Salinedad

Wed, Oct 27, 2010 : 4:04 p.m.

From the Saline High School Website: Commitment To Safety After the Saline Area Schools board of education meeting Tuesday night, many students and parents have questions about the existing high school policy on harassment and bullying. The following excerpt from page 19 of the Saline High School student handbook explains our current policy. 24. Harassment Harassment of students is prohibited and will not be tolerated. This includes inappropriate conduct by other students as well as any other person in the school environment, including employees, Board members, parents, guests, contractors, vendors and volunteers. It is the policy of the District to provide a safe and nurturing educational environment for all of its students. This policy applies to all activities on school property and to all school sponsored activities whether on or off school property. Harassment or bullying is any gesture or written, verbal, graphic, or physical act (including electronically transmitted acts (i.e., Internet, cell phone, personal digital assistant (pda), or wireless hand held device) that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression; or a mental, physical, or sensory disability or impairment; or by any other distinguishing characteristic. Any person that believes s/he has been/or is the victim of harassment should immediately report the situation to the teacher, the guidance counselor, or an administrator. If the investigation finds harassment occurred it will result in prompt and appropriate remedial action. This may include up to expulsion for students, up to discharge for employee, exclusion for parents, guests, volunteers and contractors, and removal from any officer position and/or a request to resign for Board members. The safety and security of all students is the top priority for all teachers, administrators, and staff each and every day. When made aware, the Saline High School administrative team will promptly and thoroughly investigate all allegations of harassment and bullying. We are proud to have a very safe school, a very caring staff, and very supportive community. Sincerely, Ben Williams Principal, Saline High School 1300 Campus Parkway Saline, Michigan 48176 734.429.8030 Blog http://salinehighschool.blogspot.com Twitter http://twitter.com/SalinePrincipal So it appears the concern may not be "discrimination" as Mr. Hynek presents, unless the Principal got the message wrong.

Paul Hynek

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 8:15 p.m.

@SalineResident I have already made some contacts at a professional survey company in the area to help participate in the district surveys, especially to help support feedback in the district's goals. It not a cheap shot when you cut and paste the same content of e-mails with your name on them and then blog anonymously and people know who you are. How many David's do you know in Saline? If you want to have a discussion and consider facts, then we'll do it, not hide behind a blog name. That is a big problem with the discussion boards here at annarbor.com

SalineResident

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 6:35 p.m.

I feel somewhat encouraged that Mr. Hynek is at least capeable of engaging in informed discussion unlike Mr. Carter, however I agree that Ms. Faupel is the most well versed on ALL the challenges facing the district. Sadly, the SEA will deliver several hundred votes to a candidate it knows nothing about and who knows nothing. Mr. Hynek, if the BOE is concerned about the reliability of surveys, please make sure that the next district survey is controlled and statistically sound. This means you'll have to eliminate the surveys/polls from the district web site. By the way, identifying Salinedad by name is a cheap shot.

Paul Hynek

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 4:53 p.m.

Salinedad aka David, I ran on a platform OPPOSED to the option of balancing the budget with school of choice. I also believe Ms. Faupels comments at the candidate forum supported limited numbers for school of choice. "Over 87% of the parents of High School kids support weighted grades for AP and Honors classes - Mr. Hynek opposed this idea." I never opposed the idea - in fact - with your encouragement we took time to throughly investigage - to do the due dilgence (that's what you asked) - dispite your previous post that I delayed this for 3 years with parlimentary procedures. See my prior post. Technically, the change to weighted grades was on the consent agenda as a receive and file for the administrative update. I voted yes for that, and would have voted yes if it had become a policy. We've also been down the road of your use of 87% - it didn't come from a statistically sound or controlled survey. "Over 80% of the teachers and students surveyed supported the change in the language of the proposed "anti-bully" policy - Mr. Hynek opposed this idea." What we voted on was a Discrimination Policy, not anti-bullying. What about the parents and other stakeholders in the district? Did you take into account their feelings about the change?

Salinedad

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 4:08 p.m.

Hi Jimmy, According to survey's conducted over the years by Saline School Administration the data does not support your position. (feel free to contact Saline School Adminstration,they have the surveys for whomever is interested in going over this information) Here are the numbers: Over 78% of the community opposed School of Choice. Mr. Hynek ran on a platform OPPOSED to the option and then with tghe first vote on the topic when he was on the Board he voted FOR the adoption of School of Choice. Over 87% of the parents of High School kids support weighted grades for AP and Honors classes - Mr. Hynek opposed this idea. Over 80% of the teachers and students surveyed supported the change in the language of the proposed "anti-bully" policy - Mr. Hynek opposed this idea. So it appears that your views represent about 20% of the population surveyed by School Administration on these three significant matters within the District, so I stand by my statement that Mr. Hynek does not represent the views of the majority of the community and is not deserving of reelection. Marian Faupel has the insight, background and her views DO represent the views of the majority of the district. That is why she should be on the write in ballot of Saline residents next week.

Jimmy Olsen

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 6:41 p.m.

@Salinedad I think Mr. Hynek has very well represented the interests of the Saline community. Apparently the "wishes" that you alluded to in your prior post were not all that accurate. He has my vote and those of my family.

Salinedad

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 5:43 p.m.

I suggest that anyone who is interested in learning about these candidates to check out the Saline School District website. If you do you will see that Marian is clearly the most prepared and capable of the candidates for this position. Mr. Hynek has repeatedly ignored the wishes of the community in his time on the Board and Mr. Carter appears to be a nice man but unprepared for this role. Marian Faupel is clearly the best candidate and I encourage everyone to write her in, our children deserve the best we can give them and she is that person.

Paul Hynek

Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 5:28 p.m.

Salinedad, " while on the Board voted AGAINST weighted grades for AP classes" check the board minutes of June 22, 2010. Weighted grades was added as an administrative regulation to the grading policy. There was no vote. "delayed the matter for over three years using parlimentary steps to delay, defer and try to kill the matter " Could you please explain to me how I accomplished this? The request only came to the policy committee this year and it was brought by Mr. Graden, where all policy requests come from. Before that weighted grades bounced from administration, to superintendent, to administration and was finally sent to policy committee for review this year. "but when asked if he would oppose a contract from the Teachers Union that was not on par with the support staff in terms of premium sharing for health care, he was unwilling to say he would oppose the contract." I said if they had the same policy they have now, I would not support that. If they made structural changes in their health care coverage that reduced cost to the district, I would consider the costs of that versus premium sharing. I also said costs should be shared across the board for all groups. I was also the ONLY board member who voted no on the SEA extension because of health care issues. The video of last nights forum should be available soon.

Salinedad

Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 10:47 a.m.

If you had attended last nights Candidate Forum, it is obvious that Marian Fuapel was the most versed on the issues facing the district (including showing more knowledge of the topics and the details than the current incumbent Paul Hynek)and is clearly the most prepared to represent the interests of the majority of the community. Todd Carter admitted to being sponsored by the Saline Educational Association and when asked questions about the budget, the teachers contract, school of choice he told the crowd that he had not read the contract, did not know enough about school of choice to offer a comment and was not aware of the budget details. When asked about the recent "anti- bully" proposal and whether he would have approved it if he had been on the Board, he said "NO." Mr. Hynek as the incumbent explained that although he ran as a candidate AGAINST school of choice four years ago, he admitted that shortly after being elected, he voted FOR school of choice. He also opposed the "anti-bully" proposal and while on the Board voted AGAINST weighted grades for AP classes, delayed the matter for over three years using parlimentary steps to delay, defer and try to kill the matter (although most current students, parents, counselors and educators, and university admissions personnel support the change to weighted grades for AP classes.) Mr. Hynek also says that the support staff has taken the biggest hit in terms of contract concessions compared to the Teachers Union, but when asked if he would oppose a contract from the Teachers Union that was not on par with the support staff in terms of premium sharing for health care, he was unwilling to say he would oppose the contract. Conversely Marian has showed through her previous contributions to the Board (serving from 1978 - 1990), her involvement in personal rights litigation in her profession and her recent steps to re-engage in the School District that she is not afraid to take on special interests and push for progressive change (not radical change) to continue to move Saline forward as a leader in the area for the quality of public education. I encourage everyone to use the write in option and elect Marian Faupel to the School Board.

SDP

Tue, Oct 19, 2010 : 9:27 a.m.

What would it take to get Marian added to the AnnArbor.com election guide?

Don

Mon, Oct 18, 2010 : 7:59 a.m.

Updating on Red's post above, Marian has launched an official Facebook page (the one linked to above is in the process of being deactivated, once again thanks Roy!)which can be found at www.facebook.com/pages/Faupel-4-Students/168876546462181 Also, Marian has launched her official website (which is still a work in progress, so please bear with us) which can be found at www.faupel4students.com

Red

Sat, Oct 16, 2010 : 12:25 p.m.

FYI - a Facebook group has now been created to support Faupel's candidacy: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_162968260388967

SalineResident

Sat, Oct 16, 2010 : 9:39 a.m.

Scot Graden should have read a WRITTEN opinion from the attorney for the district rather than trying to recall the opinion or wing it when asked about the implications of adding 6 words to the anti-discrimination policy? A superintendent should have been better prepared. Can the attorney's opinion be posted on the district web site?

Jimmy Olsen

Sat, Oct 16, 2010 : 7:03 a.m.

@RobertinSaline There wasn't a vote at the 9/28 meeting, because the policy change was on the agenda as a "discussion" item. The 5 or 6 meetings I was referring to included the policy committee meetings, where this issue has been discussed since June. At the September policy committe meeting there was a 2-2 vote which sent it to the full board, because only 4 members of the board are on that committee.

RobertinSaline

Sat, Oct 16, 2010 : 6:41 a.m.

So if you have already voted absent ballot, can you get a new ballot & vote for Marian? Anyone know? FYI - BOE minutes show 3 (NOT 5 OR 6) meetings had some discussion and that both attorneys consulted stated " the overall school district's liability would NOT be greatly impacted by adding or not adding the language." Hey - why if 5 BOE members were at the 9/28 meeting did only 4 vote on this issue? - I looked for the Board Policy which would have Board Bylaws in it. (which the powerpoint says is "on the Web") and couldn't find the Policy - Any one know?

Don

Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 9:08 p.m.

@Jimmy Olsen - Are you by chance referring to the likes of Chuck Lesch, Amy Cattel, Paul Hynek, and Craig Hoeft hiding behind laws which they already don't follow in the current anti-discrimination policy, as "vibrant discussion?" Because if you are, we have very different definitions of vibrant discussion. Being too afraid to admit you've already decided how you would vote, and that you've decided that you'll vote against something for religious/moral reasons doesn't qualify as "vibrant discussion" in my book. Lisa Slawson was truthfully the only person on the board who encouraged any type of discussion; and all she got for her efforts was flak from the AFA.

Jimmy Olsen

Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 7:05 p.m.

There was no vibrant discussion among school board members, Faupel said. Maybe if she had come to the previous 5 or 6 meetings where the topic was discussed, she could have heard some "vibrant discussion". Susie come lately..... I do believe she was also the lawyer for former Superintendent Geltner who took the district for a large sum of money to go away. So who would be the lawyer du jour on the Board - Slawson or Faupel?

concernedparent

Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 10:54 a.m.

Tremendous news!!! You have my vote!!!

Ian

Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 10:38 a.m.

Hooray for grass-roots organizing. Democracy at its best. Go, Marian!