It’s sad on what’s going on with Clarkston Schools.
It’s hard to believe some members of the school board shut their eyes and covered their ears so long and so hard they didn’t know about troubles ahead.
Now that they’ve opened their eyes they’re absolutely ‘shocked? by everything going on, meanwhile schools around us have prepared, making choices to ensure stability.
Over the past three years, I’ve walked through many of the halls in Clarkston schools, talked with many teachers, and students. I get excited when I see a student excited about learning math, science, and technology; because he and his classmates can build a robot with their knowledge; or when a kindergartener proudly shows off her ‘in the lines? coloring.
School administrators / boardmembers remind me of other governing bodies nearby. It seems they forgot why they were elected or hired. It’s about inspiring young minds and preparing them to be the next engineer, teacher, astronaut, journalist, or even president.
Instead they’re taught teachers can be replaced, classroom sizes can increase, programs which enhance their learning ability can be cut and while others that make administrators? lives easier, are added.
I have been told of the corruption in the system, where the focus is no longer on enriching young lives, but safeguarding checkbooks and jobs.
In the past we have asked the district to open up, be transparent — show us their check book. We have offered a half page a week worth of space in the Clarkston News/Penny Stretcher for free, so the district could use to keep residents informed, and thereby actively involved in the district. The answers we have received, only keep us all in the dark.
I think, they think we can’t handle the truth. Maybe they’re just trying to hide something. We’ll never know.
I would also like to thank school boardmembers who have openly asked questions and sought information not readily available to them (or us) in order to gain knowledge. Their efforts, and theirs? alone help ensure a better future.

The philosophy ‘one bad kid ruins it for the whole classroom? makes a bad rule. You don’t punish all the kids because one is misbehaving. Trustee Neil Wallace seems to think you should.
Wallace gave an 807-word speech at the Jan. 19 Independence Township board meeting about a newspaper and story (‘Mum’s the word,? Jan. 13) he deems ‘irrelevant.? However, I find it interesting the day the Clarkston News became ‘irrelevant? to Mr. Wallace was the day he found out the News didn’t endorse his slate for the 2008 election. Eight-hundred-some words are a lot on something ‘irrelevant,? don’t you think?
Wallace said in his comments the newspaper’s coverage of the township’s new rule limiting residents to one agenda item per meeting ‘did not examine the rationale, which we (the board) have endured the entire time we’ve been here, the abuse of these meetings that has gone on and that drove the board to this decision.?
Actually, Mr. Wallace, I did examine the rationale and here’s what I came up with. There are about 47,960 residents in the Clarkston area (Independence and Springfield townships, and Clarkston), 1,203,000 residents in Oakland County, 10 million in Michigan, and 309 million in the United States. You just made a rule change because of ONE single person who has ‘abused the board? and with whom you disagree.
Neither our story nor our editorial ‘endorsed? any abuse. Instead, we offered suggestions for stricter rules or greater enforcement of existing rules. Unfortunate as it may be, Mr. Wallace, enforcement of those rules falls into the hands of the supervisor, who is the chairman of the meetings.
He also said the rule is to ‘prevent someone who has not been elected from commenting on every single agenda item that comes before this board.?
Pardon me, but it is a PUBLIC MEETING, and if members of the public whom YOU WORK FOR and are essentially YOUR BOSS want to comment on every single agenda item, they have that right to do so in a RESPECTFUL manner. Those who are not respectful should be forced to sit down. Being elected does not give the board the right to shut the people out of the conversation ? that’s the difference between democracy and dictatorship.
Wallace claims in the 30 years he’s watched township meetings, people have never come to meetings to speak on multiple agenda items. Funny, because I’ve been at nearly every board meeting for the past three years and have seen him stand before the board two or three times throughout a night. Even resident and Planning Commissioner Ron Ritchie said the night of Wallace’s speech, ‘I’ve not spoken many times at the meetings, but there’s been nights where I have spoken two or three times.?
Sure, you can change the public comment section of the agenda to allow the public to address the board on any matter including agenda items, but it’s a little hard to say anything if they haven’t heard the board’s conversation yet.
I would like to also point out a part of the Open Meetings Act, which states ‘a person can be excluded from a public meeting due to a breach of the peace actually committed at the meeting,? perhaps you should pursue that angle rather than limiting the majority to attempt to silence the abuse of one.

Wow, I can’t believe Christmas is here already. It seems like just last week was Thanksgiving, but then again they were already playing Christmas songs on the radio before Thanksgiving.
Coworker Wendi was overwhelmed with elementary Christmas parties, so she asked if we all could take a school and help out. I chose Springfield Plains Elementary.
As I walked down the hall to the little Kindergartners, I listened to the sounds of laughter and joy filling the rooms. I was glad to see so many parents who took time out of their day to enjoy some holiday fun with their kid(s). They plan the parties at just the right time of the day, so once the child is filled up on sugary snacks and drinks, it’s time to send the sugar-happy child home with mom and dad. Genius, I tell you, genius.
I can still recall some of my own elementary Christmas parties. Man, does it feel like forever ago. I remember the boys had to bring in a ‘boy gift? and the girls, a ‘girl gift.? One year I got a Boomerang. I remember I was so excited because I thought I would be like Zelda (for those of you old enough to remember the Nintendo videogame character.)
My boomerang was not quite like Zelda’s. No matter what way I threw it, it would never fly back to me. In fact, it broke the same day. Darn cheap plastic, I bet Zelda’s wasn’t plastic.
I also have some friends who are bound and determine to teach me how to ski or snowboard this year, so we’ll see how it works out.
Christmas is so much more than parties, sugar cookies, plastic boomerangs, and snowboarding. It’s a time for giving and sharing love with one another or, as one Christmas song puts it, ‘Goodwill towards men.?
Even beyond that though, Christmas is a time to remember ‘the perfect gift,? which God gave us many years ago when he blessed Mary with the birth of a son who would be born in a manger and change the world forever. His name is Jesus and I am so glad we get the chance to celebrate his birthday every year. God bless you everyone and have a safe holiday.

It’s amazing how many times we get calls from people upset about something we report in the Clarkston News and let their frustrations out on us. Moments like that make me think people don’t really understand what we do.
An example, I got a call this past week from a lady who was upset because of all the ‘free press? I give to the ‘two board members on each end of the (Independence Township) board,? who believes ‘what they’re saying isn’t much of anything.?
Well, when it comes to writing a news story, my job is REPORT what is being said and what happened. Whether or not I believe what they said is irrelevant is not my place to decide. I will let readers make that call.
However, if you’re upset by what you’ve read, write a letter to the editor, explaining how and why you’re upset with what you read. Let elected officials know what you think. Perhaps there are others out there who share your feelings.
The only place where I voice my opinon on something said or done is right in this space. Why? Because this is the opinion page, where I am alotted space about once a month to say my own thing. Now, if you take issue with something I write in my column, feel free to call me, e-mail me, or write a letter to the editor about it. I don’t expect everybody to agree with me or my views, but I am open to hearing what you have to say.
The woman ended our conversation by saying, ‘if you don’t have anything good to write, you shouldn’t write anything at all. That’s a good saying.?
I would agree with her; however, unfortunately, not all news is good, and we will never like everything we read, hear, or see. I owe it to the citizens of this community to keep them informed on what is happening in their city and their township.
As I have stated before, I take my job seriously and will always do to best of my ability to write the truth, fairly and accurately. Thanks for reading!
E-mail us at clarkstonnews@gmail.com or call 248-625-3370.

This past week has been busy as far as news and meetings go. Tuesday was the usual ‘township party? at Independence Township Hall.

The good news is the meeting was just under three hours long. Thanks for the extra few hours of sleep.

The major topic of debate was ‘car allowances? (see story on page 4A). It seems the longer a topic is discussed, the more confusing board members get, which relates to my last column ‘Too much talk.?

There was a lot of back and forth as whether car allowances were considered a ‘stipend? or ‘salary.? It’s in moments like this when no one can agree, you ask your township attorney to render an opinion. This way there is one final opinion for the entire board instead of everyone saying ‘well I talked to this person and they said…?

I personally believe there should be no car allowances for anyone full-time elected or township employees. Either use the township vehicles or write your mileage reimbursement like everyone else who works for the township does.

When the clerk treasurer, and supervisor are making between $70,000 to $80,000 a year, I’m pretty sure they can afford gas, insurance, and regular car maintenance.

I hope the thoughts and comments from various board members Tuesday night will urge the three elected to give up their car allowances and save the taxpayers a little money.

* * *

My other meeting last week was the ‘Recall Wagner? meeting (story on page 1A) headed up by Henry Woloson, Mike Powell, and Joel DeLong.

With over 50 people in attendance and more who have shown an interest through e-mails and phone calls, it sounds to me like many people are sick of the status que they are recieving from their township officials.

What I gathered from talking to a few of the residents who attended was they were frustrated because they feel the leadership is not listening to the taxpayers and there needs to be more transparency and accountability. As to what will happen we will have to wait and see.

Also thanks to all who responded to my last columun.