Pontiac school board to meet more often to discuss budget
Friday, January 15, 2010
By DIANA DILLABER MURRAY
Of The Oakland Press
Of The Oakland Press
Trustees on the Pontiac Board of Education plan to double their meetings from two to four nights a month to get the necessary work done to restructure district schools and reduce the deficit.
Board members are also considering a change in board pay. Trustees discussed Wednesday the possibility of voluntarily giving up the $81.50 per meeting stipend for one of the meetings each month or lowering the amount of the stipend.
The majority of trustees said they didn’t run for office for the money.
The issue of board pay was brought up by new board President Gill Garrett at a special meeting on board governance. However, the issue has not come to a board vote and may require a change in board policy.
“We are going to have meetings,” Garrett said. “The administrators have clearly stated there are items facing the district that the board has to make decisions on. The board has the option of not being paid for meetings outside of regular meetings.”
Trustees plan to focus on the deficit elimination plan, due to the state Feb. 15, and on the budget for the next school year, due to the state June 30.
But new Vice President Caroll Turpin, whose focus as a school activist for the past 31⁄2 years has been on academics, is pushing the board to set goals and objectives so key programs are protected when cuts are made.
She said she had no objections to more meetings. She wants more discussion and dialogue on issues before the votes at a regular meeting.
Superintendent Tom Maridada II has also said it is important for the board to determine its priorities so that there is money in the budget for those priorities.
“We want to make sure we get off on the right foot,” Garrett said. “We want to make sure we speak on these things before they are presented to us for a vote.” He pointed out, however, that board discussions have to be done at an open meeting and not away from the public, even if there is no vote.
Turpin is also urging the board to create a method of evaluating the superintendent.
“Dr. Maridada has been here since August and no evaluation has been set up,” Turpin said.
“What do we see as our goals this year?” Turpin asked. “What do we want to accomplish? We do not have those two measures (goals and objectives and evaluation method) in place and it is January.”
Trustee Christopher Northcross pointed out that the board has already approved the creation of niche schools, with the idea that they would attract students interested in a themed education, such as performing arts or science and technology.
Safety and security, and public access to the board are also priorities, Northcross said.
To improve its decision making, the board is working with Michigan Association of School Boards in a pilot study of a national program that instructs boards on making decisions based on data, such as test scores, drop-out rates and the number of students who go to college. The program is covered by a grant.
Trustees have also committed themselves to a second yearlong program that is geared to helping the board work efficiently without letting personal issues get in the way.
Northcross suggested trustees might do better to operate more efficiently with fewer regular board meetings so trustees can be more involved in community-school activities.
Trustee Robert Bass said he agreed meetings need to be more efficient but, “I disagree with anyone who says we don’t need to meet. We are so far behind. We have so much to do, so much discussion needs to take place.”
Trustee Karen Cain said she had no problem increasing the number of meetings, but she does have a problem if trustees are going to be paid for more than two meetings a month.
“That’s doubling the expense,” Cain said.
While Bass said money is not an issue for him, he had trouble understanding why trustees were willing to approve contracts and vote raises and extensions in contracts “but can’t add $81.50” for a board meeting.
Turpin said she couldn’t understand why the board didn’t wait for the new trustees to be seated before approving contracts.
Audit report Tuesday
A report on the forensic audit ordered by the Pontiac Board of Education in late September will be given to trustees at a closed session at 4 p.m. Tuesday before the regular 5:30 p.m. board meeting at Rogers Elementary School. PNH Consulting Group was contracted to audit accounts payable, including federal funds, and a payroll review.
The scope of the investigation into possible mismanagement of funds is confidential until the audit report is released.
Board members are also considering a change in board pay. Trustees discussed Wednesday the possibility of voluntarily giving up the $81.50 per meeting stipend for one of the meetings each month or lowering the amount of the stipend.
The majority of trustees said they didn’t run for office for the money.
The issue of board pay was brought up by new board President Gill Garrett at a special meeting on board governance. However, the issue has not come to a board vote and may require a change in board policy.
“We are going to have meetings,” Garrett said. “The administrators have clearly stated there are items facing the district that the board has to make decisions on. The board has the option of not being paid for meetings outside of regular meetings.”
Trustees plan to focus on the deficit elimination plan, due to the state Feb. 15, and on the budget for the next school year, due to the state June 30.
But new Vice President Caroll Turpin, whose focus as a school activist for the past 31⁄2 years has been on academics, is pushing the board to set goals and objectives so key programs are protected when cuts are made.
She said she had no objections to more meetings. She wants more discussion and dialogue on issues before the votes at a regular meeting.
Superintendent Tom Maridada II has also said it is important for the board to determine its priorities so that there is money in the budget for those priorities.
“We want to make sure we get off on the right foot,” Garrett said. “We want to make sure we speak on these things before they are presented to us for a vote.” He pointed out, however, that board discussions have to be done at an open meeting and not away from the public, even if there is no vote.
Turpin is also urging the board to create a method of evaluating the superintendent.
“Dr. Maridada has been here since August and no evaluation has been set up,” Turpin said.
“What do we see as our goals this year?” Turpin asked. “What do we want to accomplish? We do not have those two measures (goals and objectives and evaluation method) in place and it is January.”
Trustee Christopher Northcross pointed out that the board has already approved the creation of niche schools, with the idea that they would attract students interested in a themed education, such as performing arts or science and technology.
Safety and security, and public access to the board are also priorities, Northcross said.
To improve its decision making, the board is working with Michigan Association of School Boards in a pilot study of a national program that instructs boards on making decisions based on data, such as test scores, drop-out rates and the number of students who go to college. The program is covered by a grant.
Trustees have also committed themselves to a second yearlong program that is geared to helping the board work efficiently without letting personal issues get in the way.
Northcross suggested trustees might do better to operate more efficiently with fewer regular board meetings so trustees can be more involved in community-school activities.
Trustee Robert Bass said he agreed meetings need to be more efficient but, “I disagree with anyone who says we don’t need to meet. We are so far behind. We have so much to do, so much discussion needs to take place.”
Trustee Karen Cain said she had no problem increasing the number of meetings, but she does have a problem if trustees are going to be paid for more than two meetings a month.
“That’s doubling the expense,” Cain said.
While Bass said money is not an issue for him, he had trouble understanding why trustees were willing to approve contracts and vote raises and extensions in contracts “but can’t add $81.50” for a board meeting.
Turpin said she couldn’t understand why the board didn’t wait for the new trustees to be seated before approving contracts.
Audit report Tuesday
A report on the forensic audit ordered by the Pontiac Board of Education in late September will be given to trustees at a closed session at 4 p.m. Tuesday before the regular 5:30 p.m. board meeting at Rogers Elementary School. PNH Consulting Group was contracted to audit accounts payable, including federal funds, and a payroll review.
The scope of the investigation into possible mismanagement of funds is confidential until the audit report is released.
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