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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Willow Run Board grilled by area teachers

By Christine Laughren, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: June 26, 2008

Representatives from teacher's unions throughout the county came to the Willow Run school district's board meeting last Thursday to voice concerns over a number of involuntary assignments and transfers approved at the board's June 2 meeting.

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Following a letter addressed to the board from Debbie Swanson, assistant unit director with Willow Run's Education Association, representatives from Chelsea, Dexter, Saline, Lincoln and Ypsilanti school districts told members of Willow Run's Board to take a look inwardly and clean up its act.

Swanson said the WREA is concerned the involuntary assignments and transfers are a violation of the union's collective bargaining agreement. Ten of the involuntary transfers were members of the WREA executive board.

Swanson also said union members have filed more than 20 grievances reflecting the contentious atmosphere in the district.

"The WREA believes that it is important for both parties to examine grievance data and determine where the breakdowns are occurring and to seek resolution together," Swanson said Thursday evening.

Dianna Hinderer, vice president of Lincoln Consolidated's Education Association told the board the climate it has created has had a negative impact on the entire county.

She reiterated that more than 20 grievances is an unseemly amount compared to other districts that have two or three a year.

"You need to take a look at why these situations exist in this district and what responsibility you have," Hinderer said.

Kelly Powers, president of the Washtenaw County Education Association and unit director of Ypsilanti Public School's Education Association, said the community is seeing "dysfunction at its best" from the Willow Run Administration.

"Your negative publicity is killing you and we're getting your students because of it," Powers said.

Willow Run is banking on an enrollment increase of 170 students, yielding $1,635,265 for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. But several in attendance last Thursday said the enrollment increase the district is hoping for is unrealistic.

Parent Joi Jenson, who also ran for a seat on the school board in the last election, said she sees more people leaving the district than coming to it.

"What concerns me is...there are more and more students that are walking away and more parents pulling their kids out of the district and nobody's asking why," Jenson said.

Powers agreed.

"If think you are going to get 170 students dream on," Powers said.

Contact Staff Writer Christine Laughren at 697-8255 or at claughren@heritage.com