RETIREMENT
As a result of new legislation, a significant number of staff have elected to retire as of the end of this school year. One of those retiring is the Principal of West Bloomfield High School, Bob Pyles. We will miss him in his full time capacity at the high school.
We are fortunate to have the opportunity to reconfigure how services will be delivered at West Bloomfield High School. Please join us in congratulating Tom Shelton and Blake Prewitt who will serve as Co-Principals next year. This gives us the opportunity to break large high school groups into smaller units where the Co-Principals will be responsible for two grades each. They will follow these families through their four years at West Bloomfield High School.
Also retiring are Assistant Principal David Pryor and Athletic Director DeWayne Jones. We wish them well in their new endeavors.
In an attempt to reduce administrative positions we will be combining duties and creating a new position of Assistant Principal/Athletic Director. In an attempt to provide additional support and coverage in the high School, Dewayne Jones and Bob Pyles may serve in a part-time capacity for a smooth transition to help with staff and students.
As a result of Tom Shelton going to the high school, the principalship at Roosevelt Elementary will be posted. Another person to whom an offer has been made is Jeremey Whan, Principal of Scotch Elementary School. Jeremey has been offered a principalship in the Troy School District. The Troy Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, June 15, and if approved, Jeremey has indicated that he will accept the position. We will do a search to find experienced administrators who are the right fit for both Roosevelt & Scotch Elementaries.
As of today we are losing approximately 50 teachers. We will be busy interviewing and trying to recall as many of those teachers as possible to retain the best and brightest in the classrooms for our children, as deemed by student enrollment.
All positions will be posted immediately and interviews will begin the week of June 21.
WALKING ASSIGNMENTS
We will begin walking distances this fall. No one wants to give up services that we’ve enjoyed. Unfortunately this is one whose time has come. All other school districts around us already have walking distances ranging from .7 – 1.5 miles. Ours will be a ONE MILE radius, WHERE APPROPRIATE. Students will NOT be asked to cross busy streets without crossing guards as safety is our #1 priority.
A letter will be sent this month to each parent affected. We are sending these out early so that you can make arrangements with neighbors and friends for “walking pools” and practice walking with your children.
This process was developed by a Safety Committee consisting of a team of transportation experts including WBSD Transportation Supervisor Lynne Robertson, an independent Traffic Safety Consultant, and the West Bloomfield, Keego Harbor and Orchard Lake Police Departments.
GRADUATION
There was a wonderful ceremony on Sunday, June 6 at Compuware Arena, as we witnessed the Class of 2010 graduate from West Bloomfield High School. This was the first time that all of the principals have taken part in the exercises and celebration, and several of them commented on how much they enjoyed it. In particular, the elementary principals who have followed many of these students through as many as13 years of education here in West Bloomfield, were affected in an emotional way. Thank you also to all of the parents who supported us at graduation and helped out at the Senior All Night Party that evening. The entire event was considered very successful.
KIDS IN CHARGE
The Kids in Charge program has come to a conclusion for another year in our elementary buildings. We want to thank Lisa Kaplan who headed this program, and all of our volunteers who help to keep our students drug and alcohol free. Lisa and her dedicated staff are already preparing for next year.
NEGOTIATIONS
For more info related to negotiations we continue to update our website under Decisions About Our Future. Please see our most recent responses that may change daily.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Talk Sup't. June 4, 2010
CONSTRUCTION
You may see construction work going on at the high school on the light poles that had collapsed. This work is being paid for by our dollars that came from selling the bonds in March, and not from the operating budget. We have three years to spend this money which comes from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) which can only be used for construction and renovation.
GRADUATION!
Oakland Early College graduated three students, all with HIGH honors, on May 14 in the Smith Theatre on the Oakland Community College Campus. One of our graduates plans to attend University of Michigan Engineering School, while another will study Marine Biology at Eckerd College in Florida. Our last graduate has received her high school diploma and will continue one more semester at OCC before she receives her Associate’s Degree and then goes on to the University of Michigan.
Last night I attended the West Bloomfield High School Prom, which was held at the Detroit Yacht Club. Approximately 500 students enjoyed a safe and beautiful evening, with amazing food and a great time.
Thank you to the Board of Education, the administrative team and staff for presenting awards and honors at the Honors Convocation. We were proud to announce that West Bloomfield High School grads received over $3 million in Scholarships for students’ continuing education.
West Bloomfield High School and Laker Academy Graduation will take place this Sunday, June 6 at Compuware Arena, followed later that evening by the Senior All-Night Party. This has been a tradition in West Bloomfield that seniors look forward to and work on all year long. We have over 450 graduates to be proud of as they receive their diplomas this year.
Roosevelt Elementary students in Carrie Roth’s classroom had a real treat as they visited Oakland Early College and found out what a real college campus is like. As part of a program where 5th graders are celebrating a 15 year reunion, FIFTEEN YEARS EARLY, students are asked to imagine and plan where they will be fifteen years from now. This includes what colleges they may have attended, and what careers they will be embarking upon. Principal Tom Shelton joined the students as they toured OEC classrooms and met with OCC President Dr. Jackie Shadko.
NEGOTIATIONS
We have not yet reached a settlement with our teachers union. The West Bloomfield School District and the West Bloomfield Education Association are continuing negotiations with the assistance of a state appointed mediator from the Michigan Employment Relations Commission. The mediator works with both sides in the negotiations process with the goal of helping the employer and union reach agreement on a new contract. Information on the status of those negotiations will continue to be posted on the homepage of our website.
Informational picketing has and may continue to occur outside of our buildings before and after school hours, at some of your school events and board meetings. This is common during negotiations and should not be disruptive. Although it is unusual in our community, know that many districts see this type of action during negotiations, so it is not unique to just West Bloomfield.
The education of our students is and always will be our priority. Quality teaching and learning has been and will continue to occur in all of our classrooms each and every day to the credit of our faculty and staff members. We place a high value on the education profession and the quality service that our staff members deliver daily.
Unfortunately, our savings account is empty. The district’s fund equity is exhausted and the district is projected to end the 2009-10 school year in a true deficit of $3.1 million, where our expenses have exceeded our revenue.
In our case and that of other public school districts in Michigan, it is our legal obligation to have a balanced budget. While we are making difficult decisions that will help us to balance our budget, it is of utmost importance that each child has rich learning experiences every day.
You may see construction work going on at the high school on the light poles that had collapsed. This work is being paid for by our dollars that came from selling the bonds in March, and not from the operating budget. We have three years to spend this money which comes from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) which can only be used for construction and renovation.
GRADUATION!
Oakland Early College graduated three students, all with HIGH honors, on May 14 in the Smith Theatre on the Oakland Community College Campus. One of our graduates plans to attend University of Michigan Engineering School, while another will study Marine Biology at Eckerd College in Florida. Our last graduate has received her high school diploma and will continue one more semester at OCC before she receives her Associate’s Degree and then goes on to the University of Michigan.
Last night I attended the West Bloomfield High School Prom, which was held at the Detroit Yacht Club. Approximately 500 students enjoyed a safe and beautiful evening, with amazing food and a great time.
Thank you to the Board of Education, the administrative team and staff for presenting awards and honors at the Honors Convocation. We were proud to announce that West Bloomfield High School grads received over $3 million in Scholarships for students’ continuing education.
West Bloomfield High School and Laker Academy Graduation will take place this Sunday, June 6 at Compuware Arena, followed later that evening by the Senior All-Night Party. This has been a tradition in West Bloomfield that seniors look forward to and work on all year long. We have over 450 graduates to be proud of as they receive their diplomas this year.
Roosevelt Elementary students in Carrie Roth’s classroom had a real treat as they visited Oakland Early College and found out what a real college campus is like. As part of a program where 5th graders are celebrating a 15 year reunion, FIFTEEN YEARS EARLY, students are asked to imagine and plan where they will be fifteen years from now. This includes what colleges they may have attended, and what careers they will be embarking upon. Principal Tom Shelton joined the students as they toured OEC classrooms and met with OCC President Dr. Jackie Shadko.
NEGOTIATIONS
We have not yet reached a settlement with our teachers union. The West Bloomfield School District and the West Bloomfield Education Association are continuing negotiations with the assistance of a state appointed mediator from the Michigan Employment Relations Commission. The mediator works with both sides in the negotiations process with the goal of helping the employer and union reach agreement on a new contract. Information on the status of those negotiations will continue to be posted on the homepage of our website.
Informational picketing has and may continue to occur outside of our buildings before and after school hours, at some of your school events and board meetings. This is common during negotiations and should not be disruptive. Although it is unusual in our community, know that many districts see this type of action during negotiations, so it is not unique to just West Bloomfield.
The education of our students is and always will be our priority. Quality teaching and learning has been and will continue to occur in all of our classrooms each and every day to the credit of our faculty and staff members. We place a high value on the education profession and the quality service that our staff members deliver daily.
Unfortunately, our savings account is empty. The district’s fund equity is exhausted and the district is projected to end the 2009-10 school year in a true deficit of $3.1 million, where our expenses have exceeded our revenue.
In our case and that of other public school districts in Michigan, it is our legal obligation to have a balanced budget. While we are making difficult decisions that will help us to balance our budget, it is of utmost importance that each child has rich learning experiences every day.
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