If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. FARMINGTON -- Farmington School Board voted Feb. 8 to amend the district's mask advisory policy so that masks are "highly recommended" instead of mandated. Post-election reports were due by December 8, 2016. $('span#sw-emailmask-153').replaceWith(''); Though different factions present different reasons for Heitschs retirement, all say he left the district sooner than he wanted to because of board dysfunction. This is painful, very painful, school board President Pamela Green said. 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. The board called Smiths claims unfounded, but accepted Herreras resignation to avoid being sued by him. Our schools also reflect the richly diverse community we live in. At the start of the 2022/23 academic year there existed a shortage of teachers and bus drivers. "Toxic is theword of choice describing the boards culture in recent years. 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. Therefore, a personal email account must be used for campaigning purposes when running for the MASB Board of Directors. } Each of our schools is extending learning opportunities to include mental wellness resources and presentations to staff and families so we can work together to better meet the needs of our FPS community. When you see a staff member having to buy groceries with a Bridge card, that troubles me," she said. After the superintendent's resignation, the board passed a resolution censuring Smith, who has been a school board member since 2016. How to run for office | 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. Public policy. Two other board members also resigned. Now with a mostly new school board who just picked Christopher Delgado as the next superintendent, board members say theyre determined to work together. "It was like the queen bee and the wannabes. Michigan Association of School Boards Board of Directors Election, Section 8 Director for Birgit McQuiston of Lake Orion Community Schools as recommended. .widget-row.heading { "You've got to be involved and see what's going on in the classroom. Smith: We should be focusing on the transition back to in person learning and the SEL initiatives for staff and students. .infobox p { float: right; FPS has what is needed to provide a wonderful experience for a student. Federal courts | On Nov. 8, voters in the Farmington Public Schools district will choose three people to serve on the school board for six years. In public comments, some people called for the 21-day challenge to return, while others called to abolish it. The adult behavior at the board has been horrible, and as a result, the children are suffering, Johnson said. We need some real change in this district and we need to hold people accountable.". Dr. Herrera was appointed as superintendent in 2019. MINUTES 3 Michael Swiecki - Wyandotte Public Schools Regina . The district declined to elaborate on Herrera's claim. The resignation means the harassment complaint will no longer be pursued, according to the release. [3], In Michigan, candidates are prohibited from receiving contributions from corporations or labor organizations. The Federal Centers for Disease Control acknowledged that it did not respond well to the COVID-19 pandemic. Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. var encodedEmail = swrot13('qbanyq.jnyxre@scfx12.arg'); 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. Walker: Two main priorities: safety and mental health and resources used to accelerate and supplement learning. .widget-row.value-only.black { Herrera filed a complaint against Smith for harassment. Dr. Blau currently holds Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral degrees in Education as well as a second Masters degree in psychology. Fixing the boards culture is important to its effectiveness moving forward. Board president Pamela Green said in a statement that she read to the board that Herrera cited Smith's public statements and social media posts alleging he was against African American staff and students. Parents protest outside of North Farmington High School on Jan. 11, 2022. color: black; She said she's not the bully: her former colleagues are. In the past, she's been involved with the Oakland County School Board of Directors and is a former employee of Farmington Public Schools. 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. font-weight: bold; State executives | Claudia is currently active as a Farmington Area Goodfellows Volunteer and a member of the DKG International Society of Professional Women Educators. Three newcomers win seats on Farmington School Board. During the Pandemic, numerous other schools were a much better fit for their students, and as a result FPS enrollment suffered. $(document).ready(function () { [7] The district was the 17th-largest school district in the state in the 20132014 school year and served 10,719 students. Angie Smith is on Facebook. Herrera will continue as superintendent until Jan. 22, which is the end of first semester. Those struggles, they said, happen because elected school boards aren't in agreement on all issues. "His skill set was like nothing we have ever seen in this district," she said. We have tremendous momentum right now and Im excited about the direction we are moving in. Donald sits on the TV-10 and IT advisory boards for North Farmington, and is a member of FAAPN, The Beloved Community Initiative and Community Equity Organization. As Director of Multimedia at Detroit School of Arts, he provides administrative support to the digital media programs and teachers. Board of Veterinary Medicine 335 Randolph Avenue, Suite 215, St. Paul, MN 55102 Phone: (651) 201-2844 Fax: (651) 201-2842 Hearing/Speech Relay: 1-800-627-3529 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Information, Information for the 2021-2022 School Year, Social Emotional Support Tools for Families, School Closing and Repurposing Information, NWEA Student Progress Report - Parent Information, Farmington/Farmington Hills Education Foundation, 2018-2019 Farmington School Culture & Climate Survey - Staff, Absence Management / Attendance Reporting, Board of Education Committee and Representative/Liaison Appointments. The Farmington School Board approved a "Communicable Disease Plan" Tuesday evening. Green added that she had not seen or heard any of harsh comments posted on social media by Smith about the board or superintendent. I am happy with our direction, but this is not a time to rest because there is still plenty to do. Northville Public School Board Vice President ANDREW MUTCH Novi Councilmember ANGIE SMITH Farmington Public Schools Board Member JOHN MAGEE President Wolverine Lake Township Council LAURA MIKULSKI Ferndale City Councilmember REV. Pastor Doug Jones, Welcome Missionary Baptist Church Pastor and Chair of the Oakland County Ministerial Alliance. 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. As a school board member, she said, she would first and foremost listen to parents, teachers and students. I chair the Communications/Community Engagement committee and work on the Legislation committee for our board. The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will take place on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 6:00 pm. } The board firstpassed a resolution accepting the resignation of Superintendent Robert Herrera, who hasled the district since 2019. Weems: Mental health is a huge issue facing not just our district, but the whole nation. A graduate of Hillsdale College, his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org. As a Farmington Hills resident, Angie served on numerous committees in the district. AP source: Rams parting ways with LB Bobby Wagner Feb. 23, 2023 06:10 PM EST. Smith also questioned if Herrera, who is Latino, was the diverse person she feels is needed to lead the district and felt he did nothing to sooth racial tensions in the district. .widget-key { ", Smith is a self-admitted pot stirrer. For her part, Smith said this could have all been solved with a simple conversation.". Masks had been required when the district's residential population was classified as high risk for covid-19. Terri and her husband live in Farmington Hills and have three children who attend Farmington Public Schools. We are trying our best to develop partnerships with experts in the area. } When it comes down to the diversity in this community and being a people person, that was why I could not vote to put him in, Smith said regarding her dissenting vote when Herrera was initially hired. 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. There is an opportunity to enhance outcomes for these learners. Describing his reasoning to the board, Johnson said the group "has just completely changed. I would place myself in the position of the bargaining unit to understand their needs, but it must be extremely important that it is explained that the districts needs have to be met to clarify the board's decision-making. It is not clear what kind of safety measures will be in place due to the ongoing pandemic. }); Mable Fox was elected in 2020. According to 2019 U.S. Census data, Farmington Hills is 62.7% white, 19.9% Black and 14.1% Asian. and holds the Superintendent and staff accountable for policy implementation. I could not emotionally continue, Green said. I am MASB board certified which means I have taken the needed classes to learn how to be an effective board member. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. She was elected Precinct Delegate at 21 years and interned for the Detroit Council Member, Honorable Erma Henderson. }); Claudia Heinrich was elected in November 2020. It would require masks indoors and when social distancing is not possible "for all persons who are present on . Very painful.". She has resided in Farmington Hills for over 20 years and was involved in her daughters academics and extracurricular activities. Its the spreading rumors, the gossip and her attacks on different staff members.. Though she's plugged into the district, she said, "I knew nothing about the sale until the night it went down. 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. Through tears, Green, a former elementary teacher, said Herrera's dedication to educationinspired her to want to return to the classroom. 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. Board members should have had a longer community conversation around the sale, she said, adding, "People are afraid now, and they are angry. Bestselling author and popular speaker Angie Smith is grateful that Christians are finally doing "what the Lord has called us to" engaging in genuine dialogue about "hard subjects" otherwise considered taboo in some circles, such as same-sex marriage and a woman's role in the Church. She is a champion for children. vertical-align: top; Olson: Some of the attributes that make me qualified to be a school board member include being a parent of 4 kids in the district, a taxpayer in the district, and my strong business acumen. The motion was requested by board vice president Terry Johnson. If the district were to receive the full funding that is supposed to be provided it would free general funds for more programming and improvements. 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. width: 150px; $(document).ready(function () { 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). Board members are accountable to the parents and residents of the district and should be transparent in the decision-making process. . $('span#sw-emailmask-4631').replaceWith(''); $(document).ready(function () { The Board of Education consists of seven school district residents who will hold either four or six-year terms. I would work with the districts financial advisers and work out a five year plan, and discuss with labor relations what their input would be, and to make sure that funds would be allocated in technology to keep us current. Angie Smith has served on the school board since 2017. EDUCATION COMMUNITY. 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. .widget-row { legislators. An emphasis on excellence across the curriculum will attract students to the school system. It was very clear there was a lot of disruption on the board, she said. }. The protesters lined the street in front of North Farmington High School, holding signs and waving at . Teachers and administrators, should place an emphasis on each student in the pursuit of excellence. Johnson and Weems have gone as far as filing complaints against each other to the district. He was an announcer for Mix 92.3 and Oldies 104.3 WOMC, Director of Education and Instructor at Specs Howard School of Media Arts, Production Director at WRCJ, videographer and editor for the Communications Department at Detroit Public Schools Community District. Board president Pamela Green resigned following the meeting, as well as vice president Terry Johnson., citing frustrations with specifically two unnamed board members. The median household income for Oakland County was $66,436, compared to $49,087 for the entire state. In the past, she's been involved with the Oakland County School Board of Directors and is a former employee of Farmington Public. Smith, a 12-year member of the council, did not register as a candidate for the Nov. 8 election by the Tuesday deadline, according to the website of the Minnesota Secretary of State. She's been involved with the PTA, Women of Tomorrow and her homeowners association. }); Angie Smith was elected in 2016. I view the school board as instrumental in setting goals for the district and adopting policies that support achievement of those goals. padding-left: 10px; Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. margin-bottom:0px; Email: FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (FOX 2) - A lengthy school board meeting heard more than 80 people speak during public comment with a clear divide when it comes to the district's approach to teaching. background-color: grey; Weems: The last few years have been extremely challenging, especially in our district. Former and veteran trustees say being on the Farmington school boardthe last five years was like dealing withschool bullies all over again. State legislature | There's some evidence, however, Smithwas resistant to soothing school board tensions, declining requests the board undergo restorative practice training in 2019. ROBERT DEAN Former MI State Representative, District 75 DORIS BURKS TAYLOR 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. Her censure-ship was much more than what the portrayal is, Green said. She has resided in Farmington Hills for over 20 years and was involved in her daughters' academics and extracurricular activities. Farmington Municipal Schools is seeking applicants to fill the District 4 Board position. Schools Details: Top candidates who won a seat on the Farmington 192 Independent School Board are: Melissa Gorman with 6,219 votes, Becky DeWilde with 5,693 votes, and Jessica farmington public schools board election Verified Just Now Angie Smith - Farmington Public Schools Michael Swiecki - Wyandotte Public . At the board meeting, Terri Weems, the Farmington Public Schools (FPS) Board of Education president, said she was proud and had no plans to stop the DEI program. Problems get created when members see their role differently than what MASB or their board sees as the appropriate role of a board member versus a superintendent, Wotruba said. A candidate committee that does not expect to receive or spend more than $1,000 during the election cycle is eligible to receive a reporting waiver, which allows that committee not to file pre-election, post-election, and annual campaign statements. In addition to teaching high school, Claudia taught mathematics at Oakland Community College and Schoolcraft College. It has been shown that strong student relationships can reduce the gaps that can sometimes occur, particularly in the area of racial inequalities as it relates to school discipline. border:1px solid #FFB81F; Ballot measures, Who represents me? Minnesota Parents Alliance identifies and endorses school board candidates across the state who are aligned with our mission of prioritizing academic achievement, equality and parental rights in their school district. She has also taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the fields of both education and psychology. 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. It never stops. We have to gain the trust back. Farmington Public Schools will continue to serve the students and families well in our community; the District has a strong leadership team that will continue to move the District forward, Herrera said. Disclaimer: Farmington Public Schools shall not discriminate against an person based on race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, height, weight, or marital status in any of its programs, services, activities or employment. At a glance, things appeared fine in public meetings, but board members say personal attacks amongst themselves plagued their lives outside the board room. Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Email: The movescame during a special board meeting Monday. The district serves about 9,100 students right now, a number that dropped over 300 students from the 2019-2020 school year. "I am embarrassed and I feel so bad because I feel like I let everyone down. Our curriculum is deeply using critical race theory especially in social studies, but youll find it in English language arts and the other disciplines. We need to start getting rid of stuff we don't need.". font-weight: bold; You can watch Shawn Leys full story in the video posted above. The Board is responsible for curricular and financial decision made by the District. I think it is a loss for the district, Green said. Teachers need resources to help students overcome deficiencies due to long term effects of the COVID-19 shut down. var encodedEmail = swrot13('pynhqvn.urvaevpu@scfx12.arg'); Carr: Careful review of issues related to the delivery of excellence in education to all students tends to result in these types of discussions. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Copyright © 2002 - var currentTime = new Date();var year = currentTime.getFullYear();document.write(year); Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. The issue was so upsetting to Green and board Vice President Terry Johnson that they resigned. Ayes: 4 Dr. Ruskin, Mr. Mena, Mr. Cook, and Mr. Smith . The seven-member school board is relatively young withfour members elected or appointed in the past 6 months. We do this by helping you register for the classes that you need, advising you on subjects such as testing, college readiness, career readiness and connecting you to the . She is the proud mother of two Farmington High graduates. We must also continue the work that has already been established within our schools. Hometown Life obtained this complaint through a FOIA request. } 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,. But there is more work to do. , Weems: Originally, I joined the board because I was interested in helping the district become financially stable. 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. Farmington public School board trustee She is the single mother of three daughters who all attended Farmington Public Schools - graduates of 2006, 2010 and 2016. color: white; Follow her on Twitter@shelby_tankk. color: white; Two board members and the superintendent of Farmington's school district resigned from their positions last night, amid a big shakeup in leadership on the board. Bjorn Olson is a father of four children in the Farmington High district who was concerned about the 21-day equity challenge. Committee to Elect Angie Smith for Farmington Public Schools. 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. Angie Smith has had problems with every single person on that board, Terry Johnson, a former board vice president who alsoresignedin November, said. .widget-row.Green { Weems, Smith and Zach Rich, another veteran trustee, have said theyre optimistic about a new board being able to turn things around. Pam Green, a former board president who resigned last November, said she never knew the board without problems amongst itself. color: white; But when it comes to the $220 million bond issue on the ballot August 6 . They also accused everyone else of not seeing things that way. 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 in the statement. School board members agreed its roleis to manage the superintendent and let him or her run the day-to-day operations of the district. Farmington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Herrera resigned from his position, allegedly following allegations of racism toward Black students and staff in the district. Email: Before that, he attended Forest Elementary and Warner Middle School before being a Farmington District ambassador to the International Academy. Olson: Parents will send their students to the school that best meets the learning needs of their children. 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. Bargaining units. Donald Walker was appointed to the board in 2021. 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. Recruitment, vetting, and training are expensive propositions. Effective November 2016, all terms will be for six years. His decision came after meeting with legal counsel, she told the members.

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