With more than 90 percent of all Michigan public schools facing multi-million dollar shortfalls in their budgets, Dr. Skilling Superintendent of Oxford public schools is entering the high-priced world of television hoping to steal money from neighboring public school districts.
According to the March 25th edition of the Oxford Leader, Oxford public schools is featured in a 30-minute infomercial showcasing it and two other Michigan school districts on April 2, 2009.
What most won’t realize is this program has nothing to do with promoting good schools in Michigan, its really just bought advertisement (paid with public tax dollars) in an effort to steal funds from neighboring districts? According to the Oxford Leader, Pat Bono, an administrative assistant to Dr. Skilling is quoted as saying ‘Oxford’s portion of the ad is $25,000.?
At a time when most districts are spending sleepless nights trying to solve these shortfalls and preserve programs, Oxford School Superintendent Dr Skiling feels its okay to waste $25,000 for an infomercial on WXYZ-TV.? Its no wonder the public questions what school officials spend our school tax dollars on.
What’s at stake is neighboring districts losing out on $7,000 to $8,000 per student. If a district were to lose 20 students that would equate to an additional $140,000.00-$160,000 loss of revenue, something most districts could not absorb.
I am at a loss why some districts feel they deserve more public money than everyone else. Districts like Oxford already receive more money than other neighboring districts, why is there a need to drop to this new low of stealing from the neighbors?
And please let’s not pretend your district is doing anything better educationally (in fairness I believe they do have a good program) than other neighboring districts, let’s put the numbers side by side. Competition is good for everyone, but buying deception with public tax dollars is just plain wrong. A quick glance at the Michigan Department of Educations web site www.michigan.gov/mde supports the fact that Oxford is fairing no better than its neighbors.
In the end Oxford public schools will find they threw away $25,000 at a time when kids throughout the state are going without needed programs.? This is where as a School Board Trustee in Lapeer, Michigan I get frustrated. We are all in the same boat and here to serve all children in our state and provide the best possible public education. School of choice was created to raise the bar and create competition, not steal from their neighbor’s piggy banks through paid infomercials. Dr. Skilling is a bright person who I respect, but this decision can only be self-serving to his personal agenda and resume. Couldn’t we put our heads and dollars to better use?
Please note ? I am writing from my perspective as a Board Trustee not the entire LCS Board.

John Nugent
Lapeer Community Schools Board Trustee