A growing group of parents who say they’re tired of ‘lip service? from school district administration and board members are working to encourage the exchange of information within the community.
Through a Facebook page titled Lake Orion Community Schools Involved Citizens (LOCSIC), the group says its ultimate goal is to ensure educational standards in the district remain high.
To that end, a mission statement posted on the page includes a line about holding district administration accountable.
The group, which also meets in real-time and currently has some 92 members, grew from an increasing ‘lack of trust? in the district.
‘Obviously, if it’s coming from more than a few people it must be an issue,? said Kris Murphy, one of group’s founding members, who often works as a substitute teacher in the district. ‘That’s why we question, because things are suspect’the decisions made in the district under the leadership of (Superintendent) Ken Gutman are suspect.?
Murphy and others say they’ve been ‘shot down? and asked not to spread ‘gossip or hearsay? while addressing the school board, both at public and private meetings.
‘We’re not there to gossip or spread rumors,? she said. ‘And my opinion is not gossip or hearsay. But whether you can talk or not is at (the board’s) discretion.?
Citing an example, Murphy said she was dismayed when two high school students were denied the opportunity to speak after they’d waited behind other students at the podium during a meeting last spring. ‘What a way to turn a kid off from the democratic process,? she said.
Although members declined to spell out the ‘suspect? decisions publicly, expressing fear of administrative retribution directed toward a number of district employees, they said those decisions involve issues like staff and program cuts.
‘We needed a venue to discuss things, open it up to the public,? said Karen Appledorn, another of the group’s founding members. ‘It’s not all controversial. ‘It’s a place to disseminate information; a discussion site.?
Recent topics posted and discussed include student transportation, teacher contracts, a new principal at LOHS, modified block scheduling, and middle school restructuring.
Members also make a point of posting relevant news stories, not only about Lake Orion schools, but surrounding districts, as well.
The group’s next real-time meeting is planned for 7 p.m. March 2 at the Orion Township Library.
State Rep. Jim Marleau recently spoke to the group about school funding.
‘We hoped he would give us some insight about what the state is planning to help school districts, but the news wasn’t good,? said Lisa Hutchinson, noting members hope to bring in additional speakers in coming months. ‘School districts are mostly on their own to figure it out, and our district doesn’t have a plan. All we do is cut, cut, cut.?
Members said they’re encouraged each time someone new shows an interest in learning what’s happening behind the scenes.
‘That’s why Facebook became important,? said Denise Mitchell. ‘People are busy, and don’t always have time to go to a meeting. And when you go to a board meeting you get one to five minutes to talk. This is a collective way for us to bring issues to the board, and to the community.?
Why?
‘We’re the epitome of stakeholders,? said Birgit McQuiston. ‘We know other people in the community who are like-minded, but feel their kids will suffer from the retribution if they speak up. But we’re doing this together, not just for our own kids, but to be part of the greater good.?
Superintendent Ken Gutman said he wasn’t aware of the site until last week, and hasn’t checked it out.
‘I have an open door policy,? he said. ‘I’m willing to meet with parents who have concerns any time.?
Gutman said he hears a lot of feedback from parents’both positive and negative.
‘I make sure to speak with each and every person I can,? he said. ‘These are difficult times, and as we go through reductions and struggle with the economy, we know we can’t make everyone happy.?
However, he added, he’s ‘very comfortable? with what he claims was the outcome of a recent survey.
‘The strategic planning results we recently reviewed came back with over 95 percent of people happy with the district,? he said, adding that the district’s own website at www.lakeorion.k12.mi.us offers a plethora of information.
To locate LOCSIC on Facebook, type Lake Orion Community Schools Involved Citizens into the search box at Facebook.com