawkins as the board's sole employee. Brumfield and Getto, as well as trustees Andrew Fanta and Tom Reiber, said they would back Hawkins in any decision he made regarding high school leadership.
Following Getto's abrupt departure, Fanta said he was disappointed Tooson was not gaveled down. He added the incident had "disgraced this meeting."
"We allow everyone to speak," Fanta said, "and only ask for decency."
He defended the meeting with teachers, which had come only after the teachers and their union representatives had met several times with Hawkins.
Brumfield noted Tooson had been stopped, although he acknowledged it was not done quickly enough.
Doyle expressed disappointment at the way Tooson's disruption was handled and said she was sorry Getto had left the meeting. She said she had talked at length with Hawkins regarding the meeting with the teachers and had spent much time with Hunt.
"My obligation is to listen to all sides. I always say, 'What have you heard?' and not, 'You have to do something," she said.
"But, I can't make informed decisions if I don't try to get all the information."
Kathleen Conat is a longtime Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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