Community, school board members discuss Ypsilanti Community Schools at public meeting
Members of the Ypsilanti and Willow Run communities met with school board members Saturday at a public forum to talk about plans to unify the two school districts.
Lisa Carolin I For AnnArbor.com
More than 45 people participated in Saturday's World Cafe format, which involved dividing into small groups and letting every person take a turn answering the same questions. Each table was led by a school board member from the Ypsilanti Community District or an administrator from the county.
Participants were asked to answer questions aloud, and also could write answers on a large piece of paper in the center of the table.
One question which prompted strong reactions was "What is your greatest fear in this process of transitioning to a united district?"
Ypsilanti High School junior Kate Mull said her biggest fear is that nothing changes.
"Kids will get lost because adults don't get along," she said.
Scott Heister said, "I fear that we won't be able to create a structure that will attract the best staff and keep them."
For parent Jason Evans, the fear is the short timeline.
"I don't want it to turn to making reactionary decisions that involve emergency management," said Evans.
Scott Menzel, superintendent of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, who helped lead the round table discussions, concurred that time is limited. He told participants, "There are 114 days until the new district starts, and we have a monumental task ahead of us bringing two different school districts together."
Other fears included the community being torn apart, a massive exodus of students, and an inability to sustain good programs.
"I want to make this district the best I can because my kids are going to stay here, and I don't want my friends and their friends to leave," said parent Michelle Tramp.
Tramp also echoed a popular sentiment from many of today's participants: The importance of being a part of the decision making process along with being kept up to date on exactly what decisions have been made.
"We need communication from leaders telling us what's going on se we don't have to just depend on word of mouth," said Tramp.
David Bates, president of the Ypsilanti Community school board, told the participants, "Our most important work is to let the community know they're players in the process."
One of the final round table requests of participants was to share one dream for the new district.
"My dream is that all of our kids can feel like they can achieve," parent Nancy Harvey said. "We have a lot of kids who don't have families there to help so the school has to do that."
The next opportunity outside of school board meetings for people to participate tentatively is set for Saturday, March 23. Information will be posted on the Ypsilanti Community Schools website.
Comments
pseudo
Sun, Mar 10, 2013 : 3:28 p.m.
my hope was that they/we could find a way to effectively educate the kids that remain in the district(s) and stop utterly wasting my tax money while getting bottom of the barrel results. my fear is that these schools continue to fail our kids and wallets. 45 people doesn't seem like a critical mass of support for this effort - especially after the recent train-wreck with hiring 3 superintendants. does this number represent the number of community members still engaged ? if so, thats big trouble.
beardown
Mon, Mar 11, 2013 : 2:32 p.m.
The two former presidents, who are now the two assistant/associate/albatross superintendents, started this process, at least according to their lore. They were also present for the hiring of the two and presided over the continuation of their contracts when both were leading failing schools. While I find this public forum to be an excellent move, it's too little too late after too many bridges have been burned. The public has been deceived and even berated by this board and now they expect us to forget all that they have done?
pseudo
Mon, Mar 11, 2013 : 10:59 a.m.
@Basic - don't you find it interesting that the Ypsi Board set up/extended that contract after knowing about the merger but before it happened? interesting manuvering and waste of money.
beardown
Sun, Mar 10, 2013 : 11:06 p.m.
But I would imagine that they can buy them out. And, they should have known that Lisiki and Martin were stuck in their positions, so why go through the charade of a superintendent search? And getting 45 people to come in, which most likely includes the members of the advisory groups and board members, just shows how badly they have already lost the community. In any picture, it was the wrong choice and they will lose students because of this.
Basic Bob
Sun, Mar 10, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.
They were stuck with two superintendents because they were under contract without any kind of hardship clause. Check the new district's website and they have the legal opinion posted. Fortunately they can terminate everyone else with personal contracts or collective bargaining and start over. The third superintendent does not have time to run the schools since he already has a full time job. He will be a figurehead for the people actually operating the district, which could even be Martin and Lisiscki. That would be my guess. I'm sure everyone is frustrated by the current state of things, but there are no quick fixes. In the big picture, I think it was the right choice.
Heather
Sun, Mar 10, 2013 : 12:33 p.m.
I was there and I left with a much more optimistic view about the future of our district.
kuriooo
Sat, Mar 9, 2013 : 10:07 p.m.
This sounds like something Ann Arbor might benefit from, as well. I'm particularly envisioning the utility of a forum like this if there is proposed re-districting and / or school closures or mergers in the future.
Alwaysabrave
Sat, Mar 9, 2013 : 9:50 p.m.
In my opinion this forum was a huge step in opening the lines of communication. Not all my questions were answered but I learned how the laws by which the school board follow do not always allow for open dialog during regular board meetings. This does not excuse things that have happened recently, but I have a better understanding of the rules. It was very clear that more of these type meetings would eliminate the frustration for all parties. I will continue to stay involved on behave of our teachers.