Four Farmington Public Schools teachers were surprised in their classrooms on Friday, Dec. 20,  by Superintendent Kelly Coffin to inform them they were named the district’s Teachers of the Year in their respective levels.

The 2024/25 FPS Teachers of the Year are Joseph Lazzarino of Farmington High School, Susan Kim of Power Middle School, Laura Orlowski of Beechview Elementary School and Lara Ligerakis at Farmington Early Childhood Center.

Lazzorino was nominated as High School Teacher of the Year for his calm demeanor, caring for his students, and having a genuine interest in helping his students succeed.

He is the auto technology teacher at the high school and began teaching at Harrison High School as the Vocational/Auto teacher in 2011. He moved to Farmington High School in 2020 where he currently teaches ninth through 12th grade.

Lazzorino graduated from Siena Heights University with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree, and a Masters of Arts in Education/Teacher Leadership from the University of Phoenix.

“He is not only a great teacher but a great person,” said student nominator Jason Kazensky. “It’s always easy to ask questions and you never have to feel worried about falling behind.”

Kim was nominated as Middle School Teacher of the Year for her kindness, respectfulness, welcoming demeanor and desire to help anyone in need.

“I would just like to add that Susan Kim truly is a pillar within Farmington Public Schools and deserves to be honored for her dedication and work done to help students succeed in mathematics and in life,” said nominator Alexandra Borseth.

Kim is an 8th grade math and algebra teacher at Power Middle School.

She started off her career in FPS in 2000 as a third grade teacher at Longacre Elementary and was there until 2009 and then headed to East Middle School as a math teacher. From there, she became a traveling teacher between Power Middle School, Warner Middle School, and Beechview Elementary School until 2018 when she landed solely at Power.

She graduated from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor with a Bachelor of Art degree. She earned her teaching certificate from Eastern Michigan University and continued on to get her Master of Arts in Teaching from Oakland University.

Orlowski was nominated for her enthusiasm while teaching and providing a warm and approachable environment for all of her students.

She teaches fourth grade at Beechview Elementary and has been there her entire teaching career. Laura began subbing with FPS in 1997, and became a full-time teacher at Beechview after earning her Bachelor of Arts from Wayne State University, obtaining her Teaching Certificate from Madonna University, and earning her Masters in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College.

“Laura is truly a wonderful, caring, person deserving of this honor,” said nominator Allison Jesiel.

Ligerakis was nominated for her compassionate, engaging, and over the top dedication to her students.

She is a preschool special education teacher at Farmington Early Childhood Center.

Lara started with FPS in 1998 when she was hired as an SXI teacher at Cloverdale (now closed). She went back and forth as an SXI and SMI (both meaning Severely Mentally Impaired) teacher until 2009, and in 2010 she became an Early Childhood Special Education teacher at the Farmington Community School. She transferred to Alameda, which is now the Farmington Early Childhood Center, in 2016 where she has been ever since.

She graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She then graduated from Oakland University with a Master of Education in Early Childhood.

“Her dedication, patience, and unwavering commitment have touched the lives of students every day,” said nominator Eva McDermott. “She has gone above and beyond to make every child feel valued and showed kindness in every moment. Her impact is truly immeasurable.”

 

 

 

Successfully navigating a desire for altruism and maintaining a career is not an easy task, but Oakland University graduate Nicholas Kristock has been doing it for the last eight years.

Kristock is the founder of Fleece and Thank You, a non-profit organization created in 2015 and based in Farmington Hills. Their 6,000 square-foot facility is packed with brightly colored fleece patterns, which are packaged into blanket kits destined for children in hospitals throughout Michigan.

Friends, parents and even corporate groups tie the two-yard kits into fleece blankets and can create their video message for a patient, and ship the kits back to the nonprofit.

Workers then look over each blanket, washing and drying them to meet hospital standards, before sealing and shipping them to area hospitals. Patients receiving the blankets can then respond to the blanket-maker with a video of gratitude.

The organization has grown and adapted over the past eight years, services every children’s hospital in Michigan and employs three full-time staff, 10 part-time and hundreds of volunteers.

HOW IT STARTED

Kristock began volunteering while at OU after he and his soccer teammates started a non-profit to pay to transport young Mormons  for mission trips.

After graduating in 2014 with his master’s degree in Business Administration, Kristock traveled to Australia to continue his soccer career and began working with children’s charities and hospitals there, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“I used a ton of my free time to volunteer,” he said of his time in Australia. “How you spend your time is where your heart goes and I started volunteering regularly with kids in the hospitals and serving homeless people on the street.”

He returned to Michigan a year later with hopes of continuing his work with Make-A-Wish but no other plans. Then he talked to his sister, Tara Kristock, a pediatric oncology nurse at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.

“She asked me if I could make a blanket for one of her patients while I was trying to figure out what to do with my life,” said Kristock.

“I told him that one thing the patients loved when I worked on that unit was the fleece blankets,” said Tara. “Kids would have scheduled chemotherapy appointments and really look forward to being able to take a blanket and make their bed and brighten up their room.”

He made the blanket for her and realized the scope of how many children needed blankets in hospitals around the state and the seeds of Fleece and Thank You were planted.

“I became obsessed with the journey of how you build something from scratch,” he said.

He started in a 2,000 square-foot building in Novi donated by a landscape company and in 2016 signed his first lease for a bigger building, also in Novi.

The owner of that building saw how fast the non-profit was growing and offered Kristock a chance to double his space with a move to their current building in Farmington Hills.

“He was a one-man show at that point. He was running around doing everything on his own, driving all around the area and even storing them at my parents house,” said Tara, now a nurse practitioner working out of a private practice.

Not long after he started the 501(c)3 non-profit, Kristock got the call he had been waiting for since returning from Australia.

Make-A-Wish Michigan CEO Jennifer Connery offered him a position and Kristock was forced to decide between the non-profit he had just created or joining an established non-profit he wanted to work for.

“It was a fork in the road,” he said. “I took the weekend to think about it and called back on Monday and said I feel like I am building what I am supposed to build and turned them down.”

GAINING EXPOSURE

Their first big break in September 2019.

Kristock created a plan to set a world record for the most no-sew fleece blankets made at one event as part of their third annual “Make a Blanket Day.”

When he arrived at Stoney Creek High School in Rochester, he brought enough material for blankets to set the record, but was not sure how many people would participate.

“We anticipated maybe 500 people, but we had over 1,000 over the course of the day,” he said of the eight-hour event. “We had a storm come through that took out some tents, but the skies cleared and the sun came out and we did it.”

After seven hours, Guinness Book of World Records representative Brittany Dunn confirmed the total of 2,107 fleece blankets. All the blankets created that day were later donated to 21 southeast Michigan hospitals.

“Coming out of that, more people knew about us than ever before,” said Kristock. “It was national exposure.”

A CHANGE IN THE MODEL

A few months later, the COVID-19 pandemic altered the non-profit’s trajectory. It was outgrowing the in-person delivery system and had just started an e-commerce model and website when the pandemic hit.

“Every hospital said no more in-person, no more hand-made goods,” said Kristock. “Everyone looked at us and wondered how we were going to make it through at that point.”

They acquired a hospital-grade washer and dryer system, began shipping finished blankets to children in hospitals and holding virtual events.

“Like any good journey, sometimes the detours teach you the most,” Kristock wrote in the May 2020 organization newsletter. “Once things in person started to be shut down or canceled, we immediately switched our model to be able to accommodate remote events.”

BioGreen Michigan deep-cleaned the facility monthly and other safety measures were taken as the non-profit soldiered on.

“All other donations had been cut off (to hospitals),” he said. “We were the one thing that could get to kids that was colorful and safe.”

They emerged from the pandemic with a stronger system and shipped over 14,000 blankets in 2023.

BY THE NUMBERS

Blanket kits are available for a $30 donation on its website. The cost includes purchasing raw materials ($10.20), cutting the fabric to size ($4), plastic bags to package the materials ($0.06), storage ($1.96), labor ($5.79), washing and drying completed blankets ($0.90), a video message patch ($0.75), video message hosting ($0.40), and delivery ($5.94).

In addition to kit sales, the non-profit generates money from an e-commerce site selling its Grateful Human apparel, sponsors and several fundraisers throughout the year.

Requests for blanket kits spike throughout the year, especially around Christmas, during National Volunteer Month in April and Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in January.

“Every single place a kid can go and stay overnight, we are giving blankets to them across the state of Michigan,” said Kristock. “But we work year round and there is always something in the works.”

They also participate in a workforce development program for young adults and adults with various cognitive and physical impairments.

Since it began, Fleece and Thank You has delivered 120,000 blankets, raised over $6 million and held over 5,000 events since Kristock created his first blanket for his sister.

He remains focused on Michigan hospitals, where 80% of blankets made by volunteers are shipped. His goal is to ship 30,000 blankets annually for all pediatric beds in the state.

“I am having a blast. I am living my purpose. I am where I’m supposed to be,” said Kristock. “I have amazing people on my team and it is an honor to work with everyone who is a part of this.”

For more details visit fleeceandthankyou.org.

A collaboration between the Clarkston Garden Club and students at the Oakland Technical Center (OTC) has produced holiday decorations that can displayed for decades to come.

The 76-year-old club partnered with Instructor Charles Beyer and his students to create snowflakes for every planter in downtown Clarkston.

Club member Deanna Wilson had collaborated with OTC in the past and had ideas for new decorations for the 29 planters the club cares for.

Wilson and other club members went to the OTC Northwest campus in Clarkston and began brainstorming.

“When we were coming up with ideas, I was adamant that I wanted something that could be used for decades and look timeless and classic,” said Beyer. “This was not a welding exercise, it was more of a craft creation by the students.”

Beyer and former students had welded butterflies, a horseshoe wine rack and planters before and worked with the club on the idea for snowflakes made of steel rebar and nails.

Five students from Beyer’s Engineering, Robotics and Mechatronics class got to work in mid-October and completed 29 snowflakes for all the stone planters downtown in about a month.

“The enthusiasm of the entire OTC team has been amazing. From our first meeting until final installation downtown only took about six or seven weeks,” said Wilson.

Beyer purchased the materials for around $450 and was reimbursed by the club. Once they were completed, they were taken to Wilson’s house where she and other club members painted them and were installed downtown on Nov. 21.

“It was utterly remarkable how much OTC embraced this idea and their enthusiasm was off the charts,” said Wilson. “We came up with the idea and we were blown away by what they came up with.”

“The students like it because it allows them to create things freeform,” said Beyer. “It frees them up to do some really cool designs.”

Club communications person Joette Kunse appreciated the collaboration and what it means for the students.

“The partnership with the students is special because they too will get to see their work displayed downtown so it is very authentic work that they are doing,” said Kunse.

Beyer liked the real world experience of putting his students to the test of a deadline and creating their best work outside of the classroom.

“It was a challenging project just from a volume standpoint and a timing standpoint,” Beyer said. “From an educational perspective, it was a real life example of meeting a deadline. I like to challenge the kids and this one worked out.”

“He is trying to give them real world experiences in any way he can and this is a great way of doing it,” said Wilson.

The club has been taking care of the planters for over 40 years, with stone planters replacing barrels 25 years ago. The new holiday creations will be used for decades.

“We have had such enormous feedback from people about how beautiful they are and these are something that we can use for years to come,” said Wilson. “It has been a great partnership once again.”

Wilson and Beyer said they are already looking ahead to next spring and continuing their partnership.

“In my experience they (OTC) have always partnered with the community for an assortment of different things for many years and I love the idea that they view themselves as a resource to the community,” she said. “When they come out, they come out big and they do a great job with the students.”

Beyer likes the personal touch they add to the downtown experience.

“I like things that are hand-built and giving it to people because it just means so much more instead of buying something,” he said.

Lawrence Technological University has partnered with Springboard, an online learning company focused on high-growth technology careers, to offer three new bootcamps focusing on in-demand tech skills for students and professionals in the Detroit area.

Enrollment for the online program is now open, with the first courses set to begin Jan. 13, 2025.

Through the bootcamps, which are open to the public, students develop foundational skills in software engineering, data analytics or cybersecurity and gain real-world experience, while earning certification from LTU.

In addition to technical training, students receive one-on-one mentorship from industry professionals at Fortune 100 companies and emerging tech companies.

The self-paced bootcamps are structured to be completed in 6 to 9 months.

Bootcamps offered include:

● Software Engineering Bootcamp: Covering web development, from front-end and back-end programming to database management and algorithms. Students will build their own software projects and create a portfolio.

● Cybersecurity Bootcamp: Covering key areas such as network security, threat

detection, and vulnerability management. Students will complete hands-on projects and

develop skills to safeguard critical systems and data from cyberattacks.

● Data Analytics Bootcamp: Teaching students how to analyze, interpret, and visualize data using tools like SQL, Python, Excel, and Tableau.

Students can learn more and apply at careerbootcamps.ltu.edu.

Oakland University has hired Amy Thompson as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Pending approval by OU’s trustees, she will begin her tenure effective May 19, 2025.

Thompson is currently provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She was selected following a national search that included 116 candidates.

Thompson replaces  Kevin Corcoran, the interim vice president and provost.

“From student success and community engagement to diversity, equity and inclusion and from grant funding to program accreditation and assessment, the role of Provost is an incredibly demanding one,” said OU President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz. “Dr. Thompson has demonstrated that she can lead teams in a collaborative manner toward success in all of these areas, and we look forward to seeing the benefits that her motivational leadership will bring to Oakland University.”

She earned a Ph.D. in health education and a master of education in public health from the University of Toledo and a bachelor’s degree in community health and health promotion from Central Michigan University.

Thompson was appointed to her position at Wright State in June 2022.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Amy Thompson as Oakland University’s new provost, and we are confident in her ability to lead and inspire our academic community,” said Glenn McIntosh, senior vice president of Student Affairs and chief diversity officer.

Jason Pesamonska, principal at West Maple Elementary in Birmingham, has been given the Excellence in Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

Pesamoska is beginning his seventh year as principal after serving for three years as the assistant principal.

“As a principal, Jason Pesamonska is involved in all aspects of the school from working with students, parents and staff members to building operations,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “His ability to be a leader in his school, while also building relationships with each of the students and making them feel respected and valued everyday makes him an exceptional candidate for the Excellence in Education award.”

He began his career teaching kindergarten at Bingham Farms Elementary and Beverly Elementary in Birmingham and moved on to teach first grade at Harlan Elementary before going to West Maple. Pesamoska taught grades 3-5 at West Maple until becoming the assistant principal in 2015.

He was nominated for the award by the parent of a current student.

“Mr. Pez, as he’s referred to, is beyond an incredible educator and administrator of the school,” the parent wrote. “He simply has a pulse on the entire operation and does it with love, care and respect I’ve never seen before. I am 100% confident that every kid and parent who has interacted with him feels the same way.”

“The privilege to work alongside children, and now adults, to expand their horizons and abilities past what they may have ever thought was imaginable is what attracted me to a career in education,” said Pesamonska. “I wanted to be a listening ear and a kind heart in times of need and create an environment where all can thrive.”

The award was established in 2014 and is awarded weekly to public school educators across the state, with winners receiving a $2,000 cash prize.

Oakland Community College and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine have agreed to establish a cooperative program of pre-medical/medical education.

OCC students who transfer as undergraduate pre-medical students to MSU will have the opportunity to be granted an early admission to the medical school.

These students will receive academic advising directed at admission to the medical school and will be enrolled in a program of clinical and service experiences in preparation for admission.

“We are committed to bringing well-qualified premedical students from Oakland Community College to MSU and the College of Human Medicine,” said Aron Sousa, dean of the MSU medical school. “This is a long-term vision for enhancing health care in Southeast Michigan and beyond. Local students may wish to return home one day to practice in greater Detroit.”

“This outstanding partnership provides OCC students with a clear pathway to a smooth transition into MSU and the College of Human Medicine,” said OCC Chancellor Peter Provenzano, Jr. “The agreement will especially benefit our Health Sciences students who plan to transfer to MSU with the ultimate goal of attending medical school.”

Preference for EAO admission will be given to former OCC students who now apply as an MSU student and may not otherwise be familiar with what goes into preparing for premedical and medical school application processes. These students must also meet one or more of the following criteria:

First generation college student
Graduate from a low-income high school as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Education
Eligible for or a recipient of an undergraduate PELL or institutional need-based grant
Graduate from an underserved (health professional shortage) urban or rural area
Demonstrates interest in a high-need medical specialty area

For more information, visit  humanmedicine@msu.edu.

Oakland University will present three women with honorary doctoral degrees in recognition of outstanding achievements in their respective fields during its December 2024 commencement ceremonies.

Austin Channing Brown is an author and speaker providing inspired leadership on racial justice in America. She is the best-selling author of the book, “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness.”Brown will be honored at the 6 p.m. ceremony on Friday, Dec. 13.

Kym Worthy is the current Wayne County prosecutor. She started as an assistant prosecutor in 1984 and  served for 11 years, becoming the first African American special assignment prosecutor. One of her most notable cases was the prosecution of police officers Walter Budzyn and Larry Nevers in the beating death of Malice Green. She was first elected prosecutor in 2004.

Worthy is a member of the National Black Prosecutors Association, Prosecutors Against Gun Violence, the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, the Michigan Democratic Party, and Greater Grace Temple.  Worthy will be honored at the 9 a.m. ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Telva McGruder is executive director of Global Body Manufacturing Engineering at General Motors, where she  leads the transformation toward automated and digital manufacturing for body and paint systems.

She was chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at GM, where she championed progress toward a high-performing, inclusive culture while shepherding global impact in diversity. McGruder will be honored at the 2 p.m. ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Honorary degrees are awarded by OU’s trustees for distinguished accomplishment and service in arts and letters, sciences, professions and public service.

On Monday, another request for an investigation into the 2021 shooting at Oxford High School drew a response from the state attorney general.

Monday morning, parents and friends of the students killed and people injured almost three years ago during a shooting at Oxford High School held a press conference again calling for an independent civil investigation by the state.

“An investigation will reveal the truth to drive the change,” said Buck Myre, father of Tate Myre, one of the four students killed during the shooting.

In a separate press conference Monday afternoon, Attorney General Dana Nessel responded to their request saying her office is more than willing to move forward with an investigation.

“While my department has renewed the terms of what a proper investigation would require, we have never withdrawn that offer,” said Nessel.  “It was our hope that an additional review could provide many of the answers that the families are still seeking today.”

Nessel said offers to assist in the criminal investigation with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and Oakland County Prosecutors office have been turned down, as well as any outside investigations.

“We share in the families’ fatigue over the constant fingerpointing and scapegoating in these investigations and wish our offers to participate on any level had been accepted years ago,” said Nessel. “Any complete investigation by my office would require a number of things.”

In August, the Oxford school board passed a resolution asking for a state-funded review of how emergency responders and the district responded on the day of the shooting.

“The Oxford Board of Education calls upon the Michigan Legislature to mandate and fund a comprehensive, independent review of the emergency response to the November 30, 2021 tragedy, including but not limited to relevant events and agencies during before, during, and after the tragedy,” the resolution read in part.

Nessel said that several things would need to happen before an investigation can begin.

She said the prosecutors office would need to turn over all evidence, testimony, documents and transcripts involved with the prosecution of all members of the Crumbley family.

Ethan Crumbley, the shooter, was sentenced to life in prison without parole on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of terrorism causing death.

Jennifer and James Crumbley, his parents, were each sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter.

Nessel said the Oxford school board would have to waive attorney-client privilege and would need willing participation of witnesses, including those who did not participate in the Guidepost Solutions investigation.

The Guidepost report on their investigation was released in August 2023. The comprehensive report detailed the events leading up to the tragedy, areas where the district was deficient in their prevention of the shooting and recommendations for future security upgrades at the school, but dozens of staff and administrators refused to participate in the investigation.

She said she would also need access to members of law enforcement and the prosecutors office, as well as approval and appropriation of funds from the state legislature for the investigation.

“We would need the cooperation of the Oakland County Sheriff (Mike Bouchard) and the Oakland County Prosecutor (Karen McDonald), as well as local law enforcement and be able to interview all of their relevant staff in order to evaluate their response and their investigation and prosecution,” Nessel said.

McDonald’s office later responded to Nessel’s comments.

“We are not aware of any action needed by my office to activate the Attorney General’s authority, but we will do everything possible to enable such an investigation,” McDonald said in a statement. “And my office will fully cooperate with any such investigation.

She added, “There is so much we can learn, and we owe it to the students who were killed and those who were injured, their families, the Oxford community, and our children to do everything we can to prevent future shootings. An independent investigation remains a critical, missing piece in that process.”

Oxford students Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling and Madisyn Baldwin were killed in the Nov. 30, 2021 shooting and seven others were wounded, including a teacher.

Trent Myre, brother of Tate Myre, again called on the state to open their own investigation.

“Our goal here today is not about blame or retribution, it is about change; change that comes from transparency and accountability,” he said. “The state must step up and do what it should have done three years ago.”

“To drive change properly we need to have data, not opinions,” said Steve St. Juliana, father of Hana St. Juliana, about the need for a full investigation. “The time for excuses has passed. We need our state leadership to take action to prevent more Michigan students from becoming victims to this epidemic.”

He added, “We should not have to be sitting up here repeatedly saying do a damn investigation.”

Nessel said that even if legislation is created and her office is allowed to conduct their own investigation, it is not guaranteed they will get the answers families are looking for.

“The authority of the Oakland County Prosecutors office and the authority of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department is exactly the same as our authority,” said Nessel. “So my question is, if those entities could not get these people to cooperate, how will we be able to do it?”

Clarkston Superintendent Shawn Ryan has been named Michigan School Public Relations Association (MSPRA) 2024 Superintendent Communicator of the Year. The award recognizes one Michigan superintendent annually for outstanding leadership and an exceptional commitment to effective communication.

“It is my honor to present one of MSPRA’s most prestigious awards to a leader who embodies communication excellence,” said MSPRA representative and Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator for West Bloomfield School District Rebecca Fannon. “Dr. Ryan’s dedication to transparency, ethics, and proactive communication has fostered a sense of trust and connection throughout the Clarkston community.”

According to MSPRA’s national judging panel, Ryan exemplifies the attributes of a top communicator: he invests in year-round communication, supports district communication resources, collaborates strategically with communication professionals, and demonstrates integrity, honesty, and active listening. During his nearly three-decade career in Clarkston he built his reputation as a committed community builder and public education advocate, with his communication style rooted in accessibility, transparency, and respect.

“We are immensely proud of Dr. Ryan and this well-deserved recognition,” said Board President Greg Need. “His commitment to transparent, effective communication has strengthened our district and inspired trust within our school community. This award highlights the positive impact his leadership has made across Clarkston.”

 

The Waterford school board is negotiating with Thomas Ahart to be their next superintendent.

Ahart is a consultant for the Washington, D.C.-based Council for Great City Schools, and was the superintendent of the Des Moines, Iowa, public school system for 10 years, the state’s largest district. He was an associate superintendent for Teaching and Learning in Des Moines before becoming the district’s leader. He has been a teacher and administrator for over 30 years.

Scott Lindberg, Waterford’s current superintendent who started in 2019, announced in June he would be leaving the district after five years on the job.
is retirement effective Dec. 31.

 

A brief, powerful storm damaged trees, downed wires and generated a tornado in Holly on Sunday night.

According to the National Weather Service, an EF-0 tornado packing 70 mph winds occurred at 6:56 p.m. and hit the Village of Holly.

“We had about 12 calls come in with trees in the roadways, wires down and various other damage around the area,” said Acting Fire Chief Jeremy Watson.

Watson said the Holly American Legion Hall Post #149 on Saginaw Street sustained the most serious damage.

“It possibly lifted the roof of the structure and set it back down with some extensive damage to the integrity of the south wall,” said Watson. “A structural engineer will be coming out to take a look at the building and assess the damage.”

“We are deeply grateful that no one was injured during this event,” the post wrote on their Facebook page. “However, due to the damage, all rentals and gatherings at our Post are suspended until further notice.”

Residential damage such as shingles being blown off of roofs, downed tree limbs and other damage was reported near Saginaw, Sherman, Maple and Washington streets.

“It was real quick, it was real sudden and then it was gone,” said Watson. “It jumped the downtown area, but there were no fatalities or injuries in conjunction with the event.”

Watson said he has not gotten a firm number of people without power in the area, but described the power outages as sporadic.

“We were busy until about 10 p.m. last night clearing roads and safeguarding the village and we do have some structures in the community that will need some attention moving forward,” said Watson.

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning at about 7 p.m. Sunday until 8 p.m. predicting hail and winds up to 60 mph. The warnings extended from northern Oakland County to the Thumb.

The professors union at Oakland University have unanimously voted for changes in the Dean of Students office.

Over the past week members of the Oakland University American Association of University Professors (OU-AAUP) cast ballots in a no confidence vote for Michael Wadsworth, OU’s Dean of Students and his office.

Of the 435 members who voted, 402 (92%) said they have no confidence in Wadsworth’s leadership.

“As you can see from the election result, after more than a decade of failed policies, procedures and performance that has resulted in a campus more dangerous than ever for faculty and students, and support for students with disabilities less effective and less appropriate than ever, the OU faculty has voted No Confidence in the leadership of Dean Michael Wadsworth and the Dean of Students Office,” union President Michael Latcha said in a letter to university leaders after the vote. “The Dean of Students Office must immediately be overhauled and reoriented toward serving students, faculty and the campus community.”

The university quickly responded to the union vote.

“University administrators were disappointed to learn that the AAUP chose to pursue this week’s unprecedented and counter-productive no confidence vote, which, unfortunately, may compromise the ability of the university and its faculty to meet and constructively resolve these and future concerns in a cooperative and collaborative manner,” OU said in a statement. “Any valid concerns raised by the faculty will be resolved in a collaborative effort in the best interests of all members of our campus community.”

The union is requesting:

Replacing Wadsworth.
Appointing a Disability Support Services (DSS) director who is professionally trained and fully dedicated to establishing a service climate that truly supports students.
Professionalizing the system of processing behavioral concerns.

Union members were concerned  over the handling of recent threats made by a student.

It began with a student making social media and in-person threats against a School of Music, Theater and Dance faculty member.

According to the union, faculty and students reported the behaviors through several official channels starting on Sept. 18, including utilizing the “Report Behavior” online form managed by the Dean of Students Office. No actions were taken until Oct. 10.

Wadsworth responded to faculty on Oct. 9 that the threatening recording did not contain a threat by the student to “shoot” the professor.

On Oct. 10, the Oakland University Police Department (OUPD) sent a campuswide advisory at 12:52 p.m. saying an investigation showed there was no credible threat to the campus community.

According to the union, at 5:55 p.m., after more online comments were located, the music school’s faculty voted unanimously not to return to campus until a proper investigation was held. OUPD then sent a revised advisory stating that Wadsworth had issued a “Persona Non Grata” order to the student banning them rom campus pending a hearing.

The union said some faculty and students were not aware of the threats or the investigation and continued to hold and attend classes in Varner Hall, targeted by threats.

The union said a similar incident involving a faculty member threatened by a student occurred in 2023 and a grievance was filed with the university. The grievance was withdrawn after OU agreed to a series of changes in how threats were reported  and followed up.The union claims the university has been ineffective in adhering to changes.

“Countless ignored reports of concerning behavior and multiple grievances and arbitration rulings have led the faculty to take this unprecedented and extreme step to plead for action before tragedy strikes,” Latcha wrote in his letter to leadership after the vote.

 

It was a clean sweep for school ballot proposals on Tuesday. Five districts were seeking approval for millages and a sinking fund and all were successful.

Clarkston asked voters to consider a non-homestead operating millage renewal, allowing the district to continue levying 18-mills on non-homestead property for 10 years (2026-2035).

It passed by a 17,029 yes to 10,245 no margin.

“We are incredibly grateful for your support in renewing the non-homestead operating millage,” Superintendent Shawn Ryan communicated to district voters. “This renewal means we can continue to provide our students with the resources they need to be well-prepared for a future that excites them and empowers them to believe in their dreams. Your commitment to our schools and community shows the strength of our shared vision for Clarkston’s future.”

The renewal does not affect property taxes on primary residences and qualified agricultural properties, it would only be levied on commercial, industrial, second homes, and rental properties.

The millage comprises approximately $10.2 million or 9% of the district’s operating revenue and allows the district to collect the full per-pupil funding for operating revenues at $1,083 per student.

The funds will be used to pay for staffing, textbooks, classroom supplies and operate the district’s school buildings.

FARMINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

District  voters passed a 10-year operating millage renewal proposal for the district.

It passed 29,588 yes to 16,199 no.

The district’s operating millage expires in December 2025, which means that voters needed to authorize a millage renewal to fund the operating budget of the district beyond the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The renewal will maintain current revenues and tax rates do not change.

Almost 27% of the district’s revenue, or $49.1 million would be generated in 2026.

MADISON SCHOOLS DISTRICT

The narrowest margin for approval was for a Madison schools sinking fund proposal.

The proposal was for a building and site sinking fund that would raise taxes by three mills over 10 years.

Voters approved the measure 2,812 yes (52.88%) to 2,506 no (47.12%)

“On behalf of Madison district public schools, I extend a heartfelt thank you for your overwhelming support in passing the sinking fund proposal,” said Superintendent Patricia Perry. “Your commitment to our schools and students showcases the strength of our community and our shared dedication to providing the best educational experience possible.”

The district will levy an additional $3 per $1,000 of taxable value on homes in the district from Dec. 1, 2024, through Dec. 1, 2034.

The millage will provide estimated revenues of just over one million dollars during the first year. The funds cannot be used for the salaries of teachers, administrators or other district employees.

“With this fund, we can now address critical facility repairs and maintenance needs throughout the district,” Perry said. “This dedicated funding allows us to prioritize the safety and security of our school buildings, creating a safe and supportive environment for our students and staff.”

TROY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Troy voters approved a 20-year renewal (2026-2045) which allows the district to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on non-homestead property such as  industrial and commercial real property, and residential rental property, and to continue to levy on principal residence property (owner-occupied homes).

The proposal passed 21,861 yes to 12,832 no.

“The passage of the 20-year non-homestead operating millage and the hold harmless millage renewal is a significant win for our district, and we are grateful for the community’s continued support,” said Dan Trudel, assistant superintendent for business services. “These renewals reinforce our ability to plan and implement long-term initiatives that enhance the quality of education in our schools, support our students, and ensure that we continue to meet the world-class standards expected by our community.”

The non-homestead operating millage will generate $32.7 million and the hold harmless millage will generate $9.8 million. It will provide estimated revenues of $42.5 million during the 2026 calendar year, to be used for general operating costs.

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.

WALLED LAKE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS

District voters approved a proposal to replace the current operating millage with an 18-mill non-homestead millage which represents roughly $31 million and a 3.6-mill hold harmless millage, which is $2 million of the district’s budget.

It passed 32,118 yes to 25,173 no.

“On behalf of the Walled Lake schools board of education, administration, and staff, I want to extend my heartfelt thank you for your support in passing our district’s operating millage replacement,”  said Superintendent Michael Lonze  “Your commitment to our schools and students is deeply appreciated, and this critical funding will help us continue to provide the high-quality education our community values.”

The $33 million represents 18% of the district’s $187 million revenue budget.

The non-homestead operating millage will restore the millage rate to the 18-mill limit last approved by voters in 2014 and will run through 2037.

To receive the full per-student funding of $9,608 from the state, schools must levy 18-mills on non-homestead property.

If the proposal was not approved, Walled Lake would lose more than $33 million in operating revenue every year and the state will not make up the shortfall.

 

Four out of five incumbent candidates looking to hold onto their seats on the Rochester Community Schools board did just that on Tuesday.

Incumbents Barb Anness, the board’s vice president; Michelle Bueltel, president; Julie Alspach, treasurer, and Jayson Blake, trustee, were joined by newcomer Shelly Lauzon.

Alspach, Blake and Lauzon were the top three vote-getters in a field of six candidates for the full six-year term.

Anness and Bueltel were the top two finishers in a field of four candidates for the two-year term..

Anness and Bueltel beat Andrew Weather, the only incumbent who did not receive enough votes to stay on the board. Anness received 21,873 votes and Bueltel received 21,626 votes. Weaver finished third for the term ending Dec. 31, 2026 with 20,618 votes. Only the top two candidates earned seats on the board..

“I am truly honored and grateful for the trust our community has placed in me,” said Bueltel,  “I look forward to continuing to serve and work collaboratively with our community, staff, and families to support an inclusive and thriving educational environment. I am confident that together, we will continue making a positive impact for all students in our district.”

Alspach, who was appointed to the board in May 2023, led all 10 candidates with 22,187 votes to earn her first full term on the board.

“I am grateful and humbled by the level of community support I received, both in votes and encouragement throughout the campaign,” she said. “This election reaffirms our community’s belief in the excellence of our schools and our commitment to making them even better. Rochester is my hometown, where I was raised and where my children were raised. I am honored to be chosen to continue serving it.”

Anness was grateful to earn a second term on the board.

“We have so much to be proud of here in the Rochester community school district, and the clear message that retaining four incumbents sends speaks volumes: we will not be swayed by half-truths or the negative narratives pushed by some to undermine our public school district,” Anness said. “The road ahead is bright, and I am inspired by the opportunity to continue serving this incredible community.”

She also welcomed the newest board member.

“I also welcome Shelley Louzan as the newest member of our board,” Anness said. “We look forward to working together with her, embracing a spirit of collaboration, respect, and mutual trust—values that are essential to creating a board that truly works in the best interests of all the students we serve.”

 

With 113,139 votes cast in the race for the full six-year term, Blake earned the last of four board seats beating Richard Kaczanowski by just 49 votes – 19,996 to 19,947.

“I’m very pleased at the results of this election,” said Blake. “The campaign got a little rough near the end, but I look forward to putting that behind and working to serve every student in RCS over the next six years.”

Even though Donley received 12,622 votes, the fewest of any candidates running for the six-year or two-year terms, she intends to continue to contribute her time to the schools.

“I feel honored that almost 13,000 community members voted for me on election day. I wish the outcome was different, but I’m still proud that I ran a truly grassroots, independent campaign on a frugal budget without PAC funds,” said Donley.  ‘I’m looking forward to continuing my advocacy in our community and wish all school board members the best of luck as they lead RCS into the future.”

Rochester school board candidates make their case at forum

Rochester school board election could reshape the district

Rochester school board approves new three-year contract with teachers union

 

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the Licensing Rules for Child Care Center rule set.

The changes set a minimum standard for what child care programs must do to keep children safe, healthy and learning, as MiLEAP and partners across the state work to build a high-quality child care system that is accessible and affordable for all Michigan families.

The proposed changes to the Licensing Rules for Child Care Center rule set reflect feedback gathered during 63 listening sessions from nearly 600 child care educators, community partners and state partners, as well as survey responses from nearly 1,300 people. The proposed changes will affect: health and safety, improve efficiencies and flexibilities, support the child care workforce and introduce new innovation models.

“MiLEAP is committed to ensuring families have access to child care options that meet their unique needs and give their children a safe environment where they can grow and learn,” said Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “As we worked on the review and update of the child care center licensing rules, we prioritized changes that helped expand access to child care while maintaining important standards for quality and safety.”

The public hearing will be held on Tuesday Nov. 19 at 1:30 p.m at the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 1st Floor Forum, 702 W. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing.

The proposed rules are published on the state’s Administrative Rules website.

The Michigan Association of School Librarians (MASL) honored Troy School District librarian Christina Chatel and Boulan Park Middle School teacher Michelle Slaviero with the 2024 MASL School Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award.

The award, announced on Oct. 24, celebrates their collaborative efforts, which have enhanced the educational environment within the Troy school district and serve as an example of the crucial role school libraries play in student success.

Chatel and Slaviero were recognized for their work on the Genius Hour and Michigan History Day Passion Projects with Boulan Park Middle School 8th-grade students. The student-centered projects promote deep learning, offering extensive opportunities for students to utilize the library for research and practice using citations in their work.

“I have enjoyed collaborating with Michelle for the past ten years and helping her bring Genius Hour into her classroom through the Michigan History Day project,” said Chatel. “I’m honored that MASL is recognizing our partnership as one of the best school librarian-teacher collaborations in the state this year.”

“It’s such an honor to be recognized alongside a colleague as creative and knowledgeable as Christina,” Slaviero said. “Our collaboration benefits our students immensely and shows them how essential teamwork is in delivering rigorous 21st-century learning.”