Randy Friedman resigns from Ann Arbor school board
Long-time Ann Arbor school board Treasurer Randy Friedman resigned from the board Monday evening.
In an e-mail to board President Deb Mexicotte and Superintendent Todd Roberts, Friedman said the move was made for personal reasons. In an e-mail to AnnArbor.com, he said he had no further comment.
Friedman recently listed his Ann Arbor house for sale. He owns a house in Birmingham, and his children attend Detroit County Day school.
Randy Friedman resigned Monday.
“I deeply regret to inform you of my decision to resign from the Ann Arbor School Board effective immediately,” Friedman wrote in the e-mail, sent at 5:04 p.m. today. ”This decision is based upon personal reasons, only. I will miss my association with you and will always carry a special place in my heart for Ann Arbor and its schools.”
During his board tenure, Friedman was an advocate of looking at the social climate at the district’s high schools and was influential in recruiting Roberts to become superintendent when George Fornero left.
He was first selected to the board in the fall of 2002, replacing a trustee who resigned. He was the second-longest tenured board member, behind Glenn Nelson, who was elected in June 2002.
"During the first year we were on the board, Randy and I were often on opposite ends of the issues," Nelson said. "Our relationship grew from there and became something I really valued. We found ourselves working together."
Nelson said Friedman was critical in the election of long-time trustee Karen Cross to board president, a move many say stabilized the board. Nelson said Friedman also played a "critical role" in the passage of the 2004 bond that built Skyline High School.
Friedman drew fire in November when it was disclosed that he had bought a 5,600-square-foot house to cut down on the commute between his Ann Arbor home and his children's school. At the time, he said he wanted to continue to serve on the board and said his primary residence would be in Ann Arbor.
Friedman’s term was to expire in 2011.
He is the third board trustee to resign this school year, joining long-time board member Helen Gates-Bryant and newcomer Adam Hollier, who resigned months after being elected to the board.
The board appointed Simone Lightfoot and Christine Stead to fill those positions.
Board members will have to appoint a person to fill Friedman’s seat until the next election, which falls in November. The person appointed will have to run then, joining Lightfoot, Stead, Mexicotte and board Trustee Susan Baskett, whose seats are also up for re-election.
Several board members said they can't remember a larger number of seats up for election at one time, even when the board had nine members.
"The November election for school board will be very critical in terms of education in the Ann Arbor school district," Nelson said.
David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.
Comments
David Jesse
Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 10:47 a.m.
If you are interested in filing for the seat, please see this story for the procedures: http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-school-board-to-take-applications-for-vacant-seat/
just a homeowner
Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 10:13 a.m.
Like it or not, the shrinking financial resources for schools is going to change the way we run the schools. We need new ideas, and the political courage to do what has to be done. I want to see the board choose a replacement for Friedman who has these qualities, rather than someone who agrees with what board members already think.
Gloriagirl
Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:37 a.m.
It is an enormous commitment of time and energy to become a board member especially in Ann Arbor with the number of agendas one encounters. For those thinking of running it would be best to focus on the core business of educating all students from all socio-economic background and have the commitment of a graduation rate at 100%. Ann Arbor Schools spend too many resources on athletics and not enough on basics skills like reading, math and science for all its students. If we were a truly progressive community, we would reach down and pull all students up to the level of college ready competency. Kathy Griswold was a board member who kept this focus but was an odd woman out with the balance of her colleagues. Perhaps she should reconsider now that the board has turned over and the district is in crisis financing. She would be a good candidate, provide strong leadership and has demonstrated her tenacity in maintaining focus and accountability on student achievement.
KeepingItReal
Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:35 a.m.
I just hope that those interested in school politics (and that's what it is) will take this as an opportunity to really scrutinized those that will be running for a board seat this year. If you are dissatisfied with the current crop, then its time to make a change. However, let's vote in people who truly want to be board members as opposed to padding their resume or building up their political base for a higher office or to reinforce their social standing in the community. We need grass roots commitment for a change.
Ruth
Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 7:28 a.m.
It would have been more appropriate and legally correct for him to resign the seat when he moved in November. It would have allowed the district to appointed a replacement at that time and have a more seasoned occupant in the seat to run for this November's election. With all the new board members, any amount of additional experience could help in the decision making process.
DonBee
Mon, Apr 12, 2010 : 9:32 p.m.
@lizdemonster - 18 years old to run for school board and local offices.
DonBee
Mon, Apr 12, 2010 : 9:30 p.m.
I wish to thank Mr Friedman for his service. Service on the board is difficult and I wish him all the best. Finding someone of his caliber to serve on the board will be difficult. I wish the board the best in finding a candidate. This November will be interesting, for the first time the majority of board seats will all be up for a vote at one time. It will be the time when the voters will decide - do we stay the course or do we make a departure. It will be interesting to see who runs and if there are blocks that form around this election or it candidates run solo. I wish Mr Friedman all the best. Fair winds and following seas!
lizdemonster
Mon, Apr 12, 2010 : 9:02 p.m.
How old do you have to be to run for schoolboard?
Kathy Griswold
Mon, Apr 12, 2010 : 7:47 p.m.
Randy agreed to run for re-election when no one else was willing to run for the AAPS board. Now that we have many qualified candidate willing to serve, this seems only fair to him and his family. Hopefully some of these candidates will be willing to go through the selection process one more time.
Michigan Reader
Mon, Apr 12, 2010 : 6:52 p.m.
I think he resigned because Birmingham is his primary residence now.
Lokalisierung
Mon, Apr 12, 2010 : 4:51 p.m.
Wow....one after the other eh? What a year.