Archive - Sep 9, 2009

Tecumseh’s varsity swim and dive team swam circles around visiting Plymouth on Thursday, Sept. 3, during the Indians’ return to a newly refurbished community pool. The Indians recorded seven state qualifying times during the home event. Tecumseh senior Diana Brown (above, right) won the first heat of the 100-freestyle. She finished seventh overall in the event while teammate Rachel Waite (not pictured) placed first with a state cut time. See sports for complete story.

Tecumseh Public Schools did the right thing recently by installing a fence along the southeast border of the high school property by Brookside Cemetery. Some students are using the cemetery as a parking lot to attend classes at THS, and reports of vandalism and students jumping off monuments have been made.

City Manager Kevin Welch said the gate will remain closed until assurances can be made that such activity can be minimized.

We agree and hope that real efforts are made so that the gate can be re-opened to the public. The pathway is very popular with residents of all ages, paid for through tax dollars, and is an asset to the community.

City Council may need to consider an ordinance to prohibit parking by the students; the gate may need to be closed when crowds are expected at the high school; and additional police surveillance of the cemetery may be necessary.

To the Editor,

Recently, a fence was installed between the Tecumseh High School and the south western side of the Brookside Cemetery. This fence was installed through the cooperation of the Tecumseh School District and is intended to restrict pedestrian traffic between the two properties.  Recently, the City also modified the Cemetery Ordinance to close the cemetery between dusk and 5 a.m.

The need for the fence, ordinance change and the impediment to pedestrian traffic is unfortunate, but protecting the cemetery grounds is paramount.  The Cemetery is intended to be a peaceful place for mourners to reflect.  The trail was originally installed with the thought that walkers would quietly pass through the cemetery.  The vast majority of walkers honor this thought, but a few have not been so thoughtful and treat the cemetery with little respect.

There have been a number of occurrences over the past few years that have resulted in damage to headstones by vandals as well as general disrespect to the grounds.  At times, the cemetery grounds were utilized as a parking area, apparently to avoid the high school parking lot. In addition, insensitive individuals have also used headstones as playground equipment as they walked from the high school to N. Union.  We have witnessed individuals jumping off the headstones.

The Tecumseh School District and the City will continue to work together to protect the cemetery.  The gate will unfortunately need to remain locked until such time that we can be reasonably assured that damage will not occur and the disrespect to the grounds is minimized.

 Kevin Welch
City Manager
City of Tecumseh

To the Editor,

In less than 30 days a new State budget must be in place for the next fiscal year. The budget decisions facing the legislature and administration are gut wrenching and boil down to matter of priorities.  How our legislators prioritize next year’s spending will shape the future for all of us. If Michigan is to survive and thrive in the 21st century, young children must be one of Lansing’s priorities.

Every cost analysis of early childhood programs shows the benefits far outweigh the cost. Other industrialized countries around the world already recognize the connection between a strong economic future and giving children a strong start.  It is imperative that Michigan reset its priorities for the future.

Legislators must lead the way by spending wisely. Please contact your representative and ask them to vote to maintain early childhood programs and move Michigan forward: State Representative Dudley Spade, dspade@house.mi.gov; State Senator Cameron Brown, senebrown@senate.michigan.gov.

Margaret Gross, Director
Lenawee Great Start

To the Editor,

The Library of Michigan is more than a building.  It is the visionary leader of the library community.  It is the visual representation of how libraries have collaborated to become more efficient and cost effective. But these successes are being ignored by the Michigan Senate in their budget and the debate swirling around  Governor Jennifer M. Granholm’s  Executive Order.

Under the tremendous vision and leadership of the State Library of Michigan, the library community – universities, community colleges, public, private, k-12, special libraries – all joined together to do what government only dreams about.   They united to achieve statewide group purchasing and resource sharing,  saving millions of dollars for libraries across the state benefitting all Michigan residents.  They created the MeLibrary  (MeL.org) – rich online research tools for faculty, small business, and job seekers , MeL Tests and Tutorials – filled with online AP,  GED, police, fire and nursing certification tests and more,  and MeLCat, a statewide interlibrary loan system.  

The Senate passed budget calls for slashing library funding to $7.5 million even though state law calls for it to be funded at approximately $15.4 million.  If this budget is enacted, the entire statewide resource sharing and interlibrary loan system could collapse, eliminating the savings realized through group purchasing.  

This system gives every Michigan resident access to expensive resources from their home, office, school,  or library at tremendous cost savings to the taxpayers - $72 million a year.  This system enables libraries to share books, CDs, DVDs and more from other communities.  This model  should be replicated for collaboration, cost savings and efficiencies – not broken up.  

By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT

Education Yes report cards for area school districts were released last week. Britton-Macon Area School and Clinton Community Schools received passing grades as did all Tecumseh Schools, although Tecumseh High School has been listed as not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

The Tecumseh elementary schools received A grades as did the middle school. The release shows that while the high school received a B grade, it was “identified for improvement” for students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students and that is what is keeping the school from meeting AYP. Supt. Mike McAran said that 219 of 231 students in the general population were assessed and met the goal of passing, but that the students in the sub groups, which includes 54 students with disabilities and 30 economically disadvantaged students, did not and that reflects on the whole school.
Britton-Macon Area School received a B. Supt. Chuck Pelham said the school will always be assessed with a B because of the old portion of the building not being handicap accessible. “We make accommodations and work with the parents, but when we are asked if the building is handicapped accessible we have to say no and that’s why we never move up to an A,” he said.

He said student performance and school performance are on track. “Everything else is acceptable and meets AYP. I think that it’s a combination of everyone in the entire district. Everyone here works very well together. We have good community support and we’ve got good curriculum development, so we are meeting all of our goals,” he said.
Clinton Community Schools received A grades in the elementary and middle school and a B in the high school and has met AYP for all schools. “Our staff, students and parents are all to be credited for our continued success on achieving Annual Yearly Progress,” said Supt. David Pray.