There will be something for everyone as downtown Clarkston streets are closed and packed with food, music and other activities.

The 26th annual Taste of Clarkston is noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept 29.

People can sample authentic Italian pasta, barbecue, or innovative fusion cuisine while walking the streets and checking out local storefronts.

Taste of Clarkston originated in Bay Court Park, but has since taken over downtown each year to show off local restaurants and cafes, as well as other local vendors.

“The whole point is to feature restaurants that are local to Clarkston,”  said Clarkston Chamber of Commerce Marketing and Membership Manager Kate Masters. “It gives people samples of the menus that these restaurants that are very well known, some even nationally, offer.”

People can purchase 10 tickets for $10 and redeem them at the different restaurants who usually have four to five items to sample.

There will be local bands playing throughout the day, two caricature artists and a kids zone. The Clarkston Rotary Club will have a beer and wine tent and The Clarkston Optimist’s Club will have an Oktoberfest themed beer tent. A local Corvette Club will also be showing off over 40 of their classic cars.

“We try to make the event all encompassing with activities for families and everyone of any age can enjoy throughout the day,” said Masters. “It should be a really good time for everyone.”

“All of our musicians are from the area and we love to be able to feature them,” said Chamber Executive Director Kendal Penny Petzold. “The music has always been something that has been an element of the Taste of Clarkston and it is great to be able to feature local musicians that play throughout different events throughout the year for us as well.”

There are still openings for volunteer shifts starting at 6 a.m. when the streets shut down for set up all the way through the end of the day.

The Chamber partners with The City of the Village of Clarkston and Independence Township Park and Recreation to put on the event each year.

For more information on the event go to: https://business.clarkston.org/events/details/26th-annual-taste-of-clarkston-1799

 

 

 

A foundational piece of the Birmingham school district turns 100 years old this month.

Pierce was built in 1924 and 200 elementary students began filling its classrooms in 1925. The Village of Birmingham would not officially become a city until 1933, but the school was part of a population boom in the early 20th century. It’s longevity will be celebrated at an event later this month.

“Demand for homes was skyrocketing and people were looking outside of major cities like Detroit and Pontiac and moving to smaller villages like Birmingham,” said Birmingham Museum Specialist Caitlin Donnelly.

Even after two additions to the building in the 1940’s and 1990’s, the building has remained in continuous use as an elementary school that now has 560 students filling its 26 classrooms.

“There have been a lot of changes, but the district has really tried to restore a lot of the original floors and woodwork in the building,” said Principal Kate Trudel. “Everything is just like any other building in the district.”

Pierce has all the necessary modern amenities, but with floor-to ceiling windows, wide, spacious staircases and wood columns, something not found in modern school architecture.

“There are a lot of little quirks in the building that would not occur in modern buildings today,” said Trudel.

Among those quirks is a second floor gym situated above the school library and a Flint Faience tiled fireplace used to help heat the building that has been sealed off, but is still in one of the Pierce classrooms.

The school was built on land formerly owned by Benjamin Kendrick Pierce, brother of 14th U.S. President Franklin Pierce. He was a Union soldier who served at Fort Mackinac and purchased the 60 acre piece of land in 1819.

Two other schools, the Adams school and Quarton Elementary, were built during the same decade, helping to establish an academic foundation in the district.

“Birmingham since the late 1850’s has had a strong public education system,” said Donnelly. “Even though it was a small village, all the parents in the community thought it was valuable to have good public schools.”

Adams closed in 1980, and is now occupied by (private) the Roeper School. Quarton will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2027. Like Pierce, Quarton has continuously operated as a pre-K through 5th grade public school since it was built.

After Pierce added a new wing in the mid-’90s, students from Midvale Elementary moved over and the school mascot was changed from the Pandas to the Panthers.  Midvale was repurposed in 1995 as the Early Childhood Center and the senior center now called NEXT.

Trudel said Pierce looks and feels historic, but without appearing like the changes and additions are unnatural or awkward.

“It was developed and expanded logically and works for modern educational needs,” said Trudel. “It is a wonderful experience for our students and a great legacy to carry on for the future.”

Pierce is one of five schools in the district built before 1958 that are still in use.

“It is a testament to how much people in Birmingham love their school district that you have two very old buildings (Pierce and Quarton) that have been maintained and have been loved for this long,” said Donnelly.

The centennial celebration will be from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the school located at 1829 Pierce St. in Birmingham.

 

 

 

After a lengthy public meeting Tuesday night, the Rochester board of education approved a three-year teacher contract despite concerns its language would pit educators against parents..

The board voted 5-2 in favor of the contract, agreed to on Aug. 1 and ratified by the Rochester Education Association on Aug. 29. Trustees Michael Weaver and Carol Beth Litkouhi voted against approval.

The new contract comes after 21 negotiation sessions and 120 work sessions between the union and the district starting back in February.

The district forecasts additional costs of $33 million over the next 3 years.

“As shortages in the workforce continue to challenge many industries, I believe this long-term contract will prove pivotal in providing increased stability for our organization,” said Superintendent Nicholas Russo. “Today’s contract approval demonstrates how our Rochester Community Schools board of education and our leadership team value our dedicated teachers.”

Some of the contract details include:

a reduction of the salary step schedule from 18 to 15 steps;
increases in base salary by three percent in year one, three percent in year two, and $2,000 in year three;
increases in longevity pay;
mutually agreeable language on formerly prohibited subjects of bargaining such as teacher evaluations, layoffs and recalls, teacher placement and teacher rights;
Several stipend increases in a variety of areas

“This contract, from a financial standpoint, still does not pay you what you are worth, but it is a needed increase for our teachers,” said board President Michelle Bueltel.

The high school auditorium was packed by teachers, parents and students concerned that contradictory language in the contract would limit teachers in the classroom.

“Academic freedom must align with curriculum, administrative and board policies, but the following clause says that there shall be no limits on the presentation of ideas regarding humanity, society and the world,” said Litkouhi. “This opens the door for teachers to introduce personal or political views unrelated to the class, potentially without parents’ knowledge.”

She added, “The union’s push to enshrine this right may protect those individual teachers, but it inadvertently undermines parental legal rights to direct their children’s education, which is established by Michigan Law. This language will only serve to heighten tensions between parents and teachers.”

Trustee Jayson Blake and Treasurer Julie Alspach responded that language in other areas of the contract would not allow teachers to provide their students with points of view that do not conform with the curriculum, subject or maturity level and take “academic freedom” past the contract’s framework.

“There are a number of provisions in here that are just being ignored because, I guess, there is this fear that the teachers are on this mission to teach children things that are inappropriate,” said Blake. “I don’t believe that. I trust the teachers.”

Some parents spoke out against having those provisions in the contract.

“The proposed language in the contract appears to propose a significant barrier between parents and the classroom,” said parent Catherine Agarwal. “It allows teachers to withhold classroom information from the parent. This agreement fundamentally shifts the balance of power away from parents and toward an unchecked academic freedom for teachers.”

She added, “This clause seems to provide teachers with near total immunity from the consequences of their actions in the classroom.”

“Both of the parties should go back and present a contract that takes out the vagueness of these sections,” said Weaver.  “If there are actual protections to be provided, add those protections so they are clear and transparent.”

Blake pointed out the new contract did come at a cost to the district, but did not go into detail.

“We agreed to go into our fund balance to try to make this an attractive contract,” said Blake. “We actually gave a number of how much we were willing to go and it ended up digging deeper than that, but I am OK with that because I think our staff is worth that.”

Elizabeth Schroeck, the union’s president, addressed language said to pit parents against teachers and that teachers will use the contract to communicate their own beliefs without parents’ knowledge.

“The teachers of the REA are smart, they are strong and they are clear-eyed,” Schroeck told the board and the audience. “They are tired of cultivated controversies sucking up their time and energy when they want to spend it with their students. Teachers want the peace and joy to return.”

The new contract will be publicly available on the RCS website once the agreement is signed and dated.

After a year of superintendent turnover in almost one-third of Oakland County school districts, only one remains without a permanent person in charge and no apparent process underway to hire a replacement.

Nine out of 28 districts saw their superintendent move on, retire or had interim superintendents. Eight of the nine have either hired full-time successors or are in the process of hiring replacements. Even the Oakland ISD saw Wanda Cook-Robinson replaced as superintendent within days of announcing her retirement this summer.

But almost nine months later, Pontiac is still without a permanent replacement and has not announced plans to find and hire one.

Kelley Williams was placed on leave in January and Kimberly Leverette was named interim superintendent. Based upon an Aug. 30 statement from the district, it appears that Williams’ time as superintendent is coming to an end.

“We are in the process of finalizing an operational review with Superintendent Kelley Williams and are cooperatively working out a smooth transition with her,” said Anisha Hannah, Pontiac’s school board president.. “The work that Interim Superintendent Kimberly Leverette has already contributed to the district has been outstanding. We are thrilled to have her lead Pontiac School District into the 2024-2025 school year.”

On Jan. 11, 2024 the district announced Williams has been placed on a leave until further notice.

Leverette said in a letter that the district “will not comment on personnel matters, therefore, no further comment will be made regarding Mrs. Williams’ leave.”

Williams served as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction before being named as interim superintendent to replace Brian Dougherty, who resigned from Pontiac schools in May 2013. One month later Williams was approved for the permanent position by the Pontiac school board.

Here is where the remainder of the districts stand with their superintendents:

BLOOMFIELD HILLS:

The school board selected Rick West to replace Pat Watson, who retired in July 2023 after parents and others called for his resignation over the district’s handling of a controversial diversity assembly.

West was deputy superintendent of the Troy School District before his selection in May.

Randy Liepa and Keith McDonald served as interim superintendents after Watson left.

FERNDALE:

Camille Hibbler was named the interim superintendent for the district following the Dec. 31, 2023 retirement of Superintendent Bobby Hayes Goodrum..The school board removed the interim title from HIbbler in March.

“It is with great excitement and eagerness that I embrace this opportunity to lead and make positive changes within our community,” Hibbler said in a statement after her selection. “I am eager to continue to collaborate with dedicated educators, parents and stakeholders to implement positive change and foster a nurturing environment for academic excellence.”

FARMINGTON:

The Farmington school board named Kelly Coffin as acting superintendent replacing Christopher Delgado at a special meeting in August..

“In regards to the superintendent vacancy, the board of education will discuss and take action to appoint Dr. Kelly Coffin,” the district said in a statement. “The board recognizes the current acting superintendent (Coffin) as an ideal candidate in providing the stability desired in the short term while the board conducts more extensive feedback in determining a permanent solution.”

Coffin, the former assistant superintendent of innovation and strategic initiatives, was named as interim on July 28 after Delgado accepted the position of deputy superintendent of the Oakland Schools Intermediate School District on July 9.

Coffin has been with the District since May 2020.

Delgado takes over for former Oakland ISD Deputy Superintendent Kenneth Gutman, who was named to succeed Wanda Cook-Robinson. She will retire Aug. 30; Gutman will take over on Aug. 31.

LAKE ORION:

Ben Kirby, who took over in July 2020, announced in March that he would take the same position in the Forest Hills Public School District in Grand Rapids. He started there July 1.

He began his career in the Ionia school district near Grand Rapids, where he grew up and worked in the district for 24 years.

On July 18 the Lake Orion school board selected Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Heidi Mercer to be the district’s new superintendent.

The 7-0 decision came after the board completed five first-round interviews.. Board members cited Mercer’s experience and familiarity with LOCS as a significant reason in forgoing finalist interviews.

Mercer had been in the district for 28 years and has served in a variety of roles, including the past 16 overseeing academics in the assistant superintendent position.

OXFORD:

Tanya Milligan was selected to take over as Oxford schools new superintendent in May after the district churned through four superintendents in just over two years.

Milligan, former executive director of K-12 learning of Columbus City Schools in Columbus, Ohio, took over on June 10 for Vicki Markavitch, whose interim superintendent contract expired on June 20.

Markavitch replaced Anita Qonja-Collins, former assistant superintendent of elementary instruction, who was named interim superintendent in November 2022.

Qonja-Collins replaced Ken Weaver, who took medical leave Nov. 22, 2022, and resigned Feb. 23, 2023.

Weaver was appointed as superintendent in March 2022, after former superintendent Tim Throne retired only months after the school shooting that saw four students shot to death and seven other people injured at Oxford High School.

ROCHESTER:

The Rochester school board chose Nicholas Russo as the district’s new superintendent in April.

He replaced former Superintendent Robert Shaner, who resigned in August 2023. Shaner served as the district’s superintendent for just over 10 years.

John Silveri was appointed interim superintendent after Shaner’s departure  and remained in the position until Russo was chosen in April..

Russo was previously assistant superintendent of human resources in the Walled Lake Consolidated School District.

“It is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Russo said on his first official day as superintendent on July 1.

WALLED LAKE:

The district made quick work of replacing former Superintendent John Bernia, who started as the head of Warren Consolidated Schools on July 1.Michael Lonze was appointed in late May to replace him

Lonze has served as  deputy superintendent and assistant superintendent of human resources in Walled Lake since 2018. He previously served in administrative and teaching positions with the Fraser ,Birmingham, and Oak Park school districts.

“I am deeply honored and immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next Superintendent of Walled Lake Schools,” said Lonze. “I am eager to work with the Board of Education, our staff members, and the community to continue to foster a supportive environment for students and staff while maintaining focus on our district’s goals.”

WATERFORD:

Superintendent Scott Lindberg announced is leaving the district on Dec. 31 after five years and the search for his replacement has already begun..

The Waterford school board is soliciting community input on the new superintendent. Residents of the district and parents are encouraged to participate in the process and can fill out a survey with their input at www.waterford.k12.mi.us.

“The Board of Education is excited to begin the search for the next superintendent of Waterford school district and hearing from our community is an important step in that process,” said Waterford School District Board of Education President Mike Ristich. “Participating in the input sessions or taking the survey is an opportunity for our community to help support the good work happening in our schools.”

Parents and community members are invited to share their perspectives at meetings to be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 4 and noon on Sept. 10 in room 103 at the Crary Campus.

OAKLAND ISD:

The countywide district didn’t take long to choose a successor to Superintendent Wanda Cook-Robinson, who announced her retirement in late August. She announced her plans in a letter to staff and the school board on April 2 and on April 3, Deputy Superintendent Kenneth Gutman was named to succeed her. He takes over on Aug. 31.

It’s beginning to look a lot like 2021 on the campus of Oakland University.

Three years ago classes were delayed two days when faculty went on strike after failing to  reach an agreement on a new contract. After this week’s latest bargaining session, the two sides appear to be heading down the same path.

During the mediator-led session on Thursday, OU offered the faculty, represented by the Oakland University American Association of University Professors (OU-AAUP), a contract which included more than 16% in salary increases over five years.

“All told, the offer includes more than a 21% increase in overall compensation over the life of the proposed five-year deal and reflects what OU believes is the best package it can offer without incurring systemic deficits moving forward,” OU said in a statement at the end of the session.

The union does not agree and the current contract is set to expire on Sept. 3.

“The employer continues to use unrealistically conservative budget projections to excuse their minimal and insufficient salary increases,” the faculty union said in their statement about negotiations. “Three years ago, the employer made similarly unrealistic budget projections to argue that adequately paying faculty was not possible.”

They added, “Rather than balanced budgets during those three years, revenues actually exceeded expenditures by over $80 million. Ultimately, these funds were added to Oakland’s reserves rather than funding market-appropriate compensation.”

The university did not address those figures in their statement, but the two sides appear far apart on salary increases over the proposed five-year contract.

OU PROPOSAL

Year 1: 4% merit pool, plus a one-time $1,000 lump sum payment
Year 2: 2.25% merit pool, plus $500,000 in market adjustments (bringing the total to 3.1% increase for the year)
Year 3: 2.25% merit pool, plus $500,000 in market adjustments (bringing the total to a 3.1% increase for the year)
Year 4: 2.75% merit pool
Year 5: 3% merit pool

AAUP PROPOSAL

Year 1: 4% merit raises + one-time payment of $5,000
Year 2: 3.75% merit raises + $850,000 market adjustment
Year 3: 3.50% merit raises + $850,000 market adjustment
Year 4: 3.25% merit raises
Year 5: 3.25% merit raises

AAUP Executive Director Amy Pollard said the union has done more than their share to find common ground on salary raises.

“We have come down way more than they have come up, there is no contest there,” said Pollard. “We have moved considerably more than the university has moved.”

The union is adamant the raises are necessary to overcome inflation, about 3% according to university budgeting, which have erased past pay increases.

“We’re dying the death of a thousand paper cuts,” union spokesperson Jeff Youngquist said. “For the last decade or more, we’ve taken raises so low that they’ve actually been real world pay cuts. Asking for 4% isn’t even a band-aid; it just means we won’t bleed more than we already are.”

AAUP negotiators point to Oakland’s tuition increases of 4.5% per year, as well as large increases in state funding in 2022 and 2023, arguing the university should invest proportionally in the people teaching the classes.

The union claims the faculty received average raises of only 1.25% over the last four years, incurring inflation-adjusted losses of an average $12,000 annually.

AAUP President Mike Latcha says the union is also concerned with universal workloads proposed by the university, which has been a main sticking point since negotiations began back in May.

In the past, faculty workloads were determined by each department to match the needs of students.

“Accountants work differently than nurses who work differently than people in theater, and the faculty in each unit would develop the workload within each unit,” Latcha said.

Since 2006 each department has had to submit an academic policy on their workload to be approved by the university and reviewed every five years.

Latcha said this year OU wanted the workload for special instructors, people typically assigned teaching and service roles, and professors of practice, a non-tenured teaching position, both designated as full-time faculty, to be uniform through every department on campus.

As an example, he said a uniform policy of requiring every special instructor to teach three classes per semester would be untenable based on which department they are teaching in.

“For instance, in engineering, we have a special instructor who teaches an introductory CAD class which has over 300 students in every section, so that person would only be able to teach two of those since the workload would be so massive,” Latcha explained. “To assume that person is teaching the same workload as someone who is teaching an introductory course in Spanish, with much smaller enrollment, that is simply not appropriate.”

The university said the latest proposal on union workloads was accepted, but the union denied that claim.

“The employer continues to propose changes to impose a uniform workload for full-time faculty,” the union said in an update on their website. “The union, likewise, insists that this an entirely unacceptable violation of a deeply held principle – that faculty remain the best caretakers of the work of faculty.”
Pollard said the union knew the university was looking to change that aspect of the contract before talks began.

“The university made it clear they were coming after workload for a year. We expected this and no version of their proposal has been acceptable to us,” said Pollard. “Workload has long been under the domain of the departments, because they understand the curriculum and they understand the best delivery method for their curriculum.”

She said there is a compromise to be had, but the cost is not an option for the union.

“The university has repeatedly indicated they are willing to give up on workload, but only if we agree to salary cuts,” said Pollard. “We are not willing to sacrifice workload provisions for anything.”

Both sides are scheduled to sit down again on Sept. 3 with the mediator, but Pollard said they would be willing to meet with the university this weekend without the mediator.

She also said the union has reached its limit on compromising.

“In order to ensure that our faculty have a fair and equitable contract, we just do not have any more room to move,” said Pollard. “By the end of their contract, we are again below inflation. We cannot have that contract.”

 

 

What was once seen as a serious issue for schools around the state is beginning to stabilize heading into the new school year, and Oakland County’s top school leader says more progress could be made locally.

A shortage of qualified teachers was a concern before the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in urban and rural communities and in certain subject areas, but Michigan Department of Education (MDE) officials shared new data during a recent State Board of Education meeting.

The number of certified early childhood teachers jumped 171% from the 2017-18 school year to 2023-24, while the number of certified teachers increased 60% for math, 53% for English as a Second Language and bilingual education, and 31% for science. Literacy-related teaching endorsements also increased 28% during that period.

But new Oakland ISD Superintendent Ken Gutman acknowledged there is still work to be done in Oakland County.

“The shortage is real, but we are starting to recover,” said Gutman. “We have groups like Talent Together, an alternative path to teacher certification program, that has really helped, but throughout the county we still have absences and future openings we can’t fill.”

Talent Together works to remove barriers to the teaching profession including cost, proximity, and complexity and has partnered with 56 Michigan Intermediate School Districts and is supported by the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative in collaboration with 18 colleges and universities.

“Talent Together has really helped fill (teacher) spots quickly and is doing a good job of addressing the teacher shortage,” said Gutman. “I do believe with teacher preparation programs being up by 50% over the last few years, plus Talent Together we are going to make a recovery over the next five or six years.”

“Efforts by local educators to address the challenge of teacher shortages are paying off,” said State Superintendent Michael Rice. “This work has been supported with increased funding from the legislature and Gov. Whitmer has been advocated for by the Michigan Department of Education and State Board of Education.”

After decreasing 59% from 2011-12 to 2016-17, enrollment in teacher preparation programs in Michigan has rebounded with an increase of 56% from 2016-17 to 2021-22.

Gutman said the rise in enrollment in teacher preparation programs has made a difference, but school districts have not fully recovered from the exodus of teachers a few years ago.

“It is beyond special education; there are key math positions, science positions and technical positions that are still tough to fill throughout the county, but I think that we are in a recovery mode,” said Gutman. “Teacher preparation programs are on the rise again to a small extent, so we are coming back from it.

“We are still in a position where we are not necessarily in crisis mode, but we still need teachers.”

In addition to attracting more prospective teachers in general, multiple educator preparation providers have increased access to students from historically underrepresented populations through focused scholarship and fellowship programs.

Over the last seven years, Michigan has attracted more Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino teachers to the profession.

According to the MDE, the number of Black teachers has increased by the equivalent of 1,317 full-time teachers. The number of Hispanic or Latino teachers has increased by the full-time equivalent of 216 positions.

“Research shows that all students – particularly students of color – benefit socially, emotionally, and academically when their schools have a diverse teacher workforce,” said Michele Harmala, deputy superintendent for the MDE. “I’m pleased by the progress we’ve made in this area, but we still have a lot of work to do in having a teacher workforce that’s as diverse as the students in our classrooms.”

The state began to address the issue through state funding in the past few years and enacted several programs to alleviate the shortage of teachers in the classroom.

In fiscal year 2020 and earlier, there was no money allocated in the State School Aid Act funding to address the teacher shortage.

In fiscal year 2023, there was $575 million in funding for a range of efforts to address the teacher shortage. Fiscal year 2024 funding to address the teacher shortage totaled over $448 million, while funding for fiscal year 2025 decreased to more than $100 million.

Efforts have included:

The MI Fellowship program, which provided $10,000 scholarships to 750 future educators in 2022-23 and to 2,447 prospective teachers in fiscal year 2023-24.
Stipends of $9,600 to 2,342 student teachers enrolled in eligible Michigan educator preparation programs in the 2022-23 academic year and to 2,667 student teachers in the 2023-24 academic year.
Student loan repayments that so far have awarded more than $19 million in reimbursements to 9,571 eligible participants in 546 school districts.
Reimbursements totaling $736,592 to 8,098 first-time takers of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification.
Tuition reimbursement to 211 special education teachers in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
The Future Proud Michigan Educator EXPLORE grants for school districts and charter schools to assist students who are interested in careers in education. Earlier this year, MDE awarded $747,227 to 25 school districts.
Grow Your Own programs throughout the state that assist local schools in encouraging their students to pursue careers in education and help non certified school staff become certified educators. This includes $129.8 million in grant funds from MDE to provide a no-cost pathway to reduce barriers and increase opportunities for support staff to obtain certification, with more awards pending.

According to a 2024 Education Policy Innovation Collaborative report, the numbers are promising for the future.

“The number of teachers earning their initial Michigan certification each year has been increasing, and at the same time, larger shares of newly certified teachers have started teaching in Michigan’s public schools shortly after earning their certification,” the report said.

A fire two weeks ago at Wood Creek Elementary in Farmington could force the school district to make drastic changes to the start of the school year on Aug. 26.

The fire started early Saturday, July 27, at the school off 12 Mile Road between Inkster and Middlebelt roads.

Firefighters responded to an alarm about 1 a.m. and found the blaze on the roof; it was contained to the outside of the building and there were no injuries, according to a release from the Farmington Hills Fire Department.

The Farmington school board addressed parents’ concerns at an Aug. 13 meeting.

“When something like this happens, it is a disaster,” said school board President Terri Weems. “It was not until folks got into the building and started cleaning about a week ago that they realized that maybe some of the damage could have been more extensive than was first thought.”

Due to fire damage, voters in precincts 11 and 12 were sent to the Costick Activities Center to vote for the Aug. 6 primary election, but now there are concerns the school will not be open when school starts.

Several parents expressed their opinions to the board about district transparency, the preliminary option of virtual learning and other issues.

“We were notified a couple of days ago by the principal, Mrs. Lewis, that they have not met inspections and it is not looking all that great for them to start Aug. 26,” said Roxann Ushman, who has a child entering fifth grade this fall. “We are here to express our concern with virtual (learning). We do not want it to go to virtual (learning).”

“We were under the impression that the school was going to be open,” said parent Jennifer Fowler. “Virtual learning just does not work at the elementary level.”

The district sent a letter to staff and parents on Aug. 14 explaining where the process of reopening stands.

“We are in contact daily with 360 Fire and Flood, the company hired to do the fire restoration work.  They have submitted the permit to re-open Wood Creek with the affected rooms blocked off from the rest of the school (a partial re-opening),” the letter said. ” We are doing everything possible to not have to start the school year virtually.”

The letter went on to say the district has not gotten a response to their permit application and laid out other options if the school is not ready to reopen by Aug. 26.

“We are exploring all options available to us including alternate in-person locations. We are looking at sites that can house all of our students,” the letter said.  “Unfortunately, we do not have space in our district to accommodate extra students and staff. We are exploring vacant real estate in Farmington and Farmington Hills as well as other locations.”

Wood Creek had 336 students enrolled last year.

“I do hear you on needing to make sure that there is some sort of end game because no one wants to be in a situation where we have the potential for virtual school for an extended period of time,” said Weems.

.

Four Oakland County school districts will receive state money for mental health and other services.

Funds from the Stronger Connections grant program can be used to provide student services and additional training to teachers and staff that may include:

Fostering safe, healthy, supportive, and drug-free environments;
Implementing safety and violence prevention programs;
Creating and implementing anti-bullying and harassment plans;
Developing and implementing positive and fair discipline policies and practices;

Implementing support systems to support and respond to student needs;
Increasing student access to mental health services.
Among the 74 districts around the state to receive part of the $20.4 million in grant funds were Oakland County districts:

Birmingham Public Schools – $24,490;
Madison District Public Schools – $19,028;
Oakland International Academy – $24,700;
Oxford Community Schools – $202,806.
“Improving the health, safety, and wellness of Michigan students is a critical goal of Michigan’s Strategic Top 10 education plan,” said State Superintendent Michael Rice. “These grants will make our schools safer and more supportive for our students.”

Grant funds are available in this award cycle from June 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2026

Teen use of nicotine e-cigarettes is rising nationwide and two Oakland County school districts have taken steps to reduce and deter vaping in their schools.

Berkley and Hazel Park installed vape sensors in their high school and middle school bathrooms over a year ago and both have seen positive results in reducing the use of e-cigarettes and catching students using them.

Last year, Hazel Park schools had 44 instances where a student was caught with an e-cigarette that included THC, the active drug in marijuana, in their high school and junior high school. For the 2023-24 school year, the district had 62 instances where sensors detected e-cigarette use and two instances involving marijuana gummies.

At Berkley High School, where 20 sensors were installed in May 2023, Principal Andy Meloche said there were over 100 instances where students were checked as the school worked out sensor and system issues.

“Not all of them were kids caught with vape devices. We were working through the sensitivity of the sensors and other software issues as we learned how to use the system,” said Meloche.

But once students became aware the sensors were in place and the kinks were worked out in the system, Meloche said there were less than 50 instances of sensor alerts for the entire 2023-24 school year.

“It is not perfect, and nothing usually is, and it is not completely eliminating the problem, but the one thing it did right off the bat was it just eliminated students hanging out in the bathroom,” said Meloche. “I’m guessing there were a lot of times there was vaping and passing it around, but that got eliminated the first month we had the system in place and has not returned since.”

What districts and administrators are up against was highlighted in a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Tobacco Section report released in 2023.

“According to the report, nearly one third of Michigan high school students have used e-cigarettes, and 14% report current use,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS’ chief medical executive. “More than 80% of youth who have used a tobacco product started with a flavored product. E-cigarettes are detrimental to the health of our young Michigan residents, and these products can be highly addictive and can contain a variety of toxic chemicals and heavy metals.”

A 2022 University of Michigan study found that 7% of 8th graders, 14% of 10th graders, and 21% of 12th graders used a vape device to consume nicotine in the past 30 days.

THE PROCESS

Berkley has added six more sensors at the high school, which has 1,250 students, and sensors have also been installed at its two middle schools.

The sensors look like smoke detectors, but can identify various things that will set them off.

Sensors can detect liquid nicotine and liquid THC vapors released by vape devices – such as e-cigarettes – used by students. The sensors can also detect masking agents such as aerosol body deodorant, hair spray, cologne or perfume. They will also send out an alert if they are tampered with.

At Berkley, if any sensor goes off for any reason, hall monitors and administrators receive email and text message alerts and respond to the designated bathroom. They wait outside for students to exit the bathroom and take them aside to talk with them.

“We ask them if they have anything on them they are not supposed to and, if we have to, to empty their pockets and look into their backpack if needed, but we do not put hands on kids,” said Meloche, who is entering his 7th year as BHS principal.

If a device is found in the possession of a student, the punishment varies.

If the device contains liquid nicotine or straight vapor, it is a 2-3 day suspension, which can be reduced if the student enrolls in a program through organizations such as CARE of Southeast Michigan.

“Sometimes we may shorten the length of a suspension if they prove to us that they have enrolled in some sort of vape education program outside of here that teaches them more about it,” said Meloche.

If the device has THC or marijuana, it is a violation under the school code of conduct as drugs or alcohol and carries an automatic 10-day suspension.

Hazel Park students who are caught must pay a $50 ticket and participate in a school vaping education program and possible suspension.

“It is a classroom setting, much like an in-school suspension, but not, because you are working on social and emotional learning there and vape education,” Hazel Park superintendent Amy Kruppe said of the program.

Students caught vaping with a marijuana product face a ticket, 10-day suspension and a meeting with the superintendent. Students can reduce their suspension time by meeting with the superintendent earlier.

Meloche estimated the initial cost of the installation of the software and sensors at the high school was around $25,000 and the total cost for what the district currently has is just short of $60,000.

All costs for the sensor system were paid for through a state grant and the district now owns all the equipment and software.

“Although we did use grant money to fund it, we outright own them and they are permanent fixtures we have going forward,” said Meloche.

Kruppe did not reveal how many sensors the district currently has or how much they cost, but did say the devices are permanent and the cost was covered by a state safety grant, the same as Berkley.

THE SITUATION

Recent studies and reports have shown the prevalence of vaping both nationwide and in the state and what policies districts have in place.

A national youth tobacco survey released in 2023 showed that nationwide 7.7% of students (2.1 million) reported current use of e-cigarettes with 10% (1.5 million) high school students and 4.6% (550,000) middle school students reporting current use.

The survey also showed that students do not just intermittently experiment with vaping.

More than 1 in 4 – 25.2% of current youth e-cigarette users use an e-cigarette product every day and more than 1 in 3 – 34.7% of users report using e-cigarettes at least 20 times in the last 30 days.

The most commonly used device among current e-cigarette users was disposables – 60.7%, followed by prefilled/refillable pods or cartridges – 16.1%.

According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, 33.1% of Michigan high school students have tried electronic vapor products in their lifetime, and 14% currently use them.

In the state, vape sensors could become more common based on a report card from the American Lung Association’s 20th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report, released Jan 2022.

The report grades all 50 states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Michigan received the following grades:

F – Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs
C – Strength of Smokefree Air Laws
F – Level of State Tobacco Taxes
D – Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco
F – Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products

“Kids follow the flavors, so ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products in Michigan is key to ending youth tobacco use,”  Ken Fletcher, Director of Advocacy at the Lung Association, said in the report. “We call on legislators in Lansing to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol, across Michigan.”

Enforced tobacco policies and punishments vary throughout the state, but the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has designated guidelines.

Category 1: Prohibition of tobacco use within buildings at all times, but outdoor use is allowed after 6 p.m. on regularly scheduled school days, during weekends, and any other days on which there are no regularly scheduled school hours.

This is the minimum tobacco-free school policy required by Michigan law.

Category 2: Prohibition of tobacco use that applies to everyone on school grounds, but not at off-grounds school-sponsored events.

Category 3: Prohibition of tobacco use that applies to everyone at all times, on-campus and off-campus at school-sponsored events.

Category 4: Has the same degree of prohibition as category 3, but also includes e-cigarettes and other next-generation tobacco products.

This is the most comprehensive policy category.

An MDHHS report released in 2023 shows among Michigan’s public school districts, 87% apply category 4 guidelines as of March 2023, which is a 240% increase since 2014.

While 87% of public school districts have a category 4, only 56% of Michigan counties have complete category 4 coverage. In the state, 44% of counties still have at least one school district without a comprehensive tobacco-free school policy.

In Oakland County, six out of 28 school districts apply only category 2 guidelines – Farmington, Lamphere, Novi, Rochester South Lyon and Walled Lake, while the rest apply category 4.

Only Hazel Park and Berkley use vape sensors in their buildings.

“I’m not a fool. Teenage vaping isn’t solved, but I think for my school … I do feel like our bathrooms are a safer space after we installed them than prior to when we installed them,” said Meloche. “It is a safer space for kids to walk in and not have to see something that they are not interested in whatsoever.”

He added, “Sensors are the most effective tools he has  seen for curbing teen vaping in schools. It works well within our setting and It has worked well for us as a district.”

Kruppe is also satisfied with the sensors in place in her district and the results they have gotten.

“We have real sample size and we have seen real results,” said Kruppe. “I consider the system a success.”

Voters in Oakland County showed their support for their local school districts at the polls on Tuesday by passing three different school bond proposals.

Avondale and Bloomfield Hills passed school improvements bonds, while Madison voters approved a continuing school millage.

Only a small portion of the county, Addison Township, voted on a school improvement proposal for Almont that failed.

ALMONT

Almont voters again turned down proposals for school improvement bonds.

After the failure of a $58.2 million bond in February 2024, Almont Community Schools announced in April the district will pursue a new two-part school improvement bond.

Part one would address infrastructure and asked for $22.6 million over 15 years. Part two asked for $10.5 million and over 10 years. It would cover additional instructional space and air conditioning upgrades at Orchard Primary School and Almont Middle School.

Both proposals failed in four different voting districts.

In Lapeer County, part one failed 1,169-no to 749-yes and part two failed 1,193-no to 721-yes and the lone Oakland County precinct turned down the proposal 30-no to 8-yes for both parts.

Two Bruce Township precincts in Northern Macomb County voted 262-no to 145-yes in total for both parts and a single precinct in St. Clair County turned down the both proposals by a total of 399-no to 202-yes.

AVONDALE

A $150 million bond renewal for the Avondale School District which will fund a “complete overhaul” of the district, according to Superintendent Jim Schwartz, easily passed.

The final tally was 3,351-yes (65.1%) to 1,796-no (34.9%)

“Thank you to the voters in Avondale School District on behalf of the Board of Education and the more than 3,800 students served by our school district,” the district posted on their website the next morning.  “We will keep Avondale families and residents informed in the coming months as we continue to enhance the educational programs at Avondale School District.”

Emphasizing it was not a tax increase, the school improvement bond will keep the current millage rate at or below 7.3 mills for the next 25 years.

“There is not a person, a student or a family in this district that is not going to be touched by this bond,” Schwartz said before the election.

The bulk of the funding will go toward new construction projects, including a new $32.9 million, 55,000-square-foot early childhood center. It will centralize all district pre-kindergarten programs and have 20 classrooms, indoor play spaces, a kitchen and cafeteria.

“This will be one of the major projects for the district and will be a great starting point for all students in the district,” said Schwartz. “We currently have kids on a waitlist for preschool classes, and this new space can accommodate that demand.”

There will also be an addition built at Graham Elementary School, new playgrounds throughout the district, renovations at Avondale High School, $9.7 million in improvements to Avondale Middle School, and a new $6.9 million bus repair facility for the transportation department.

Design work will begin this fall and construction projects will start next summer.

“Basically we are reconstructing the district and people are not paying anything more for it,” said Schwartz.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Voters in the Bloomfield Hills Schools district approved a proposal renewing an 18-mill non-homestead millage and a hold harmless millage for a period of 20 years. The new rates will take effect when the current millage expires in 2025.

The final vote total was 6,984-yes to 3,428-no

“The passage of our operating millage renewal showcases our community’s commitment to our schools and dedication to our students, ensuring that we can continue to provide a high-quality education and maintain essential programs and services,”  Superintendent Rick West said in a statement. “Thank you to our entire community for their trust and investment in our schools. Bloomfield Hills Schools will continue to have the best learning environment possible for our students.”

Combined, the two millage rates provide $34.3 million of  revenue to Bloomfield Hills Schools, which represents 31% of the school district’s total operating budget.

In Michigan, a hold harmless millage is a tax school districts can levy on local property owners to fund school operations. The millage allows districts to make up the difference between the state’s maximum allowance and the combined state and local revenue-per-pupil money they previously received.

The millage is first levied on homestead property, but can be levied on non-homestead property. The hold harmless millage was first approved by district voters in 1994.

The hold harmless millage is currently 5.1 mills. Bloomfield Hills Schools is decreasing the original authorized millage from 11.65 mills to 9.65 mills.

“I believe it will pass because the Bloomfield Hills community understands the importance of their public education system and I believe they have an understanding of how it is funded,” said Superintendent Rick West. “All $34.3 million goes to the direct operations of the district.”

MADISON HEIGHTS

Voters in the Madison School District opted to keep their millage rate at the state maximum of 18 mills through 2031.

The proposal passed 874-yes to 613-no

The district will collect $311,140 in the first year of the operating millage..

Voters approved a $11.4 million bond in November 2021 for facilities upgrades.

Total voter turnout for Oakland County was 24.8%

 

 

 

Oakland Schools has earned two awards for video storytelling excellence in the 45th Telly Awards competition.

Founded in 1979, the awards honor video in branded content, such as commercials, documentaries and social media posts. This was a record-breaking year with nearly 13,000 entries from around the world.

The intermediate school district’s non-broadcast category winners included a silver award for a student profile of Asia Ramirez, an inspiring health sciences student, and a bronze award for a five-part series on the importance of early childhood education. Both videos can be seen on YouTube.

“Receiving two Telly Awards for our high-quality video storytelling highlights our commitment to capturing and bringing to life remarkable stories from the classroom,” said Sheri Stuart Collins, Oakland Schools director of communication services. “This esteemed recognition energizes our passion for elevating impactful learning experiences and crafting compelling narratives championing public education.”

“Our industry is experimenting with new technologies like never before, crafting truly compelling stories to draw attention to some of the world’s most pressing issues,” said Amanda Needham, Telly Awards managing director.

The full list of the 45th Annual Telly Awards winners can be found at
www.tellyawards.com/winners.

Students of the first class to attend all four years at Troy High School graduated in 1954, and class president Bill Haney is bringing the surviving members to his home for a 70th reunion next month.

Troy was a much different community when this class was considering their futures after high school.

Most of the students were “country bumpkins,” according to Haney as local Troy Township, as it was known then, districts were consolidated to form the high school in 1950.

According to the 1950 U.S Census, Troy Township had a population of 10,087, and now Troy is the largest city in Oakland County at 87,294 residents and is the third largest in Michigan by total property value.

The Troy districts that consolidated in 1950 were Troy Union, Troy 2, Leonard, Colerain, Big Beaver, Log Cabin and Poppleton at Big Beaver and Crooks.  Only Big Beaver and Log Cabin offered high school programs.

Students attended local high schools during their freshman year, but were considered Troy High School students as the building itself was being completed. Students for all four grades began attending classes in the building in 1951.

“We somehow felt that we country bumpkins had crawled ourselves up from the sticks and the backwoods and no longer were second-class citizens compared with affluent Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, or well-established Royal Oak or Rochester,” said Haney. “We had our own shiny new school. We were no longer barely Class D; we were the Class B Troy Colts.”

According to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Troy today has some of the highest average annual daily traffic flow statistics in the state. I-75, which flows through the heart of the city, averages over 56,000 vehicles a day traveling the freeway and Big Beaver and Maple roads both average over 26,400 vehicles.

“Our class really was on the cusp of the change from Troy being a rural township to a suburban city, and we were a symbol of that change,” said 1954 graduate Dick Halsey. “When we were eighth graders, we were all in eight different school districts and then as ninth graders there was one school district.”

Having a new high school with modern amenities like a gymnasium, cafeteria and new sports fields made a difference to the new students.

Haney, who was a Troy Colts five-sport athlete, began to see changes as they progressed through school.

“In 1950, our basketball team lost all their games, and then we went unbeaten in 1954,” he said. “We felt we had something to prove and we did. We were always the underdogs.”

The sports teams began to shed that underdog label in their first football matchup against Macomb County rival Roseville.

“They always used to beat up on us, and it was our first game on our new field and we beat them 15-13,” Haney said with pride. “It was an amazing feeling to be able to do something like that with the group of kids we had.”

Haney was the quarterback and scored the first touchdown in Troy High School history in the game.

As school districts around the area also consolidated and created new high schools, Haney said the new Troy students took advantage of their new setting.

“For proof, there were the results on the athletic fields for girls and boys alike, in academics, in debate, and in extra-curricular activities,” said Haney. “For whatever reasons, we saw ourselves as creatures of destiny who had something to prove and were driven to not waste the opportunity.”

But as athletes and sports teams began to fill the new trophy case at the high school, academics were also a priority, and Haney said the administration and staff paid close attention to the new students.

“We had good teachers,” said Haney. “Our teachers took a personal interest in us and what we did and were very supportive. It did not take us long to get comfortable in our new setting.”

“From our perspective, it was vastly better than anything any of us had experienced before,” said Halsey. “From today’s perspective, it would probably be considered pretty low key.”

The Troy class of 1954 graduated 99 students from their new school at the corner of Livernois and Big Beaver roads.

The Troy school district now has a total of 21 schools — 12 elementary schools, four middle schools, two high schools and one preschool with an estimated total of 12,527 students.

Haney went on to be a successful writer and publisher and has been organizing their class reunions every five years since their 10-year reunion in 1964.

Halsey went on to serve on the Troy City Council, served as a volunteer firefighter and retired after a long career in education.

Both will be on hand at the 70th reunion on Aug. 12 at Haney’s home in Ortonville.

Haney estimated “two dozen of the against-the-odds pioneers of Troy High will gather to relive those eventful and memorable days” next month.

“Once you start talking with everyone, the years just melt away,” said Haney.

 

 

 

Voters throughout Oakland County will have a variety of proposals on the Aug. 6 primary election ballot.

Four school districts will have bond and millage proposals, several will have library and parks and recreations millage renewals and a handful will be voting on funding for emergency services.

Voter turnout is typically low for a primary election, but Oakland University political science professor Dave Dulio said those that do vote have a stronger voice in the election.

“These local primary elections are interesting in that they often see low voter turnout,” he said. “On the one hand, one could argue that is bad for democracy. On the other, each voter who does participate has a stronger voice – i.e., 1 vote out of 10,000 cast versus 1 vote out of 1,000,000 cast.”

Dulio said voters must do their due diligence before heading to the polls on Aug. 6.

 

“Being engaged, doing your homework and voting will ensure that you have a voice on the issues that matter most to you. It can be difficult to do this; however, in elections like these,” said Dulio, who is also OU’s director at their Center for Civic Engagement. “They are low salience elections in that they aren’t on everyone’s radar screen and the candidates are usually working with very limited funds which makes it harder for them to communicate with voters.

“Voters end up having to do much more work to learn about candidates in these elections.”

Here is a look at what will be on the ballots:

ADDISON TOWNSHIP

Addison Township will have three proposals on the Aug. 6 primary ballot: a fire department capital improvement millage renewal, a fire department and advanced life support operating millage, and a renewal for the library millage.

The capital improvement renewal is for .75-mills and runs from 2025 to 2030. It will reestablish the current .71-mills required due to state required rollbacks.

The funding is for the sole purpose of providing improvements to the fire department of Addison Township and will collect $355,604 in its first year.

The fire department was established in 1949 and has two stations in the township.

The fire department and advanced life support operating millage, also reduced due to state rollbacks, would be reset at 2.25-mills ($2.25 per $1,000 taxable value). It would be combined with the existing 1.5-mills set to expire in December for a combined existing millage rate of 3.75-mills and it will be in effect from 2025 to 2028.

It would collect $1.77 million in its first year and continue fire protection services and allow the department to meet the regulations for advanced life support ambulance services.

The library is asking for approval of a .20-mill renewal of the millage that expired in 2023.

The renewal would be for 10 years and collect $85,000 in its first year.

The library opened in February of 1978, and Dawn Elsarelli is the current library director.

ALMONT

After the failure of a $58.2 million bond in February 2024, Almont Community Schools Superintendent Kimberly VonHiltmayer announced in April the district will pursue a new two-part school improvement bond proposal for the Aug. 6 ballot.

Part one will address infrastructure and asks for $22.6 million, and it would last for 15 years. Part two asks for $10.5 million and lasts for 10 years; it would cover additional instructional space and air conditioning upgrades at Orchard Primary School and Almont Middle School.

If both parts of the proposal pass, the millage rate would be 5.9 mills.

A tiny portion of the school district reaches into northeast Oakland County near Leonard, though most of the district is in Macomb County.

AVONDALE

A $150 million bond renewal for the Avondale School District will fund a “complete overhaul” of the district, according to Superintendent Jim Schwartz.

Emphasizing that it is not a tax increase, the school improvement bond would keep the current millage rate at or below 7.3 mills for the next 25 years.

“There is not a person, a student or a family in this district that is not going to be touched by this bond,” said Schwartz.

The bulk of the funding would go toward new construction projects, including a new $32.9 million, 55,000-square-foot early childhood center. It would centralize all district pre-kindergarten programs and have 20 classrooms, indoor play spaces, a kitchen and cafeteria.

“This will be one of the major projects for the district and will be a great starting point for all students in the district,” said Schwartz. “We currently have kids on a waitlist for preschool classes, and this new space can accommodate that demand.”

There will also be an addition built at Graham Elementary School, new playgrounds throughout the district, renovations at Avondale High School, $9.7 million in improvements to Avondale Middle School, and a new $6.9 million bus repair facility for the transportation department.

If the renewal passes, design work will begin this fall and construction projects will start next summer.

“Basically we are reconstructing the district and people are not paying anything more for it,” said Schwartz. “It is the same rate they have been paying and no additional cost.”

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Voters in the Bloomfield Hills Schools district will be asked to consider an operating proposal renewing the 18-mill non-homestead millage and the hold harmless millage for a period of 20 years. The new rates would take effect when the current millage expires in 2025.

Combined, the two millage rates provide $34.3 million of  revenue to Bloomfield Hills Schools, which represents 31% of the school district’s total operating budget.

In Michigan, a hold harmless millage is a tax school districts can levy on local property owners to fund school operations. The millage allows districts to make up the difference between the state’s maximum allowance and the combined state and local revenue-per-pupil money they previously received.

The millage is first levied on homestead property, but can be levied on non-homestead property. The hold harmless millage was first approved by district voters in 1994.

The hold harmless millage is currently 5.1 mills. Bloomfield Hills Schools is decreasing the original authorized millage from 11.65 mills to 9.65 mills for the Aug. 6 ballot proposal.

“I believe it will pass because the Bloomfield Hills community understands the importance of their public education system and I believe they have an understanding of how it is funded,” said Superintendent Rick West. “All $34.3 million goes to the direct operations of the district.”

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP

Bloomfield Township is looking ahead for a renewal of its public safety millage. The current millage is set to expire in 2026, but the township is seeking a renewal at the same rate of .64-mills.

The rate would begin in December 2026 and run for 10 years providing fire, police and public safety protection for the township.

Approval of the proposal would allow collection of $4 million in its first year.

The fire department was organized in 1930 and is composed of 64 uniformed career firefighters and officers.

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP

Commerce Township residents are being asked to renew a millage for park improvements and land acquisition.

The rate of .4-mills passed in 2014 has been reduced by required state rollbacks and the new rate of .366-mills ($0.366 per $1,000 of taxable property value) is what voters are being asked to approve.

The renewal is for improving parks and acquiring land and interests in land to create new publicly owned open space within the township, and it would be in effect from 2024 to 2033.

If approved, the millage would collect $980,000 in its first year.

GROVELAND TOWNSHIP

The Groveland Township Fire Department is looking for a renewal of their 3.5-mill tax levy.

The renewal would begin this year and run through 2033 and could be levied at up to 5-mills if needed.

The department serves over 6,000 residents in the 36-square-mile township with two stations.

It would generate an estimated revenue of $1.077 million in its first year.

HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP

Highland Township contracts with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office to provide law enforcement services, and it is asking voters to renew their police services millage.

The millage would be renewed at the reduced amount of 3.31-mills ($3.31 per $1,000 of taxable value) for six years, 2025 through 2030.

This provides the township with community policing, traffic enforcement and education, investigations, a school liaison officer, and a dedicated weighmaster.

The Highland sheriff’s substation is staffed with 20 deputies.

The millage would collect $3.5 million in its first year.

INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP

Independence Township residents are being asked to approve an increase for their fire and emergency services operating millage.

The new levy would increase .5-mills to 3.87-mills for four years starting in December of 2025.

Approval of the proposal would replace the current fire millage expiring in December and provide operating and capital expenditures for fire protection, emergency services and advanced life support for the township.

It would collect $9.27 million in the first year and be disbursed to the township’s Sashabaw Road Corridor Improvement Authority and the Independence Downtown Development Authority.

LYON TOWNSHIP

Lyon Township residents are being asked to approve millage renewals for police services and their fire department.

The fire department millage would renew the 2022 voter-approved levy of 2.39 mills that expired in 2023 for the next 10 years, 2024-2033, and provide revenue of $3.78 million in the first year of collection.

If approved, the department has provided a strategic plan for funding that includes:

– Hiring three full-time firefighters in 2025, bringing the total to 12.

– Promoting three full-time positions in 2025-2026 bringing line officer total to six, plus the fire marshal.

– Consideration of a third fire station to improve safety and response times.

The strategic plan also includes a schedule for vehicle and apparatus replacement and list of new equipment for the department.

For police service, residents are being asked to renew a combination of three expiring millages as one 3.42-mill levy for 10 years.

The renewed millage would collect $5.4 million in its first year to pay for Oakland County Sheriff’s Office services through their Lyon Township substation.

MADISON HEIGHTS

The Madison School District will look to keep their millage rate at the state maximum of 18 mills through 2031.

The district will collect $311,140 in the first year of the operating millage if approved.

Voters approved a $11.4 million bond in November 2021 for facilities upgrades.

There will be a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. on July 29 at Wilkinson Middle School to discuss the millage.

OXFORD TOWNSHIP

Oxford Township seeks to continue funding for police coverage through the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

Township voters approved a police operating millage of 3.91 mills in 2020, currently reduced by the required millage rollbacks to 3.8091 mills, which will expire in December.

Approval allows a tax increase to $4.25 per $1,000 of taxable value on all taxable property in the township. A property with a taxable value of $100,000 would be annually taxed up to $425.00.

The township would collect an estimated $4.46 million in its first year and it would be on the books from 2025 to 2028.

“We found it much more fiscally responsible to use the services of the sheriff’s department than to form our own police department,” said township Supervisor Jack Curtis. “Their services are premium and they have done excellent work in our township.”

The sheriff’s department covers a population of over 20,000 over 36 square miles with 24 command and deputy road patrol officers and has added 11 officers over the last eight years.

PONTIAC

For the first time since 1982, Pontiac’s leadership has revised its city charter and is asking voters to approve those changes.

The new 58-page document was created by the Charter Revision Commission that was formed three years ago.

The key changes to the charter include:

Changing representation on the city council from seven districts to six districts and one at-large representative.
City council president will shift from being a part-time to a full-time position.
A code of ethics has been added to the charter that covers all city employees and elected officials.
It establishes an independent Office of Public Integrity within the government of the City of Pontiac. The purpose of the Office of Public Integrity is “to ensure honesty and integrity in city government by rooting out waste, abuse, fraud, and corruption.”
City council meetings would be scheduled for twice a month instead of the current weekly meetings.
No park property owned by the city can be sold without the proposal being voted on by city residents on an election ballot. Currently, the city council held the sole authority to vote on park property sales.

“We added a code of ethics that actually has some teeth in it,” said commission Vice Chairman Kermit Williams. “It has more policies that give the citizens some control.”

Williams said the nine person all-volunteer commission spent 943 meeting hours on the revised charter and over 300 hours doing research.

“I believe that the consensus product that we came out with is 1,000 percent better than the 1982 charter,” said Williams. “The 1982 charter was a government-first charter; this charter is more for the citizenry of the people of Pontiac,”

ROCHESTER HILLS

The Rochester Hills Public Library is asking voters for the first millage increase in over 100 years.

If approved, the millage will be increased by $.39 per thousand dollars of the taxable value on all property in the City of Rochester Hills for 10 years, beginning December this year and ending in 2033. The current rate is .73-mills.

The library serves over 110,000 people, and 1.5 million items circulate through the 75,000-square-foot every year.

If the millage passes, the library will open for Sunday hours year around. Also, there will be an investment in infrastructure for the building and increased staffing levels.

It is estimated it would raise $1.724 million in its first year.

Voters in Rochester Hills are to decide this issue, and, if it passes, homeowners in Oakland Township and Rochester will see a proportional increase as those two communities are served by the library.

ROYAL OAK TOWNSHIP

The general operating millage renewal is on the ballot for Royal Oak Township residents.

The proposal will allow the township to renew the millage levied for general operating capital purchase funds at 4.45-mills ($4.45 per $1,000 of taxable value) for four years, 2024 through 2027.

The township would collect $179,082 in its first year.

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP

The sole funding for the Springfield Township Parks and Recreation Department will be up for renewal on the primary ballot.

Recent millage rollbacks have the current rate set at 0.71 mills and the new millage would reestablish the original rate approved in 2014 at 0.75 mills ($0.75 per $1,000 of taxable value).

The new rate would be set for the next 10 years and raise $619,883 in its first year.

“This is our only dedicated funding source to operate all of our township parks, all of our facilities and all of our recreation programs,” said Sarah Richmond, director of the township’s Parks and Recreation Department. “Without this dedicated funding source, it would make running our department very difficult, if not impossible.”

The township has over 700 acres of park property, a community center, multiple sports fields, pavilions and programs for residents and non-residents.

WALLED LAKE

The Walled Lake City Library is requesting a 10-year .85-mill operating millage renewal and an additional millage of .14-mills due to rising operating costs. If approved, the millage would last from 2025 to 2034.

The operating millage accounts for 45% of the library’s operational funding and will raise $288,000 in its first year.

In 2023, over 60,000 books and other materials and 8,000 digital items were borrowed and over 2,300 people participated in library 270 programs.

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP

Residents in Waterford will be able to decide on both its parks and recreation as well as police services

On August 5, 2014, Waterford voters approved a ten-year .50 mills millage to fund the operations of its parks and recreation department.

This year, residents are being asked for another 10-year renewal at .47-mills.

Funds collected will provide programs, activities, and facilities for the township parks and recreation and will bring in $1.5 million in its first year.

The department operates and maintains 16 parks and facilities spanning over 850 acres within Waterford Township.

Residents are also being asked to renew a police operating millage at 1.5-mills.

The millage would last from December 2024 to 2034 and collect $4.5 million for the township’s police department in its first year.

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP

West Bloomfield Township voters will consider a new 20-year, $25 million bond proposal that would be used to build an expanded community center on the Civic Center Campus and make needed investments in other parks within the township.

The proposed rate will be.35-mills ($0.35 for each $1,000 of taxable value). A resident whose home has a taxable value of $100,000 will be assessed $35 annually

Funds generated will go toward parks and recreation department improvements, including the parks, playgrounds, community and senior activity center, trail system, pickleball courts, nature education areas, administrative spaces, and other capital improvements.

WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP

White Lake Township voters are being asked to approve a parks and recreation department millage renewal at 3 mills.

Funds collected from the millage would help supplement parks and recreation projects outlined in the township capital improvement plan and would run for 10 years.

The township owns and manages six parks totaling 114 acres of property including the five-acre historic Fisk Farm property.

If approved, the millage would collect $791,533 in its first year.