SEAF PROJECT
On
May 14th, Western Demographics consultant, Shannon Bingham, presented the West
Bloomfield School District Board of Education with a preliminary report
resulting from feedback gathered at public focus groups and open houses that
were attended by parents, staff and community members. The SEAF committee
continues to review and analyze all of the recommended options to minimize
adverse impact on educational programs while maximizing budgetary savings where
possible. All concerns including special education programs, preschool
openings, building closure and the relocation of district administration are
being evaluated so that the best decision for all students can be made. This project is ongoing. The School Enrollment and Facilities (SEAF) Utilization Report that was previously scheduled to appear on the June 25, 2012 West Bloomfield School District Board of Education Meeting Agenda, has been postponed until August 27. This will allow additional time to address unresolved issues in the study.
Shannon Bingham of Western Demographics, Inc. will deliver his report to the board at the August 27 Board of Education meeting. This will give all board members the opportunity to visit all buildings that may be impacted by the initial recommendations that were in the recent draft.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Special Congratulations go to our West Bloomfield High School Diver Claire Forhan who has been named to the All American Dive Team and also a Scholar Athlete by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Claire was honored by the Detroit News as a scholar athlete as well. A huge thanks goes out to Coach Fraylick for all of the training and preparation that helped Claire reach this outstanding achievement!
Another
big congrats go to Track Star Erin Finn who won the state championship in the
3,200-meter run with a time of 10:17.86 at the Michigan High School Athletic Association
(MHSAA) Division 1 track and field finals at East Kentwood on June 2. Erin’s
winning time set a new state record, beating the old record by 5 seconds set
back in 2010. in March she set a new national record at the high school indoor
National championships in New York in the 5,000-meter dash with a time of
16:19.7.Special Congratulations go to our West Bloomfield High School Diver Claire Forhan who has been named to the All American Dive Team and also a Scholar Athlete by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Claire was honored by the Detroit News as a scholar athlete as well. A huge thanks goes out to Coach Fraylick for all of the training and preparation that helped Claire reach this outstanding achievement!
GRIFFIN MILLER
Thank you to West Bloomfield Optimist member and founder Jeff Leib who led the way to honor Doherty Elementary 4th grader Griffin Miller. Griffin, who is blind, yet manages to speak English, German, Spanish and is studying Mandarin Chinese, plays guitar and piano and is studying music theory at the college sophomore level. Griffin also has a special teacher since he is doing 11th-grade math, currently advanced algebra.
The club invited Griffin and his family to one of the club’s weekly meetings in order to recognize and encourage him as he set out to compete in the National Braille Challenge in Los Angeles. Through the generosity of the members of the West Bloomfield Optimists, the club presented Griffin with a check for $1000 to help with the expenses for the California trip. In addition, the club had the Optimist Creed transcribed into Braille, so that Griffin could recite the Creed along with the club, feeling his Braille document along the way and following perfectly along.The meeting was attended by Griffin’s parents Rachel and Jeff Miller, his 5 year old sister Morgan, Doherty Principal Molly Funk, Oakland Schools Vision Consultant Sarah Piggott, and Darlene Bahri, Doherty Para Educator. Bahri transcribed the Optimist Creed for him. We received news that Griffin came in Second Place in the challenge. It was also exciting that all 3 Michigan students (2 from Oakland county) placed this year. Here is a link to the winners and photos: http://brailleinstitute.org/Services/The_Braille_Challenge/National_Winners.aspx
This is just another example of the generosity of this community, that always takes the time to think about and recognize our children. Thank you to Jeff Leib, and President Robert Brooks from the Optimist Club!
CUSTODIAL
Starting July 1 you may see new custodial crews cleaning in buildings now as they are being trained currently. New staff will be in assigned buildings as well. We look forward to working with GCA as we transition into this arrangement, and expect that all of our services will continue to go smoothly.
Transportation
We are currently making good progress with the district's goal of hiring many of our former employees. We are pleased that 66% of our drivers have been rehired, and many will be back on the same routes as they were in previous years. There are still opportunities for bus drivers and attendants as West Bloomfield School District is hiring through its contractor, Durham School Services. Training will be provided beginning in July. Those interested should apply directly at the WBSD Transportation office located at 3340 Orchard Lake Road, north of Commerce Road and Abbott Middle School in Orchard Lake, between the hours of 6:00 am until 4:00 pm.
Stop in now as training begins soon.
ROOSEVELT CLEANUP
Special thanks to the
Keego Harbor community and especially to Mr. Tim Lata and Mr. Philip Thomas for
their leadership and guidance in their
efforts to improve the playground at Roosevelt Elementary School.All of the volunteers who helped deserve special recognition for replacing the roofs on several play structures, grading the property to remove compact wood chips, installing new handrails and zip lines, and donating time and labor to otherwise improve the play area.
Construction work on Phase
III of Bond projects
This summer you
will notice construction and renovation going on in some of our buildings.
Classrooms are being renovated in the back portion of the high school, along
with new boilers, and replacement of other deficiencies. There will be locker
room renovations for both boys and girls athletic activities as well as a new swimming
pool girls locker room which will have a fresh look in the fall for the
students’ return. These renovations are
all a part of the third phase of bond projects to be completed this summer.
GREEN MEDIA CENTER
Soon, you may begin
to see renovation at Green Media Center on Walnut Lake Road. At last night’s
Board of Education meeting, the board approved Greater West Bloomfield Cable
Communications Commission resolution for renovation work to be done on Green
Media Center. The general scope includes renovation of the interior of the
building to change wall locations, update restrooms for ADA compliance and
change interior finish materials. Mechanical and electrical upgrades, an
exterior ground mounted sign and also some designated parking spaces will be
included in this as well. This work is all being funded by the Greater West
Bloomfield Cable Communications Commission.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Academic Summer School
is going on at OLMS for students grades 9-12 in the fall of 2012, with
Principal Joey Spano overseeing the program. West Bloomfield Academic Summer
High School Program offers an opportunity for students to gain additional high school credit or recover credit during
the summer. For information call 248-865-4487.Enrichment programs abound through our Community Education programs, including academic programs, such as ACT Prep courses, fitness, educational and sports camps, along with our Day Camps. Go to www.wbsd.org and click on Community Education!
2012-2013 BUDGET
The
West Bloomfield School District Board of Education approved the budget for the
2012-13 school year last evening with a general fund surplus despite cuts in
funding from the state.
The
budget provides estimates of funding coming into the district of $64.6 million,
$2.4 million less than the 2011-12 amended budget. However, a 5.6 % decrease in
expenditures over the same time allows for an operating surplus of approximately$1.2
million.
The privatization of custodial and bussing services
is expected to save about $5 million over the next
three years.
The
general fund balance is expected to increase from just over $419,000 to just
under $1.6 million.
The
$8,646 per pupil foundation allowance, reduced by $470 per pupil last year by
the state legislature, continues to hurt revenue. Grants for "best
practices" designed to help recoup some of the losses have been reduced
this year from $100 to $52 per pupil for the 2012-13 school year.Taxable values are expected to decline as they have since 2007. In May, a 10-year, 1.5-mill building and site sinking fund millage proposal was approved by the board to be placed on the November 2012 general election ballot.
The board voted unanimously to adopt the budget on Monday evening.
THANK YOU!
As I attended my last
board meeting on Monday evening, and our board members had many kind ways of
saying goodbye to me, I had a chance to reflect on my time here as
Superintendent in the West Bloomfield School District. This community has been so amazing as we worked through some very difficult issues in the last few years. I have been privileged to have been able to serve the cabinet and staff that I have had to work with, and I think they are the finest to be found anywhere.
The children are the best in the world I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work on your behalf
The parents in this great community are second to none. I want to thank the parents who work so diligently for the district and for our children.
Lastly, I wish to thank our board of education for giving me the opportunity to return HOME and work with you on behalf of children. While our challenges have been many, together we all made a difference in this awesome community.
I am blessed to have been mentored by Dr. Seymour Gretchko and Dr. Gary Faber, so I give a special thanks to both of them. And finally, thank you from the bottom of my heart to my family who sacrificed so much so that I could do my work here. Thank you and bless you all.
