Despite multiple calls from state and school officials for her resignation, Clarkston’s Janet Thomas vows to remain a member of the Oakland Schools Board of Education.
Many say she must resign to help the intermediate school district move beyond it’s financial scandals, but she believes the crisis of credibility is precisely why she should stay.
‘I made a commitment when I was elected the first time,? Thomas said. ‘They need someone with historically accurate knowledge. I don’t think any board needs five brand new members.?
Also a former member of the Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education, Thomas has served on the intermediate district board since 1994, served as president and vice president and currently holds the office of treasurer. Her term is scheduled to expire in June 2006.
Following recent resignations, Thomas is the last of five board members who served during the administration of former intermediate superintendent James Redmond, who left office in the midst of charges of financial mismanagement but is now suing Oakland Schools.
Reported calls for resignations have come from sources ranging from Governor Jennifer Granholm to the Oakland County Superintendents Association and the Oakland County School Boards Association.
Despite those reports, some former colleagues are defending Thomas? character.
Clarkston Superintendent Al Roberts did not support the county superintendents association’s resolution.
‘I don’t think the superintendents association is the responsible party,? Roberts said. ‘The responsibility falls with the folks who elect the [intermediate] board. That action [the resolution] was not within our role.?
Concerning Thomas specifically, Roberts said her years with the Clarkston board demonstrated her integrity.
‘She’s done good things for kids. I think I know where her heart and motivation are,? he said. When Thomas chose not to run for reelection last year, ‘We lost a perspective on our school board that was very helpful.?
Karen Foyteck, president of the Clarkston school board, said the county board association resolution came from the five-member board of directors and not local board members.
‘The general membership [which includes all trustees from the county’s 28 school districts] had not met, nor have we discussed this,? Foyteck said. ‘I was very disturbed to hear of it.?
Foyteck does not want to predict how the Clarkston board might vote, but she said those who have worked with Thomas have no doubt about her integrity.
‘We know she is very honest and has the highest standards of conduct and responsibility,? she said. ‘It will be on our agenda in March, and we will discuss it.?
Oakland Schools board members are elected by representatives of the 28 local school districts, and have responsibility for approving spending and programs paid for through 3.4 mills in local property taxes.
According to Michigan Compiled Laws (Chapter 380), the duties of an intermediate school board include the hire of the superintendent, authorization of expenses for the superintendent and his staff, review of the annual district budget and authorization of cooperative programs for the constituent school districts.
Although she is an accountant by trade, Thomas said she and the other trustees (who only meet twice a month) trusted Redman and his staff concerning their financial recommendations. When the allegations were made, however, she said the board acted.
‘As soon as it came up, that’s when we hired The Whall Group,? Thomas said, referring to the independent company who conducted initial investigations and brought many of the charges to light.
Even with that report, Thomas maintains that some issues have been a matter of incorrect reporting or public misunderstanding.
‘Were there some mistakes made? Sure, but were people as evil as the way they were portrayed? No,? she said. ‘The abuse is not there the way it was reported to be. Things have been portrayed to be an error that wasn’t.?
For example, issues concerning alleged abuse of travel came, in part, because Oakland Schools staff were requested to speak at various conferences.
‘That’s because of the expertise of our professional staff,? she said.
Thomas also believes the timing of the groundbreaking of the intermediate district’s new headquarters with a September 2001 millage vote was unfortunate.
‘One didn’t have anything to do with the other,? she said, but when the apparent improper channeling of special education funds to the building project were discovered, the board took steps to pay back those funds to local districts (see related story).
Thomas said an $8 million bond issue to help cover the building fund shortfall did not require new taxes, and she said there was confusion about the amount of money to be generated from the September 2001 vote to the intermediate district’s vocational education centers (work on which has recently stopped because of Oakland Schools? current financial struggles).
‘We knew it wasn’t going to finish them all,? she said.
In addition, while the intent was to channel funds for vocational and career-focused education to local districts, a subsequent state ruling required the intermediate district to administer the programs.
Thomas said she is in favor of more accountability for Oakland Schools trustees. She thinks a recall-style procedure through the local boards would be a good thing, but she opposes direct election of intermediate school boards by the citizens.
In addition to the problems with the ‘bedsheet ballot,? the cost of a campaign would be prohibitive.
‘How many people know who their state board of education is, or the University of Michigan regents? People aren’t going to know who we are,? she said. ‘It would be an expensive campaign for a job that pays you $30 a meeting.?
Thomas is also in favor of a proposal to have the annual intermediate district budget presented to the local school boards for review. That used to be the standard practice, and she would like to see it be so again.
‘I think you owe them an explanation of what’s going on,? she said.