Archive - Mar 2009

We are all aware that the school system has made some odd changes in the recent past, one of them being the return to a single valedictorian and salutatorian.  For years at graduation, the school awarded every student with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher the title of valedictorian; a title which colleges raise an eyebrow to and smile.  I am a senior now, but ever since my freshman year, I have worked unbelievably hard to maintain a 4.0 to receive that prestigious title.  But now, to my disappointment, I learn that the year I graduate is the year they return to the single valedictorian system.  

I can not count the complaints I have heard from fellow peers who feel they are not getting the proper recognition they deserve for going above what is expected of the normal student.  The most frustrated students are like me; the ones who have taken multiple AP courses (like the class I am writing this for) their senior year to raise their G.P.A.s just a few fractions of a point above a 4.0.  They all have put in extra effort to handle the work load given to them over the summer and on into the school year and they need some kind of recognition.

I, in no way, however, mean to denounce the two sisters who won the titles this year; Sam and Jordan Harrison.  These two truly deserve the honor and I was not surprised when they announced the recipients.  Not only are they gifted academically, but they do it all on top of running cross country and track and the other clubs they are a part of.  There are not two other harder working individuals that have earned these positions more than the Harrisons.  The fact that these two have achieved these positions is not my problem.  I just feel that the school is not fully recognizing those students who have worked extremely hard to maintain a 4.0 G.P.A. or above.  There needs to be a way these students can stand out and not just blend in with the crowd at graduation.

At last night’s Tecumseh School Board meeting I stated my belief that the bleacher and track problems could be solved at the existing middle school site for about $1,000,000 rather than the $2,100,000 partial cost of the presently approved plan.  My proposal includes a state of the art track, which I now understand is urgently and immediately required either at the middle school or at the high school.

Here are the facts, as I understand them from Mr. Wright and Mr. McAran and, following those facts, the unanswered questions I urge all school board members to address objectively and aggressively before writing checks over the next few months for $1,135,000.

Faced with a planned school budget deficit of nearly $500,000 for 2009-2010 and an acknowledged possible deficit of up to $1,500,000, I believe such an aggressive final review is the board’s fiduciary responsibility before proceeding.

Costs for replacing the existing condemned stands with a like number of stands (1400)

• Removal of existing stands: $35,000 or less
• Cost of new stands: ($240 x 1400)    $336,000        
• Hillside preparation for new stands: $150,000

Mr. McAran and Mr. Wright told me a new state requirement instituted in June 2008 requires one parking space for every five stadium seats located on school property.  The Assistant Chief, Buildings Division, Bureau of Construction Codes, State of Michigan, Charlie Curtis, informed me today by phone that no such construction code exists. I am awaiting information from Carol Eaflick, school law attorney in the State Department of Education with details of any such new requirement.

The office of Michael Flanagan, State Superintendent of Education referred me to her and assured me she would provide a definitive response.

I do not think the new sports complex will be ready for the 2009 season. I do not figure the old field will be ready either!

Like the track team we must assume all games will be away. Will the school waive the pay to play fees? I refuse to pay this money and I have boys in the program, if this would be the situation.

The football program is the most demanding of all sports at THS: nine months of weight training, forced to run track, you must have a note if you miss off season training, etc... The 2008 season had 15 seniors on the team and it looks like only 12 juniors will be playing next year as seniors. Think about that, 12 seniors from a class of 200?
The school board needs to give back to these young men who have given up much to represent the school and this town. I felt sad for those seniors who played their last high school football game at E.M.U. instead of Indian Stadium in front of a packed house and it looks like this will happen again this next year.

I think the school board needs to be reminded of school spirit and community pride. The only way to show that pride to all of us is by having a home field this fall (NEW OR OLD)!

Mike Bailey
Tecumseh

I’ve seen many bright spots in Lenawee County during these difficult economic times.  You’ll see them, too, when you look at the children in our communities who represent the future.  

More than ever, economic success is tied to educational opportunity. Add to this our understanding of brain development that shows children learn more before their third birthday than during any other time in their life.  This means a strong future for our community requires that all children have the opportunity to access early learning experiences.

Lenawee Great Start is working toward all children starting school safe, healthy and ready to succeed. During the next several weeks Great Start will be holding community conversations. These last 45 minutes include childcare and offer a Consumer’s Energy gift certificate for a door prize. Most importantly they offer our community a chance to come together to talk about how we can support the healthy development of our children. Visit www.lenaweegreatstart.org for a complete listing of focus groups.
I encourage you to help us build a bright future by attending a group near you.

Roger Ferguson
United Bank & Trust

Lenawee County is blessed in so many ways, particularly in the area of volunteerism.  There are numerous opportunities that cover a spectrum of interests.

The Lenawee Great Start Collaborative is a group of mostly volunteers focused on zero to five year olds whose future is greatly influenced by the environment they experience during those early years.  As a member of the Collaborative I have come to better understand the vital difference made developmentally for children whose early childhood years include an environment of learning, love and nurturing from parents and caregivers.  
The learning process can not begin too early if we want our future generations to succeed exponentially and lead the global economy in the right direction.  

Through my work I have the opportunity to work with several local high schools to do mock employment interviews with juniors and seniors.  One of the questions posed is, “If you could start your life over, what one thing would you do differently?”  On many occasions the answer has been a very somber one.  “I would have taken my education more seriously at a much younger age.”

If our community comes together to make children an urgent priority, we can change that answer and change the future.  

Susan Smith
Adrian

Oppressed, verbally abused, branded like common farm animals and treated similarly, as a tenth grader at Tecumseh High School, I should know nothing of these feelings, but I do. I know all too much about them, as do the others in my school.

Let me paint you a picture, our hallway security guard, Mr. Morris. His job is to point at particular students whom he sees without an I.D. card and send them to the office. From the office, they are either charged five dollars to buy a replacement I.D. card or sent home. So, our choices are to spend our lunch money and not eat, or miss a whole day of school. This shows blatant disregard for education. Forget your I.D. card twice, and we are written up. They would rather we miss class than not have a piece of plastic around our neck. Class time, as we all know, is nearly impossible to make up.

While Mr. Morris sends some forgetful kid to the office, right behind him is a girl vandalizing my locker. When I saw this, I filed a report to the main office. It is my personal belief that somebody spit their gum out on this report, because they didn’t erase the words on my locker. For four whole weeks my locker said the “c” word, slut and whore. For four weeks they didn’t want to clean off this vulgar, unnecessary display of the girl’s attitude. When they did attempt to wash the words off, they were, and are, still visible on my locker. This is proof that to them I.D. cards will always take precedence over real issues, like bullying, slander and abuse.