. That was obvious.. background-color: green; } The median household income for Oakland County was $66,436, compared to $49,087 for the entire state. FPS Superintendent Chris Delgado said he supports the DEI program. Smith: Yes, because we have hired a new superintendent who shares the same values and understands our mission and vision for the district. font-weight: bold; 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. In addition to teaching high school, Claudia taught mathematics at Oakland Community College and Schoolcraft College. background-color: grey; } There's some evidence, however, Smithwas resistant to soothing school board tensions, declining requests the board undergo restorative practice training in 2019. Livonia Chamber stickers program helps businesses highlight inclusive values, Comerica bank to sell Livonia office building, move to neighboring Farmington Hills, Henry Ford Health brings new emergency room, specialty services to western Wayne County, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Oakland County was home to 1,242,304 residents in 2015, according to the United States Census Bureau. One individual sported a shirt that read: We do NOT CO-PARENT with the Government., Parents were protesting a 21-Day Equity Challenge held by the Farmington Public School District last fall. 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. } Smith won the seat in the at-large general election on November 8, 2016 . margin-bottom: 0; Smith believes school officials have "lost touch" with the community, and as an example, cites the to the Islamic Cultural Association earlier this year. Parents protest Farmington High school board meeting over CRT, 21-day equity challenge, How Police Department Spending in Michigan Compares to Other States, Home Buyers in Saginaw, MI Are Making Some of the Smallest Down Payment in the Country, Heres How Many Guns Were Sold in Michigan Last Month, Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs At Risk of Automation and AI Replacement in Michigan, Judge declares Illinois' gun ban unconstitutional, Report finds $860 million lost in homes seized by government, U.S Treasury sanctions cartel-run timeshare fraud network targeting Americans, Air Force leader's testimony on military vaccine mandates contradicts IG report, Gaetz says, Biden takes fire after vowing to ban assault weapons, Madigan asks judge to toss out 14 of 23 corruption counts. Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square. Claudia is currently active as a Farmington Area Goodfellows Volunteer and a member of the DKG International Society of Professional Women Educators. 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). Literacy and Math proficiency rates are at an all-time low, and getting lower. He'll receive a $105,000 severance. font-weight: bold; [1] Elections 2016 See also: Farmington Public School District elections (2016) It is certainly not representative of those in the program, however. The district declined to elaborate on Herrera's claim. Resumes should include past board experience, past managerial experience, and other related experience. Smith said she has talked to teachers at the high school level who want to move. 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. Email: "Angie Smith has had problems with every single person on that board," Terry Johnson, a former board vice president who also resigned in November, said. . Before the school board meeting, about 60 people huddled together in freezing temperatures for a brief news conference highlighting concerns of parents and entities about the teaching of CRT to school children. legislators. var encodedEmail = swrot13('[email protected]'); Counties | Incumbent David Turner and Mark Przeslawski defeated Fritz Beiermeister for the two-year terms. } Weems: We need to do a better job of marketing the great things that are happening in our district. He's previously worked for Detroit's public school system and Specs Howard School. font-weight: bold; This is painful, very painful, school board President Pamela Green said. 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. According to 2019 U.S. Census data, Farmington Hills is 62.7% white, 19.9% Black and 14.1% Asian. 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. vertical-align: top; Olson: I am not happy with the overall direction of the district as it stands. Though different factions present different reasons for Heitschs retirement, all say he left the district sooner than he wanted to because of board dysfunction. Olson: Parents will send their students to the school that best meets the learning needs of their children. 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. Angie Smith, Farmington School Board Vice President, Endorses Levin. Bargaining units. .widget-row.value-only.black { color: white; background-color: #f9d334; $(document).ready(function () { FEBRUARY 25, 2019, REGULAR MTG. at [email protected] or 517.327.5929. After the superintendent's resignation, the board passed a resolution censuring Smith, who has been a school board member since 2016. Smith: RETAINING OUR EXCELLENT STAFF. Darlene Pomponio, Ph.D. - Southgate Community Schools Angie Smith - Farmington Public Schools . Terri earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Science degree in accounting from the Honors College at Ohio University. 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. Heis slated to act as a consultant before receiving a severance payment of $105,000 onJune 30, 2021. "I'm not happy about this because of how it affects our district. It continues the cycle of negativity. The agenda can be found here at least 18 hours before the meeting. clear: both; 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. It really does take a village. Board members should have had a longer community conversation around the sale, she said, adding, "People are afraid now, and they are angry. Based on the State Senator Bayer is proud to be endorsed by the following: Marcia Gershenson, Oakland County Commissioner and Board Vice Chairwoman. Upcoming Agenda: The next regular meeting is Monday, March 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. Parents manifested a concern that the district was not responding well to the pandemic. 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. "So this is painful. 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. CBS Detroit - Farmington School Board Superintendant Robert Herrera resigned along with School board Vice President Terri Johnson and President Pamela Green, citing online, public, and. Online learning requires a significant investment in teacher training, equipment, and curriculum delivery. But there is more work to do. display: block; .widget-row.Green { There are no incumbents among eight candidates for three Farmington school board seats: David Barr, Becky DeWilde, Joe Fritz, Melissa Gorman, Kelsey Jezierski, Maggie Storlie, Steven. More: Tolonen Family Pet Shop one of downtown Farmington's newest businesses, More: Farmington school board offers superintendent job to Walled Lake administrator, More: The Hawk in Farmington Hills prepares for June opening. Guide. He and his family have been a part of the community for 20 years. var encodedEmail = swrot13('[email protected]'); 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. Email: [1], Five of the seven seats on the Farmington Public School District school board were up for general election on November 8, 2016. Hometown Life obtained this complaint through a FOIA request. Weems: There are researched backed reasons to support diversity and, practicing equity in education is a requirement. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. Bjorn Olson is looking to hold office for the first time. The protesters lined the street in front of North Farmington High School, holding signs and waving at . Mable is a 24 year resident of Farmington Hills and a former member/president of the Timbercrest Homeowner Association. The district should not differentiate between students. 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 I can speak," she said. Olson: One tangible action would be to explore proven programs that improve student-teacher relationships. Its really unfortunatethat weve actuallygotten to a positionwhere we cant even disagree without beingdisagreeable. We must concentrate on our literacy and math scores and closing the opportunity gap. We must create more academic challenges for our gifted students. [4], Candidates received a total of $6,710.00 and spent a total of $12,632.11 as of October 30, 2016, according to the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds.[5]. The seven-member school board is relatively young withfour members elected or appointed in the past 6 months. Carr: I have a Ph.D. in Public Administration and my academic career has been in public education. State and local courts | Its not currently being taught in K-12 schools anywhere in Michigan or the country.. Email: The board called Smiths claims unfounded, but accepted Herreras resignation to avoid being sued by him. They also accused everyone else of not seeing things that way. We have hired a new superintendent who is dedicated to our school district, onboarded 4 new board members, and become a highly functioning certified board. We have completed our strategic planning, identified the profile of a lifelong learner and negotiated long term contracts with our staff. Ithurts our community, it hurts our students, our parents and our schools. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Public policy. 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 . Terri Weems is running for a second six-year term on the board and was appointed in 2015. Curricular transparency and accountability to parents remains on the public radar but has not received adequate support from the Board. display: inline-block; Carr: The very real challenge for the board of Farmington Public Schools is to gain the trust and confidence of parents and residents. 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. I am not interested in having her do this practice, Smith wrote to Green of the suggested instructor in a March2019email. $('span#sw-emailmask-156').replaceWith(''); $(document).ready(function () { Spotlight Junior Players proudly presents Disney's "Aladdin Jr" for ONE weekend ONLY! She has resided in Farmington Hills for over 20 years and was involved in her daughters academics and extracurricular activities. Other important priorities should include safety in schools, attendance, meeting the needs of the marginalized as well as those that are advanced and gifted, investing in proven programs for special education, and ensuring the welfare and confidence of each learner (Example kids who are hungry cannot learn productively, kids who do not feel safe or confident also cannot learn productively, etc.). Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. As a school board member, she said, she would first and foremost listen to parents, teachers and students. "I'm going to ask questions. .widget-value { FPS has what is needed to provide a wonderful experience for a student. [2], School board candidates in Michigan were required to file pre-election campaign finance reports with their county election offices by October 28, 2016. Applicants can submit their resume, letter of intent, and three letters of reference here. Mable is a lifelong community advocate, co-founding the Littlefield Block Club at the age of 16. He and Green did not immediately respond to requests for comment late Monday. This is just their way of telling me to shut up. Davis County uses many social media channels to share information and interact with residents and non-residents. Take a sneak peek inside, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. You want to teach less reading, writing, and arithmetic so you can teach Critical Race Theory and DEI?. 87 likes. After the motion was requested, board president Pamela Green read a statement regarding "extraordinary developments" since the last meeting. font-size: 1.2em; For example, the auditorium was divided into masked and non-masked sections. ADMINISTRATORS; Superintendents; Superintendent Secretaries; CORPORATE SUPPORT; VIP Program; VIP Directory; Sponsors school board members. 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. Jim Stark, a former board president,resigned in 2018 for similar reasons. A Certified Public Accountant, she has volunteered with parent groups at her children's schools and, Voters will also choose one candidate for a two-year term. In fact, Ive had 3 conversations this week where the concerned parents shared very favorable accounts of the individuals that already give an excess of their time and energy in the program, but unfortunately theres just not enough to go around. Federal courts | background-color: white; Weems: These one-time dollars present a huge opportunity to foster real change and innovation. Take a sneak peek inside. }); Angie Smith was elected in 2016. .widget-row.value-only { background-color: grey; According to Weems, the board did not look at "meaningful" student achievement data for almost two years. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. As president, Weems worried the controversy could impact the district's superintendent search; the board voted May 13 to offer the job to Christopher Delgado, who has been serving in a deputy superintendent role for Walled Lake Consolidated Schools. The adult behavior at the board has been horrible, and as a result, the children are suffering, Johnson said. Apply today! Effective November 2016, all terms will be for six years. This community has lost trust with the district.". The closure of four elementary schools also has Smith concerned, both with the crowding of students into the remaining buildings and what happens as the district's population starts moving back up. Masks had been required when the district's residential population was classified as high risk for covid-19. Ayes: 4 Dr. Ruskin, Mr. Mena, Mr. Cook, and Mr. Smith . The board is expected to decide in coming weeks on the next steps to fill the vacancies and select the next superintendent. Biography Smith earned her bachelor's degree from Wayne State University. Zach has worked for over a decade in a variety of public service roles at the local, county, and federal levels of government. "LosingDr. Herrera will be a great loss for our students," Zach Rich, a board trustee, said during the meeting. Weems said she and Smith are on good footing nowbut acknowledged the twohave faced issues in the past. I'm not going to treat anyone different from how I would treat a family member. She is the mother of three young adults, products of Farmington and Detroit Public Schools. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports. } An emphasis on excellence across the curriculum will attract students to the school system. It is not clear what kind of safety measures will be in place due to the ongoing pandemic. Notice Of Electronic Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Meeting - November 13, 2020, Notice Of Electronic Planning Meeting - May 10, 2021, Results Of The 2017 Water Quality Changes In The Rouge River Survey, Farmington Governor Warner Mansion Receives $85,000 State Grant. Our curriculum is deeply using critical race theory especially in social studies, but youll find it in English language arts and the other disciplines. Personal conflicts, they say, also drew attention away from the schools. The Board is responsible for curricular and financial decision made by the District. School districts | $('span#sw-emailmask-157').replaceWith(''); When we understand that each student brings unique experiences, strengths, and ideas into the classroom, students become more confident academically and improve critical thinking. 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. (The Center Square) School was out, but residents packed the North Farmington High School parking lot Tuesday night to protest the school's 21-day equity challenge that included white privilege checklists and asked student participants to join a BLM or affiliated protest.. 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. Smith allegedly said Herrera in a sense had his knee on the neck of an African American coworker.. Michigan Association of School Boards Board of Directors Election, Section 8 Director for Birgit McQuiston of Lake Orion Community Schools as recommended. "It's time for me," Smith said. Angie Smith, Farmington Public School Board of Education Vice President. Herrera did not respond to multiple interview requests. It's like saying, 'Honey the house is in foreclosure, but there's a Bentley in the driveway.' We need some real change in this district and we need to hold people accountable.". Carr: The priorities of the district should be on excellence in education provided to all students. Tuesday night's protest was followed by a school board meeting where concerned residents spoke out about curriculum that includes Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). 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. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: hallermotorworx.com, +14799696464, +18005589044 Home Haller Motorworx & Farm Equipment Magazine, AR 479 969-6464 FPS Board Secretary Angie Smith said DEI includes hard topics that have to be brought up., During the protest, Debbie Kraulidis, a Moms for America vice president, said the 21-day challenge and teaching CRT are racially dividing and anti-American., Our schools have drastically lost their way, and they must get back to the mission of education, Kraulidis said. Claudia has had a lifelong involvement in community service; she was a member of the Farmington Area Jaycee Women, PTA, Girl Scout Leader, Religious Education Teacher and Youth Basketball Coach. }); Mable Fox was elected in 2020. We should consider opening up Schools of Choice at the high school level, and offer more spots. I have the experience of providing leadership and direction in the hiring of a new superintendent and guiding our district through a pandemic, contract negotiations and threats of violence against our work. } Her currently works for the Detroit School of Arts. Angie Smith is an at-large representative on the Farmington Public School District school board in Michigan. Board Meeting Details. I think it is a loss for the district, Green said. Terri is an active member of her community. Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. 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. [8], Oakland County outperformed Michigan as a whole in terms of higher education achievement from 2010 to 2014. "It's bittersweet that it has to be against two friends.". It was moved by Mr. Cook and supported by Mr. Smith that the Novi Community Schools Board of Education approve the Consent Agenda Items A and B as presented and vote on the donations separately. In a tearful statement, Green told her colleaguesmost of her two-year tenure had been spent "managing unprofessional adult behaviorsversus focusing on the important work that we have been entrusted to do as aboard of education.". Smith is unapologetic for her approach. color: white; var encodedEmail = swrot13('[email protected]'); She is a champion for children. Board meetings are cablecast LIVE on TV-10 and live . 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. 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. 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 . .infobox { .widget-row.Republican { Very painful.". Those completed goals come at the expense of Academic Excellence. To learn more about county-wide races and ballot issues, visit It is exhausting and its hurtful..

} Smith won the seat in the at-large general election on November 8, 2016. If you would like to help our coverage scope grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia. The Farmington Public Schools superintendent and the top two members of the board of education resigned Monday amid allegations of harassment and racism.During a special meeting Monday, the. In a Sept. 24, 2020, harassmentcomplaint, Herrera detailed actions taken by Smith he believes were in retaliation over a hire she didnt agree with. }); Dr. Cheryl Blau has taught all subjects in grades 1-8 for more than 30 years in public, private, parochial, and charter schools. Also, we should focus on ways to encourage individuals to apply for open positions within our district (substitutes, bus drivers, and para pros for example). 100% remote. 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, making comments and social media posts accusing Herrera of trying to rid the district of any African American staff members. Herrera had recently filed a complaint against board secretary Angie Smith for harassment, district officials said in a statement. Smith questions the need for three assistant superintendents, and wonders whether the district's could have waited for a time when more money was available. "I guess what prompted me to do it was when we had to wear those red shirts and walk around North Farmington," she said. Newsroom tweets. "Publicly accusing people especially without investigation is dangerous, Weems wrote in an email to Smith in January2019. width: 250px; Candidate Donna Swoboda did not submit a response. } margin-bottom: 1px; The board firstpassed a resolution accepting the resignation of Superintendent Robert Herrera, who hasled the district since 2019. Johnson, the board's vice president,told the panel he wasresigning 45 days before his term expiresbecause the group"has just completely changed.". Both current and former board members expressed frustration over squabbles standing in the way of work that would benefit students in a district with continued declining enrollment.

background-color: #f9f9f9; The resignation agreement makes Herreras complaint moot and will no longer be pursued. var encodedEmail = swrot13('[email protected]'); Olson: Most issues are certainly on the radar of the residents, but one that seems to be overlooked, but should not be, are improvement opportunities for the FPS Special Education Program. The current school board removedSmiths censure in January, wanting to puteveryone on the same footing as it moves forward. As Director of Multimedia at Detroit School of Arts, he provides administrative support to the digital media programs and teachers. margin-top: 1px; Under this boards leadership we have completed our audit and are now using it as one of our guides to create a safe and culturally respectful district. }