Students need to understand the truth of history understand the history of this country, to better understand who they are and about the injustices that have occurred in this country, Vitti said, Chalkbeat reported. .widget-row.value-only.black { Online learning requires a significant investment in teacher training, equipment, and curriculum delivery. "That would never have happened under (former Superintendent) Bob Maxfield's leadership.". Senator Bayer is proud to be endorsed by the following: Marcia Gershenson, Oakland County Commissioner and Board Vice Chairwoman. } Claudia retired in 2015 after a 40 year career in education, teaching high school mathematics at Riverside High School in North Dearborn Heights, Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, and Stevenson High School in Livonia. I believe the intent of the challenge was equality, but I think it did the opposite. As a school board member, she said, she would first and foremost listen to parents, teachers and students. margin: auto; Olson: The schools priorities need to be returning to the basics of good curriculum, without the distractions of other important, but secondary issues especially social and political concerns. Our goal and hope is to continue to hire individuals who are excited, and passionate about Educating our students. Copyright © 2002 - var currentTime = new Date();var year = currentTime.getFullYear();document.write(year); Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Olson: Parents will send their students to the school that best meets the learning needs of their children. He and Green did not immediately respond to requests for comment late Monday. Former and veteran trustees say being on the Farmington school boardthe last five years was like dealing withschool bullies all over again. She has resided in Farmington Hills for over 20 years and was involved in her daughters academics and extracurricular activities. She was elected Precinct Delegate at 21 years and interned for the Detroit Council Member, Honorable Erma Henderson. Ayes: 4 Dr. Ruskin, Mr. Mena, Mr. Cook, and Mr. Smith . As a Farmington Hills resident, Angie served on numerous committees in the district. Farmington Municipal Schools is seeking applicants to fill the District 4 Board position. More:Livonia Chamber stickers program helps businesses highlight inclusive values, More:Comerica bank to sell Livonia office building, move to neighboring Farmington Hills, More:Henry Ford Health brings new emergency room, specialty services to western Wayne County. I think we need to do some cutting at the top. Johnson, Green and Mukamal contend Weems and Smith allow their personal friendships to dictate their school agendas and frequently get involved in issues that should be handled by administration. We completed an equity audit and are working on our strategic plan in conjunction with the audit We successfully negotiated contracts, became a fully certified board with engaged leadership We still have a lot to do. School districts | Contact Shelby Tankersley at [email protected]. Pam Green, a former board president who resigned last November, said she never knew the board without problems amongst itself. Internal documents obtained by the Local 4 Defenders show that board member Angie Smith allegedly worked to create an intimidating and offensive work environment for the superintendent,. "Mr. Johnson cited that he was resigning with deep regretand could no longer serve due to the constant dysfunctional behavior of two board members," the district said. Details: Farmington Election Results Farmington Public School District Board Candidate Votes % Angie Smith 15,555 20% Terri Ann Weems 15,330 20% Donald Walker farmington mn school board candidates Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. } But when it comes to the $220 million bond issue on the ballot August 6 . She is a certified public accountant and is a member of the American Institute and Michigan Association of CPAs, as well as the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA). The filing will be dropped, the district said, now that he is leaving. Board meetings are cablecast LIVE on TV-10 and live . background-color: #f9f9f9; color: black; school board members. Michigan Republican lawmakers have aimed to ban Michigan schools from teaching CRT, sparking pushback from some educators and Democrats who accuse the GOP of trying to whitewash history. Olson: I am not happy with the overall direction of the district as it stands. Mable is a 24 year resident of Farmington Hills and a former member/president of the Timbercrest Homeowner Association. [7] The district was the 17th-largest school district in the state in the 20132014 school year and served 10,719 students. In a Sept. 24, 2020, harassmentcomplaint, Herrera detailed actions taken by Smith he believes were in retaliation over a hire she didnt agree with. margin-top: 1px; Incumbent Terri Ann Weems ran against challengers Donald David, Clark Doughty, Bruce Lilley, William Lubaway, Tammy Luty, Ed Richardson, Tera Shamey, Angie Smith, and James Stark for the six-year terms. Mable has over 30 years of experience in educational consulting throughout the state. var encodedEmail = swrot13('[email protected]'); But I would have been good with that. Farmington public School board trustee. The Board establishes policy matters (curriculum, budget, personnel, etc.) "You cant tell a board member to keep quiet, but that is what they like to do.. It is creating an unsafe working environment for employees, creating a divide in the community and likely fueling recall efforts.. Carr: I have a Ph.D. in Public Administration and my academic career has been in public education. Masks had been required when the district's residential population was classified as high risk for covid-19. Former board members Johnson, Green and Mukamal said problemsweren't limited to one person, arguingTerri Weems, the board's current president, has also fueled discord. [2], School board candidates in Michigan were required to file pre-election campaign finance reports with their county election offices by October 28, 2016. The protesters lined the street in front of North Farmington High School, holding signs and waving at . Carr: The district faces a number of significant challenges: decline in test scores in math, reading and other subjects, the loss of students to surrounding districts, loss of teachers and support staff (bus drivers among others). This is painful, very painful, school board President Pamela Green said. FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) Farmington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Herrera has resigned from his position, allegedly following allegations of racism toward Black students. Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022; Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections; Trends in 2022 ballot measures; The Biden administration. The board was fighting bitterly over Terri Weems as president, and it was made very clear to me that she needed to go as president, Mukamal said of Weems previous tenure as board president. As Director of Multimedia at Detroit School of Arts, he provides administrative support to the digital media programs and teachers. A statement read by board president Pam Green at Monday'smeeting, at which she,Trustee Terry Johnson and Superintendent Robert Herreraannounced their departures, cited Smith'spublic statements and social media posts that allegedHerrrera was against African American students and staff in submitting his resignation. The 21-day equity challenge labeled my children based on their skin color, he said during the news conference. "You can't be a parent who just stops (at school), drops (the child off) and rolls," Smith said. Weems: We need to do a better job of marketing the great things that are happening in our district. He's been involved with the Judson Center, United States Marine Corps, Grace Centers of Hope, Woman At Risk and Another Way Pregnancy Center. When the district establishes Excellence For All as its standard, then gaps in achievement can be eliminated. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. FEBRUARY 25, 2019, REGULAR MTG. ", The larger problem she sees is a disconnect between the school board and the community. Terri earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Science degree in accounting from the Honors College at Ohio University. Herrera did not respond to multiple interview requests. While apparently emotional, Green read off the statement which mentioned that the resignation would be on mutual terms. "It's really unfortunate that we've actually gotten to a position where we can't even disagree without being disagreeable We need some real change in this district and we need to hold people accountable," he said. I think it is a loss for the district, Green said. Smith said she has talked to teachers at the high school level who want to move. background-color: grey; Censure rescinded for Farmington school board member Angie Smith Over the past few months, the board has been garnering a lot of negative attention with the resignation of several. Walker: I believe all parents have the right to choose and that should not be taken away. Teachers and administrators, should place an emphasis on each student in the pursuit of excellence. "You've got to be involved and see what's going on in the classroom. Two other board members also resigned. The issue was so upsetting to Green and board Vice President Terry Johnson that they resigned. "I don't like anything sticking," she said. .widget-img { While this is not how or the time that I wanted to leave the district, I felt it was necessary to do what was in the best interest of our entire school community, Herrera said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. var encodedEmail = swrot13('[email protected]'); I am concerned with turnover in our district. FPS has what is needed to provide a wonderful experience for a student. FARMINGTON HILLS, Michigan - Dozens of concerned parents protested their school system's adoption of the "21-Day Equity Challenge," a Critical Race Theory curriculum, at Tuesday's school board meeting, joined by members of the Oakland County Republican Party and Moms for America. margin-bottom:0px; Prior to the start of the pandemic, anxiety and depression among adolescents was growing, and now is at an all time high We also have a District Mental Health Program Coordinator who support staff in providing resources, programming, and learning opportunities for social, emotional, mental, and behavioral well-being. Previously, he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi. Sure," Macfarland said. She earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, a Master of Education from the University of Phoenix, and a Michigan teacher certification. The Tuesday meeting displayed a deep divide of opinion among parents that immediately apparent upon entering the school's auditorium. Angie Smith (Farmington Public School District, Michigan) - Google News. Curricular transparency and accountability to parents remains on the public radar but has not received adequate support from the Board. }); Dr. Cheryl Blau has taught all subjects in grades 1-8 for more than 30 years in public, private, parochial, and charter schools. I want to hold the position because I love our district and know that we have a very strong program already, but passionately want to be a part of improving it even more The Board is responsible for achieving aggressive education outcomes in Math, Reading, Writing, Science, and other areas that are required so that each student has a chance to become a productive member of our society as we know it and can reasonably expect it to be. The new policy took effect, Feb. 9, and applies to busses as well. } Green added that she had not seen or heard any of harsh comments posted on social media by Smith about the board or superintendent. Due to retirements and other issues, we have lost quality staff members. The board called Smiths claims unfounded, but accepted Herreras resignation to avoid being sued by him. Don Wotruba,executive director of the Michigan Association of School Boards, said operating without a clear vision and culture can hold a board back. Our legislative committee continues to think about how we can impact IDEA. George Heitschs retirement was premature. The United States Census Bureau found that 43.7 percent of county residents aged 25 years and older had attained a bachelor's degree, compared to 26.4 percent of state residents. She served as Chairperson of the Detroit Public High School Advisory Committee, several FPS PTA boards, and is treasurer of her homeowner association. Budgeting 2.Privatizing/school closings 3. Email: Carr currently chairs the Economic Development Corporation Board of Farmington Hills. I feel the role of a school board member is to be an advocate and voice for the community and to make sure we are serving our residents, staff, students, and stakeholders. Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. $(document).ready(function () { What is happening now is that it is showing and they need a scapegoat," she said. Email: FPS can attract new and returning students by focusing on the priorities Ive already mentioned above, primarily returning to a strong fundamental curriculum, free of the distractions that happen when a district has prioritized social and political issues over academic excellence. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; What's on my ballot? Two other board members also resigned. at [email protected] or 517.327.5929. border:1px solid #FFB81F; Carr: The priorities of the district should be on excellence in education provided to all students. They also accused everyone else of not seeing things that way. Infighting wasfueled by big egos and big personalitiesandultimately pulled the board'sattention away from their primary focus: students, those critics say. and holds the Superintendent and staff accountable for policy implementation. While officials have alleged in meetings that some of the backlash over the sale has to do with bias against Muslims, Smith said, "It has nothing to do with race. Weems: Mental health is a huge issue facing not just our district, but the whole nation. Inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies should be directed to: Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, 32500 Shiawassee, Farmington, MI 48336. The Board of Education is a governing body which is independent of other municipal, elected governing bodies. All Dr. Herrera had to do was come to me and say, Angie I dont like how this is going. Angie attended Wayne County Community College and Wayne State University with a major in Mortuary Science. To help you prepare to cast your ballot, we've put together a handy collection of links to our candidate profiles, and those published by other organizations. } I could not emotionally continue, Green said. Weems, who led all voting, has lived with her family in Farmington Hills since 2010. The superintendent of Farmington Public Schools as well as two members of the districts Board of Education cited allegations of harassment and dysfunctional behavior.. legislators. We look forward to working with you. Applicants can submit their resume, letter of intent, and three letters of reference here. Dr. Herrera was appointed as superintendent in 2019. Spotlight Junior Players proudly presents Disney's "Aladdin Jr" for ONE weekend ONLY! Elections in 2023 | Students lost social and emotional skills during the pandemic. "I guess what prompted me to do it was when we had to wear those red shirts and walk around North Farmington," she said. We need to start getting rid of stuff we don't need.". It never stops. Smith: RETAINING OUR EXCELLENT STAFF. Email: The infighting eventually led to Green and Johnson resigning. The board should establish clear expectations in terms of student achievement and then work with the Superintendent, finance director, and curriculum director to develop and implement a financial plan to address weaknesses from the past two years. Zach has worked for over a decade in a variety of public service roles at the local, county, and federal levels of government. vertical-align: top; These results are automatically generated from Google. According to 2019 U.S. Census data, Farmington Hills is 62.7% white, 19.9% Black and 14.1% Asian. float: right; She said she's not the bully: her former colleagues are. ADMINISTRATORS; Superintendents; Superintendent Secretaries; CORPORATE SUPPORT; VIP Program; VIP Directory; Sponsors She is the single mother of three daughters who all attended Farmington Public Schools - graduates of 2006, 2010 and 2016. "We had steps in place. The Farmington Public Schools superintendent and two board of education members resigned Mondayfollowing infighting and an allegation of harassment involving another board member, the district announced. That was obvious.. So in response to that, the board got together in spite of the fact that some members disagreed … everyone wanted to make sure the new board members wrestling with that decision had a chance to be heard.. font-weight: bold; I believe that by serving on the Board that I can help move the district in the right direction and correct shortcomings of the past. Im not in trouble, Im in good trouble, Smith said Thursday. word-wrap: break-word; OCHN Releases RFQ for Irrigation Services, Part Of I-696 In Oakland County Closing Down This Weekend, 1 Dead In Fiery Crash On I-696 In Oakland County: Police. Another area of attention that must be addressed is the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers and support staff that serve the district. Walker: We have accomplished much. She is the proud mother of two Farmington High graduates. The leadership shuffle. }); Claudia Heinrich was elected in November 2020. .widget-row.Republican { Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Smith: Offer a longer period of time for marketing and advertising. Therefore, a personal email account must be used for campaigning purposes when running for the MASB Board of Directors. ", She felt the district should have gotten more than one bid and more than one appraisal before selling the property. AP source: Rams parting ways with LB Bobby Wagner Feb. 23, 2023 06:10 PM EST. You can watch Shawn Leys full story in the video posted above. Here is a link for the live stream of this meeting. This is a community with over 87 nationalities.. Green said the common thread was one of her elected colleagues, current trustee Angie Smith. The Federal Centers for Disease Control acknowledged that it did not respond well to the COVID-19 pandemic. background-color: #003388; Herrera's resignation came after he filed a complaint against board member Angie Smith for harassment after she made posts online claiming he was racist toward students and staff. This year, our Town and School Elections will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 . width: 150px; [1], Five of the seven seats on the Farmington Public School District school board were up for general election on November 8, 2016. It continues the cycle of negativity. } It is exhausting and its hurtful.. This was like Mean Girls.. Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. So you get bogged down in all this minutia.. Board members should have had a longer community conversation around the sale, she said, adding, "People are afraid now, and they are angry. We have to gain the trust back. Katie Macfarland, a mother of children in the Detroit Public Schools system, said she showed up to protest because she found the 21-day challenge and CRT offensive and divisive. Olson: One tangible action would be to explore proven programs that improve student-teacher relationships. There is an opportunity to enhance outcomes for these learners. "It didnt have to lead to him resigning," she said. However, I am pleased with the direction the district is moving in, especially in the last year. Real history is flawed. var encodedEmail = swrot13('[email protected]'); Social issues, and not a Board Commitment to Academic Excellence & Improvement make up the stated goals of the current Board (Read Board Goals 2021-2022). $(document).ready(function () { Weems: There are researched backed reasons to support diversity and, practicing equity in education is a requirement. $('span#sw-emailmask-156').replaceWith(''); The position opens on March 8, 2023. During the Pandemic, numerous other schools were a much better fit for their students, and as a result FPS enrollment suffered. Smith said she has talked to teachers at the high school level who want to move back to semesters from the current trimester scheduling, a move she would support. "I'm going to ask questions. On Nov. 8, voters in the Farmington Public Schools district will choose three people to serve on the school board for six years. She volunteers her time to several organizations which provide tax assistance to those in need, food for the homeless, accounting educational awareness, mentorship, and scholarships to high school and college students. There's some evidence, however, Smithwas resistant to soothing school board tensions, declining requests the board undergo restorative practice training in 2019. } We must also continue the work that has already been established within our schools. This community has lost trust with the district.". Board president, vice president also resign. Angie Smith, Farmington Public School Board of Education Vice President. Ballot measures, Who represents me? Herrera filed a complaint against Smith for harassment. The Town Meeting will be held on the following day . She is co-founder of Calvary Education Center and provides enrichment and STEM summer experiences for Metro-Detroit children. font-weight: bold; , Weems: Originally, I joined the board because I was interested in helping the district become financially stable. $('span#sw-emailmask-4631').replaceWith(''); ROBERT DEAN Former MI State Representative, District 75 DORIS BURKS TAYLOR Angie Smith is always in the middle of gossip and personnel issues, and I am so tired," she said. "It was like the queen bee and the wannabes. If you would like to help our coverage scope grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia. Resumes should include past board experience, past managerial experience, and other related experience. color: black; He is a two-time graduate of Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Public Affairs, co-majoring in International Studies and University Honors, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration. Guide. Hometown Life sent each candidate a questionnaire on their ideas and the state of the district today. Smith won the seat in the at-large general election on November 8, 2016. Cecile Richards, Former President of Planned Parenthood, Endorses Andy Levin . } $('span#sw-emailmask-157').replaceWith(''); He wants to move the DEI program forward because "those words have meaning, acknowledging and celebrating the beautiful variety of cultures, religions, and abilities within our school community is diversity," he said. A former PTA Council president, co-chair of the and a state PTSA representative, Smith was motivated by contentious union negotiations with support staff that resulted in at . Smith is unapologetic for her approach. The percentage of people below poverty level was 10.0 percent for the county, while it was 16.2 percent statewide.[7]. She worked for Detroit Public Schools for 8 years in the Special Education Department as a trainable aide grade 1. Angie Smith, the Farmington Public Schools board secretary, wascensured for "conduct unbecoming a board member" after the panel said she made public comments and social media posts that caused disruptions to meetings and made it difficult for the superintendent "to perform his duties and provide leadership ,"a board resolution saidMonday night. School board members set overall district policy and manages the district superintendent, in this case Superintendent Christopher Delgado, who oversees day-to-day operations. But, longtime elected officials will also admit theyve said that before. Weems: The last few years have been extremely challenging, especially in our district. Smith believes school officials have "lost touch" with the community, and as an example, cites the to the Islamic Cultural Association earlier this year. Financial transparency is another issue that needs additional attention. Backup QB C.J. Several board members said Hererra's not the first to administrative leader to leave the district because of strained relations, sayingformer Superintendent George Heitschs retirement was premature. EDUCATION COMMUNITY. The candidates listed below responded positively to our questionnaire and are ready to stand up for students and parents . Our priority should be delivering excellence in education. .widget-row.Libertarian { She is the single mother of three daughters who all attended Farmington Public Schools - graduates of 2006, 2010 and 2016. It is certainly not representative of those in the program, however. He's previously worked for Detroit's public school system and Specs Howard School. ", Teachers want parents to be involved with the schools, she said, because "it's a partnership. Board members told Local 4 the issue is ugly. Parents protest outside of North Farmington High School on Jan. 11, 2022. "I am embarrassed and I feel so bad because I feel like I let everyone down. On November 8, Farmington and Farmington Hills voters will help elect new leaders at the federal, state, county, and local level. Inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies should be directed to: Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, 32500 Shiawassee, Farmington, MI 48336. The priority for ARPA dollars should be focusing on helping students recover academically and emotionally from losing a year in the classroom. But there is more work to do. The fact that Farmington Public Schools was not able to retain him is a big black mark on our district, Mukamal said.