Bridgeport Township School Board Meeting February 23rd, 2015

On the agenda:
- The school board members went into a closed session to discuss several items, one of them being pending litigation at :50 in the video.
- Public Comments from Larry Brown, John Rhines, and the school lawyer Joe Urban, begin at 6:00 (I had to change my camera battery so I missed the first minute or so of Mr. Rhines comments)
 - Unfinished Business and Agenda Adjustments begins at 14:20
- Committee Reports - Finance and Technology Ad Hoc, begins at 15:45
- Brunkow Property Sale Discussion begins at 20:00
- Acting Superintendent Out Of State Conference Discussion/Approval begins at 28:06
- Moss Proposal - Technology begins at 37:40
- Policy Discussion begins at 43:40
- Board Resolution concerning discretionary spending begins at 45:35
- School Messenger updates for school board members begins at 50:24
- School Resource Officer and Electronic Devices In The School begins at 1:07:05
- Superintendent's Update begins about 1:17:50
- Board Member Comments begins at 1:35:26
After the comments the board went into closed session to discuss the Acting Superintendent Evaluation for Mrs. Selby

Yes Facebook, YouTube and other forms of media are powerful tools.  They put the truth and facts out there for all to see.  They shine a light in the darkest corners.  They are tools that can and should be used to make a positive impact in our society.  Who has been running this school system for years?   Has anyone actually been managing the day to day operations?  My impression is that it has been chaotic for years.  It seems that there has been a serious lack of communication, from top to bottom in the district.   Who has the ultimate responsibility for it?  Where does the buck stop? 

I look forward to the public comment period.  Mr. Brown is always informative.  He had some good news tonight. Carla Priest Hurd and other alumni and community members donated nine cases of paper to the schools.    It has been discussed in several previous meetings that the teachers were not being provided with the paper needed to perform their duties.  One teacher spoke later in the meeting that she does not have textbooks and she uses online sources for the curriculum so she has to print copies off to provide to the students.  There is talk of a future fundraising effort to help provide needed textbooks for the students.  It is great to see the community stepping forward and helping when needed.  The first priority should always be the students and doing whatever it takes to provide them with the needed resources to be successful. The teachers will hopefully always be given the support and resources they need.  If the teachers were not being given the paper they needed, then there WAS a paper shortage.  If word goes out to the community in the future that the teachers are not being given the paper they need again, I wouldn't be surprised if there was another paper drive.

John Rhines once again brings up very serious subjects.  I took a quick look through the Michigan Freedom Of Information Act and I didn’t see anything in there that says the school can require anyone requesting documents under the FOIA law to first sign a confidentiality agreement.   

Exactly what is the role of the school board?  Guess I will have to read the entire 990 pages of the Board of Education Policies manual to figure it out.  If the Superintendent Mr. Hill and/or any members of the school board have acted outside of the law or set policies, then perhaps they should be dismissed.
The lawyer for the school district says there will be a  communication going home with the students and posted on the districts website concerning issues that have been raised.  I look forward to reading it.

I was glad to see so much discussion and action by the members of the school board at tonight’s meeting.  Glad to see the members taking the bull by the horns so to say.  There are so many serious issues that need to be straightened out in this district.  Looking forward to seeing more action being taken by the board members in the future. 

LASTLY - I tip my hat to Mark My, a student at Bridgeport High School for the phenomenal job he did with raising the money to buy a much needed new drum set for the High School Pep Band!!

Brenda and Rusty Kind Of Night

Brenda Lee - You Don't Need Me For Anything Anymore (1969)

  

 

Brenda Lee - All Alone Am I (1963)

 

Dusty Springfield - YOU DON'T OWN ME

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

The Bridgeport High School Pep Band Needs Your Help

It would be great if members of our community could step up and help them get a new drum set.

 "The Bridgeport Spaulding High School Band is in desperate need of a new drum set. Our current drum-set has went through dozens of years and dozens of players, and is simply in no condition for performance anymore (due to our lack of funds in the music department). There are everything from cracks in cymbals/wooden body, to holes in 50% of the heads. Every single donation counts and we thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for your help/support and donations. Thank you :)"

http://www.gofundme.com/revivetheband

Bridgeport Township School Board Meeting February 9th, 2015

On tonight's agenda:
- Citizen Participation - public comments from John Rhines and Larry Brown, begins at :46 in the video
- Committee Reports begin at 12:40
- Student and Teacher Recognition begins at 20:20
- Minutes and Personnel Report begins at 30:19
- Priority School Quarterly Report begins at 30:59
- Acting Superintendent's Report begins at 34:45
- Board Member Comments begin at 44:03

Congratulations to the students and teachers for their well deserved awards!!  I was sorry to see that another long time teacher is leaving the schools.
Three board members were absent this evening, Dempsey Allen, Robert Lange and Jay Bruns.
John Rhines was the first speaker during the public comment period.  He had a list of questions and concerns he wanted to address.  He ran over the 3 minute time limit and was cut off before he could finish.  He had some very valid questions and points that should concern all parents and concerned residents.  These questions and concerns should be addressed publicly by the school board!
Larry Brown also spoke and there are still problems that sound like they are not being addressed.  He has some good points and good suggestions.  One of the problems they are still having is a paper shortage.  They need plain white printer paper.  Maybe there are individuals or businesses that could donate to help with the paper problem.

Winds Of Change Are Coming

Bridgeport Township Board Meeting February 3rd, 2015

On tonight's agenda was -
- Public Comments which begins at 3:15 in the video.
New Business:
1.  R-15-01 Policy for Review of Assessment Records begins at 6:29
2.  Township Board Meeting change for May election begins at 7:47
3.  Boards and Commission Appointments begins at 8:45
4.  Precinct 3 - Polling Place change begins at 10:03
5.  Fire Chief Nelson regarding fire truck begins at 11:50
Accounts Payable Checks discussion begins at 35:17
Board Comments begins at 37:22

"Best of Awards" presentated by the Birch Run / Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce January 14th, 2015

I was busy at the cup cake table so I sadly missed the introduction of our local area dignitaries by Mr. Mike Szukhent.
Video starts with the introduction of the newly crowned Miss Bridge Fest Chelsea Nedrow.
Inspirational Guest Speaker Eric Thomas segment starts at 7:02
Andy Suski, Chamber Chair, speaks at 32:30
The awards ceremony starts at 37:25

Bridgeport Township School Board Meeting January 26th, 2015

- Board Of Education Interviews And Appointment start at 2:35 in the video. (There was no microphone set up for the interviews and they may be hard to hear on the video. I suggest turning the volume up, especially for the second interview.)
- Personnel Report starts at 42:11
- Ad Hoc Committee discussion starts at 46:02
- Board And Superintendent Comments start at 49:07

I was surprised and disappointed by the decision of the school board for the new school board member that was voted in tonight.  There were three candidates on the schedule to be interviewed for the position.
First on the list was Suzanne Kasten-Schnell  but she did not show up for the meeting. 
Second was Tedi Morris, she showed up 1/2 hour late so she was the last one interviewed. 
Last on the list was Mr. John Rhines.  He was the first person interviewed tonight, it starts at about 2:40 in the video. It was obvious that he has put a lot of time and effort into getting involved with the schools and the problems they are facing.  He seems to be very knowledgeable about the school issues and the role of the school board and it's members.  I liked his answers to all of their questions of what his qualifications are and what he would bring to the school board, how he would handle things.  He definitely has the drive and energy to work towards the benefit of the students and the schools.  If I had been a school board member I would have voted for him without hesitation, and with confidence that it was the best decision for the students and the schools.  I have no doubt that his energy and drive would bring about action and perhaps some much needed change to the school board and the school system, but maybe they are not looking for someone with those qualifications.
The interview of Mrs. Morris starts at about 18:59 in the video.  Mrs. Morris seems like a very nice woman, she has previous education experience, her husband was a former school board member.  I was never convinced that she really wanted this position but she was elected by the school board members with a vote of 5 to 1.
There are so many problems facing the school system, and they did not happen overnight, they are not just the fault of the "previous administration".  Tonight's meeting left me feeling like it will be the same old same old.

To Rock The Boat Or Not

I was reminded this evening of a song from my youth and while looking for that song I came across a couple of other catchy tunes.  Rock The Boat - Don't Rock The Boat   
This world needs more people who are willing to rock that boat!

Skeewiff - Dont Rock The Boat

Rock The Boat 1974 Hues Corporation

Betty Grable & Dan Dailey - Don't Rock The Boat, Dear

Bridgeport Township DDA Board Meeting January 14th, 2015

On today's agenda -
SPECIAL ORDERS -
1. Reappointment of Members starts at 1:52 in the video
2. Election of Officers starts at 4:36
NEW BUSINESS -
1. 4800 Dixie Highway - Chris Psetas' Property Donation starts at 11:42
2. Land Bank Property - Dixie & Wiggen starts at 12:40
3. Cass River Clean Up Request - Parks & Recreation Director Bill Wheeler starts at 15:33
OLD BUSINESS -
1. Canoe Launch - Update starts at 19:30
2. GLDC - Update starts at 26:25
3. Beautification - Select Sub-committee starts at 32:12
4. Review of 4422 Williamson starts at 37:10
5. I-75 Billboard - Update starts at 41:21
6. 6137 Dixie Highway - Update starts at 42:40
7. Carpenter Plaza - Update starts at 45:15
DDA Coordinator's Report starts at 47:25
The next DDA Board Meeting will be held on February 25th, 2015