As a school board member, she said, she would first and foremost listen to parents, teachers and students. float: right; Angie Smith - Farmington Public Schools Michael Swiecki - Wyandotte Public . . Smith: RETAINING OUR EXCELLENT STAFF. We have tremendous momentum right now and Im excited about the direction we are moving in. "Mr. Johnson cited that he was resigning with deep regretand could no longer serve due to the constant dysfunctional behavior of two board members," the district said. .widget-row.Republican { 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. Olson: Some of the attributes that make me qualified to be a school board member include being a parent of 4 kids in the district, a taxpayer in the district, and my strong business acumen. Dr. Blau currently holds Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral degrees in Education as well as a second Masters degree in psychology. 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. School board members agreed its roleis to manage the superintendent and let him or her run the day-to-day operations of the district. The district paid Herrera a $105,000 buyout,and the district continues to pay his six-figure salary through June as his replacement is hired. Having achieved that, today, I am interested in being re-elected because I want to continue the progress the district has made recently in efforts to engage every student in a quality learning experience so that they can achieve their full potential. 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. .widget-row.Green { Smith, a 12-year member of the council, did not register as a candidate for the Nov. 8 election by the Tuesday deadline, according to the website of the Minnesota Secretary of State. He'll receive a $105,000 severance. 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. ", The larger problem she sees is a disconnect between the school board and the community. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) Farmington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Herrera has resigned from his position, allegedly following allegations of racism toward Black students and staff in the district from another board member. 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. Incumbent Terri Ann Weems ran against challengers Donald David, Clark Doughty, Bruce Lilley, William Lubaway, Tammy Luty, Ed Richardson, Tera Shamey, Angie Smith, and James Stark for the six-year terms. Smith said she has talked to teachers at the high school level who want to move back to semesters from the current trimester scheduling, a move she would support. Questions or Comments? Herrera had recently filed a complaint against board secretary Angie Smith for harassment, district officials said in a statement. Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. "Dr. Robert Herrera indicated a desire to resign his employment with the district," Green said. The Farmington School Board approved a "Communicable Disease Plan" Tuesday evening. "I'm not happy about this because of how it affects our district. 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. font-weight: bold; She's been involved with the PTA, Women of Tomorrow and her homeowners association. The issue was so upsetting to Green and board Vice President Terry Johnson that they resigned. The percentage of people below poverty level was 10.0 percent for the county, while it was 16.2 percent statewide.[7]. I support in-house relations opposed to resourcing out, revisiting this would be major for me, so I would have a meeting of the minds of all stake holders, to keep from this happening again. $('span#sw-emailmask-152').replaceWith(''); Upcoming Agenda: The next regular meeting is Monday, March 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. Angie Smith is on Facebook. According to 2019 U.S. Census data, Farmington Hills is 62.7% white, 19.9% Black and 14.1% Asian. There was a problem saving your notification. . Evidence seems to indicate that parents seek schools of choice or charter schools or home schooling when a district ceases to provide an excellent education to all students. ROBERT DEAN Former MI State Representative, District 75 DORIS BURKS TAYLOR Given the emergency timeframe, there were serious shortcomings in online education delivery. Student enrollment has had a nearly 25% reduction in less than a decade. MINUTES 3 Michael Swiecki - Wyandotte Public Schools Regina . Heitsch did not respond to multiple interview requests. 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. One action local districts can take to address diversity, equity and inclusion is to evaluate teaching materials to ensure materials represent diverse perspectives and content, represent a range of voices, and are culturally responsive. Ayes: 4 Dr. Ruskin, Mr. Mena, Mr. Cook, and Mr. Smith . width: 250px; Two other board members also resigned. After the superintendent's resignation, the board passed a resolution censuring Smith, who has been a school board member since 2016. Not indoctrination.. I support schools of choice because it forces each school to consider how they must be constantly improving, to be a viable choice for those parents and caregivers. Weems: Mental health is a huge issue facing not just our district, but the whole nation. $(document).ready(function () { A statement read by board president Pam Green at Monday'smeeting, at which she,Trustee Terry Johnson and Superintendent Robert Herreraannounced their departures, cited Smith'spublic statements and social media posts that allegedHerrrera was against African American students and staff in submitting his resignation. } She worked for Detroit Public Schools for 8 years in the Special Education Department as a trainable aide grade 1. Angie Smith (Farmington Public School District, Michigan) - Google News. 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. Voters will also choose one candidate for a two-year term. Those completed goals come at the expense of Academic Excellence. All Board Meeting videos can be found by searching or subscribing to Farmington Central 265 on YouTube. Weems: The last few years have been extremely challenging, especially in our district. 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.). Guide. Jim Stark, a former board president,resigned in 2018 for similar reasons. Backup QB C.J. width: 100%; We can urgently move forward to improve outcomes for those in need. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Angie Smith Vice President of the Farmington Public School Board angie.smith@fpsk12.net Brief Biography Yolanda Smith Oakland County Commissioner D17, and Realtor Brief Biography Nicole Wells Stallworth WONF Directory and Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan nicolewellsstallworth@gmail.com Brief Biography Shelley Taub 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. Effective November 2016, all terms will be for six years. ", 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper, 'Dysfunction' blamed for loss of Farmington's top three school officials. State executives | Follow her on Twitter@shelby_tankk. font-size: .9em; Its the spreading rumors, the gossip and her attacks on different staff members.. var encodedEmail = swrot13('pynhqvn.urvaevpu@scfx12.arg'); Zach is actively involved with the Northern Guard Supporters and is a co-owner of Detroit City Football Club. .widget-img { It is not clear what kind of safety measures will be in place due to the ongoing pandemic. Smith won the seat in the at-large general election on November 8, 2016. How to vote | Smith: We should be focusing on the transition back to in person learning and the SEL initiatives for staff and students. "We had steps in place. Recruitment, vetting, and training are expensive propositions. ", On the flip side, parents have to be connected with their children's schools and teachers. font-size: 1.2em; Email: [8], Oakland County outperformed Michigan as a whole in terms of higher education achievement from 2010 to 2014. He's been involved with the Judson Center, United States Marine Corps, Grace Centers of Hope, Woman At Risk and Another Way Pregnancy Center. var encodedEmail = swrot13('greev.jrrzf@scfx12.arg'); During a special meeting held with the school board Monday evening and streamed on YouTube, a motion was made to amend the agenda to include consideration of entering into a resignation agreement with the superintendent. I have lived in this community. 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. Our schools also reflect the richly diverse community we live in. Angie Smith has served on the school board since 2017. FARMINGTON, Mich. As the chaos surrounding the Farmington school board continues, the superintendent and two board members resigned during an explosive, emotional meeting. The six-member Board is also responsible for hiring a superintendent to administer the District's educational program and carryout Board policies, and for setting an annual budget that ensures proper and effective use of public funds. color: white; var encodedEmail = swrot13('mnpu.evpu@scfx12.arg'); 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. She has resided in Farmington Hills for over 20 years and was involved in her daughters' academics and extracurricular activities. We were founded on the Declaration of Independence..
} It is creating an unsafe working environment for employees, creating a divide in the community and likely fueling recall efforts.. Board president, vice president also resign. During the Pandemic, numerous other schools were a much better fit for their students, and as a result FPS enrollment suffered. Dr. Herrera was appointed as superintendent in 2019. As a school board member, she said, she would first and foremost listen to parents, teachers and students. FPS Superintendent Chris Delgado said he supports the DEI program. I could not emotionally continue, Green said. background-color: #f9d334; Applicants can submit their resume, letter of intent, and three letters of reference here. Herrera had filed a harassment claim against Smith,which she said citeda "hostile work environment." color: white; Drawing upon current neuroscience about how the brain learns best, Dr. Blau specializes in creating highly engaging, interactive, experiential lessons designed to bring the curricular content to life for students so that they will connect meaningfully and deeply with what they learn. 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. Board members should have had a longer community conversation around the sale, she said, adding, "People are afraid now, and they are angry. AP source: Rams parting ways with LB Bobby Wagner Feb. 23, 2023 06:10 PM EST. Smith earned her bachelor's degree from Wayne State University. The Board is responsible for curricular and financial decision made by the District. | Board members are accountable to the parents and residents of the district and should be transparent in the decision-making process. I can speak," she said. 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). "I would never discredit any of my board members, past or present let alone the superintendent," she said. $('span#sw-emailmask-157').replaceWith(''); Inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies should be directed to: Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, 32500 Shiawassee, Farmington, MI 48336. Board Meeting Details. Spotlight Junior Players proudly presents Disney's "Aladdin Jr" for ONE weekend ONLY! Angie has also served the District as a Building PTA President, PTA Council president, PTA State Region D Representative, and Co-Chair of the Farmington/Farmington Hills MCMR MLK Walk. 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. But there is more work to do. 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. Email: Smith believes school officials have "lost touch" with the community, and as an example, cites the to the Islamic Cultural Association earlier this year. Weems said she and Smith are on good footing nowbut acknowledged the twohave faced issues in the past. Olson: One tangible action would be to explore proven programs that improve student-teacher relationships. Though different factions present different reasons for Heitschs retirement, all say he left the district sooner than he wanted to because of board dysfunction. Within 10 days of becoming a candidate, candidates must form a candidate committee. I love these kids, and Farmington just lost an amazing superintendent.. When you see a staff member having to buy groceries with a Bridge card, that troubles me," she said. } Im very vocal and Im very passionate about what I do and who I do it for, she said. George Heitschs retirement was premature. It never stops. For subscribers: 'Dysfunction' blamed for loss of Farmington's top three school officials. [1][6], Farmington Public School District is located in Oakland County in southeastern Michigan. There is an opportunity to enhance outcomes for these learners. Former Farmington High Music Trustees, and Marching Band mom. Weems pointed to the boards decisions regarding in-person learning as evidence of that. Due to retirements and other issues, we have lost quality staff members. background-color: #f9f9f9; 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. color: white; } Its really unfortunatethat weve actuallygotten to a positionwhere we cant even disagree without beingdisagreeable. State and local courts | background-color: white; .infobox { Pam Green, a former board president who resigned last November, said she never knew the board without problems amongst itself. Infighting wasfueled by big egos and big personalitiesandultimately pulled the board'sattention away from their primary focus: students, those critics say. She earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, a Master of Education from the University of Phoenix, and a Michigan teacher certification. Farmington Public Schools shall not discriminate against an person based on race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, height, weight, or marital status in any of its programs, services, activities or employment. background-color: grey; Take a sneak peek inside, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Farmington Hills resident Angie Smith has been a resident for almost 14 years, and daughters Nanesha, 23, Jasmine, 19, and Asha, 13, have all attended Farmington schools. .widget-row.Democratic { SuperintendentBob Herrerafiled a harassment complaint against a school board member shortly before his resignation, which came just 18 months after the school board hired him. Walker: IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) funding. I chair the Communications/Community Engagement committee and work on the Legislation committee for our board. EDUCATION COMMUNITY. font-weight: bold; Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade. "It's really unfortunate that we've actually gotten to a position where we can't even disagree without being disagreeable We need some real change in this district and we need to hold people accountable," he said. We need to give racism the death it truly deserves and stop CRT and teach our kids the right values and the right history and that we do live in the greatest country in the world, Macfarland told The Center Square in an interview. Claudia retired in 2015 after a 40 year career in education, teaching high school mathematics at Riverside High School in North Dearborn Heights, Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, and Stevenson High School in Livonia. Terri is an active member of her community. A resolution also passed to censure Smith. School board members set overall district policy and manages the district superintendent, in this case Superintendent Christopher Delgado, who oversees day-to-day operations. She runs a nonprofit and was formerly a financial advisor. Post-election reports were due by December 8, 2016. I understand the complex issues and pressures facing public schools and have extensive experience in effectively solving public problems at the local level. 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. Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Neither Smith nor Herrera immediately responded to requests for comment after the meeting Monday night. 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. The Michigan Education Association has given Andy Levin a "Highly Qualified" rating in his run for the 9th Congressional District seat. var encodedEmail = swrot13('qbanyq.jnyxre@scfx12.arg'); Farmington Public Schools will continue to serve the students and families well in our community; the District has a strong leadership team that will continue to move the District forward.. 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. Carr: Careful review of issues related to the delivery of excellence in education to all students tends to result in these types of discussions. Another area of attention that must be addressed is the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers and support staff that serve the district. The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will take place on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 6:00 pm. We can continue to improve on that by thinking innovatively about how we provide our education services and marketing all of the wonderful options for learning and engagement we have to offer. For example, the auditorium was divided into masked and non-masked sections. Bjorn Olson is looking to hold office for the first time. Curricular transparency and accountability to parents remains on the public radar but has not received adequate support from the Board. This was like Mean Girls.. The reasoning was cited as "conduct unbecoming of a board member," and was based on Smith's social media posts, which members agreed interfered with the superintendent's ability to perform his duties, among other things, a release states. Previously, he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi.