Ann Arbor school board members will not debrief publicly on superintendent's departure
Ann Arbor school board members are on their own if they would like to reflect on Superintendent Patricia Green's untimely departure.
Trustee Simone Lightfoot talks about debriefing on the superintendent's resignation at Wednesday's Board of Education meeting.
Danielle Arndt | AnnArbor.com
Lightfoot would like to know: "What the heck happened?" she said.
Green's announcement that she would be retiring this summer, despite signing a five-year contract with the district and making verbal commitments that she was in it for the long haul, stunned board members and shocked the school community.
Green has been with the Ann Arbor Public Schools for less than two years and earns a base salary of $245,000.
At Wednesday's meeting, the board was tasked with initiating a conversation on how to proceed with launching yet another superintendent search, the district's fourth since 2002.
Early on in the conversation, Lightfoot referenced her military background and said after a mission, there is always a debriefing to discuss "what could have been better, what should be better, who did what when, and how can we do things differently next time?" before moving forward.
Trustees Christine Stead, Susan Baskett and Andy Thomas also expressed seeing some value in this discussion. However, they were conflicted about the best avenue for the discussion to take place.
"Being able to reflect is a good idea," Stead said. "This is a major event for our organization and ... reflecting on the past couple of years before moving forward, I think, is a good step to go through."
Lightfoot asked the district's legal counsel, David Comsa, whether this type of reflection and evaluation was something that could take place in a closed executive session.
Ann Arbor Superintendent Resigns
Previous Coverage:
- Andy Thomas: Ann Arbor superintendent's departure could be 'turning point' for board
- Replacing Patricia Green: Ann Arbor could get free superintendent search under guarantee from last one
- Fit to serve: Ann Arbor school board to weigh options for interim superintendent
- Patricia Green's resignation letter to Ann Arbor board stresses zero-based budgeting
- Board members: Ann Arbor schools will bounce back from superintendent resignation
- Ann Arbor superintendent's resignation shocks school community
- Poll: Rate Patricia Green's tenure as Ann Arbor schools superintendent
- Ann Arbor schools Superintendent Patricia Green resigns
"I would rather not all of our conversation be public matter... I'd like for us to have the opportunity to have those ... frank discussions," she said.
Comsa said because of the nature of the discussion, he would not advise it.
"You can have an executive session for personnel matters if the person you are talking about requests that that be done," he said, but added this would be a little different because the topic of discussion would not be related to contract negotiations, disciplinary measures or other adverse actions the board might take. "I would be cautious about doing anything in executive session."
Trustee Glenn Nelson, who had no personal interest in publicly or privately reflecting as a group on the superintendent's departure, suggested the board simply hash it out right then.
"Given my personal goal in wanting to wrap up the (superintendent) profile (for the search firm), I want to get things out of the way that could inhibit that," he said. "So if this conversation has bearing on that, then I want to have it done with before that profile process begins (Wednesday). Because if we don't, it will hold up the profile and hold up the search."
However, Baskett and Thomas were opposed to debriefing publicly. Baskett said in terms of the positiveness and productivity the board wants moving forward with the superintendent search, she felt it would be in the trustees' best interests to meet in small groups for coffee or to have telephone conversations about what the board might have done differently to obtain a different outcome. Thomas concurred.
"I'm glad to share my opinion on this ... but I think it has the strong possibility of spiraling out of control, if we try to have this set as a topic of a meeting," he said, adding the topic has the potential for being very contentious, potent and destructive to the board's goal to attract a new leader.
Superintendent Patricia Green speaks at an ACLU community forum at the Peace Neighborhood Center in January 2012.
Danielle Arndt | AnnArbor.com file photo
Green was quiet during the discussions on the superintendent search process. She declined to comment on her reasons for leaving, the timing of her retirement as well as her perceptions of strengths and weaknesses of the school district. She said she already issued a public statement.
In response to why she dedicated a paragraph of her two-paragraph resignation letter to zero-based budgeting, Green said because she thinks it is really important. Green explained the district's budgets were lacking in detail and moving to line-by-line accountability, the first stage of zero-based budgeting, will improve the district's budget process and allow school officials new ways to find savings.
"I love this district. I believe in this district. (Line-by-line accountability) is the key to financial survivability. I want this district not just to survive but to succeed," she said.
Green added that her emphasis on zero-based budgeting in her resignation letter should not have been a surprise. She said she stressed it in her interview; she has stressed it throughout her tenure at the AAPS, including in her goals and objectives for the 2012-13 school year; and it only made sense to her to stress it as she left as well.
It was past 1 a.m. April 11, when Green gave her resignation letter to board President Deb Mexicotte. The handoff occurred about halfway through a discussion on whether to place a conversation about the Roberto Clemente Student Development Center on an upcoming meeting agenda, Mexicotte said.
A few minutes after receiving Green's resignation and immediately after Vice President Stead finished her remarks about why she supported a separate discussion on the proposal to close Roberto, the board president abruptly called the question, a parliamentary procedure she rarely, if ever, uses.
Calling the question is a motion to end deliberation on a specific topic. It requires a majority vote for approval. The trustees passed the motion to cease the discussion 7-0. It also approved placing Roberto Clemente on an upcoming agenda 7-0.
After both motions passed — Mexicotte hesitating in the second motion for about 18 seconds before voting — the president excused herself for an oddly-timed, 5-minute break.
Mexicotte waited outside the Fourth Floor Conference Room of the Ann Arbor District Library for a trustee to leave the board room for either a restroom or snack break. She said then she told each trustee individually or in groups of two that they needed to stay after the meeting so she could speak with them. Once the trustees had been asked to stay, the president reconvened the board meeting for about 1 minute, 30 seconds before adjourning for the night.
Mexicotte then again rallied one or two trustees at a time and told them the news of Green's resignation.
Mexicotte admitted her behavior for the last approximately 30 minutes of the meeting was unusual.
"I had to evaluate in the moment the best course of action," she said. "And I felt that would be the most appropriate way to handle it... I was thinking that it was important the trustees hear this news from me as soon as possible, but in a way that they could process it and prepare for what was going to be a difficult Thursday."
In the clip below from the final minutes of the April 10 meeting, Mexicotte paused to collect her thoughts for about 18 seconds prior to voting "yes" when her name was called to place the Roberto Clemente topic on the agenda.
She said she had to take a moment to regain her sense of what the board had been weighing, adding she had a lapse in attention following the superintendent's resignation letter.
"I had not been able to follow much of the conversation in the way I typically would ... in trying to determine how to apprise the trustees of what had happened quickly and within the letter of the law," she said. "When it came to me, I had to set myself for a second and collect my thoughts instead on what we were voting on."
Mexicotte added she could not speculate on Green's timing for submitting her letter of resignation.
Watch the clip from the April 10 meeting below, courtesy of CTN Ann Arbor, which records all of the regular school board meetings.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
A2centsworth
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 7:13 p.m.
Does this mean she gives some of the over bloated salary back since she did not keep her commitment?
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 5:09 p.m.
"The "Just FOIA That" mentality on the AAPS board described in this article in excruciating detail is so pervasive and it's just wrong!" This is the core problem. A lack of openness and transparency. It tainted Green's tenure from day one and is damaging the day-to-day functioning of the Board. Until that is adressed, there will continue to be trainwrecks. It doesn't take a consultant to figure that out.
Steve Bean
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 6:57 p.m.
Any suggestions for a constructive next step between now and when Green leaves in July?
demistify
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 3:36 p.m.
The discussion among the Board as to how to dodge the Open Meetings law is revealing. They do not want us peasants to have a clue about the reasoning of their rulers.
Basic Bob
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 6:12 p.m.
I would say they were very careful to not have a quorum during their 5 minute break. "Dodge" is exactly right. Disappointing and wrong.
Jack Gladney
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 1:38 p.m.
"What the heck happened?" Really? Clueless. Incredible.
Steve Bean
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 4:05 p.m.
So what happened, Jack? I for one am clueless and would welcome your insight and knowledge.
David Cahill
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 1:23 p.m.
Disappointing secrecy all around. Mexicotte should have told the entire Board, which was still in session, that she had received Green's letter, and read it aloud.
Steve Bean
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 4:14 p.m.
I had a similar thought that she should have read it to the board during the meeting. Then I realized that she shouldn't have. How do I know that? Because she didn't do it. That's the reality, and I've learned that arguing with reality helps nothing.
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 1:09 p.m.
The complete lack of transparency continues. They don't want anything said in public that would expose their bungling.
viacell
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 1:03 p.m.
These hard headed liberals always feel that they are absolutely right. Stay the course in running the board. Not responsible to the citizens for their failure. Just another lesson for people who vote them in.
Steve Hendel
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 12:59 p.m.
"I love this district. I believe in this district. (Line-by-line accountability) is the key to financial survivability. I want this district not just to survive but to succeed," she said. "I love this district."? Sounds like she was forced out. It also sounds like Ms Mexicotte knows more than she has communicated to the other Trustees. Will we ever find out the reason for the retirement, or (as it was in the old Soviet Union) is it 'here today, gone tomorrow'?
Danielle Arndt
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 5:50 p.m.
DonBee, I also wonder about what was going on in the administration rumor mill. And wonder about how on board the rest of the district is with the zero-based budgeting initiative. I haven't talked to many building administrators yet. The central office staff I did speak with also didn't see Pat Green's resignation coming. Same with some of the teachers I spoke to. I do wonder about the zero-based budgeting part of Pat's resignation letter and will continue to pursue if there is anything to some of the fears and speculations out there about why she may have included this in her letter. I know at the building level there was a lot of confusion and not much communication about the central office's implementation of line-by-line accountability/zero-based budgeting.
DonBee
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 2:52 p.m.
Ms. Arndt - I suspect the zero based budgeting was going to make some things that were hidden visible and that that is a big part of Mr. Allan's departure. I also think there was hard push back internally against continuing down this path by the administration. The AAEA and AAAA obviously were taking their shots at Dr. Green. I wonder what was going on in the school administration rumor mill.
Danielle Arndt
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 2:28 p.m.
Steve, there has been much speculation over the past week about whether the board or Deb Mexicotte knew Pat Green was going to resign or somehow forced her to make this decision. And I have to say, I believe the board is just as confused as we all are about Pat Green's resignation. And I also believe they don't have much more information than we do about the reasons for Green's timing. I have talked to most of the trustees a couple of times now since it happened and I really believe their shock was genuine, and I personally don't think Green is any more forthcoming with them than she is with the public or the members of her staff - just based on my interactions with her over the past year and a half. This is just my gut feeling and opinion, though.
A Voice of Reason
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 12:34 p.m.
Well, it is appropriate for all companies or organizations to have an exit interview. I believe Pat Green is leaving because she did not have the social capital to get things done. She was willing to make the tough calls in education, but needed support. I am not sure who is supporting her at this point, especially not the AnnArbor.com "arm-chair BOE members" who are constantly complaining about her salary, of all things. Get over it! Sometimes it is good to have a fresh eye on our district; she brought this in and we chased her away. We have lots of intellectual "haves" in this town with plenty of social capital making sure their academically talented kids have all the best in AAPS. There are so many programs for kids at the top, you cannot believe it! Public education is for all students, not just those of the vocal, parents with social capital. Community High School has the highest MEAP scores coming in 9th grade, these kids would do well where ever they go and this school is so protected and morally wrong. Why is it for the kids who are at risk of not graduating? I would love for just want online comment, with all liberals in this town, with a genuine concern about the low graduation rate for African Americans or the achievement gap--one comment please.
a2mom
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 7:55 p.m.
Why not give the most to the average students (not the highest or lowest). The average students are the majority of the learners in this school district.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 4:40 p.m.
@A Voice of Reason wrote: "I would love for just want online comment, with all liberals in this town, with a genuine concern about the low graduation rate for African Americans or the achievement gap--one comment please." I wrote a whole column on this topic and a few allied points about why the schools don't educate all our children effectively: "Currently, 21-23% of all children nationwide end up as functional illiterates as adults, with a higher proportion of children from low- and moderate-income families suffering that fate. Solving this problem, preventing additional children from being condemned to a lifetime of poverty and dependence, is critical to the future of our communities, our democracy and is perhaps the major social justice issue of our day." See: www.annarbor.com/news/opinion/6-tough-questions-that-schools-in-ann-arbor-and-washtenaw-county-should-answer/
towncryer
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 2:51 p.m.
I have great concern for the achievement gap which is why I think it is foolish to move RC to Pioneer. But I also have great concern for ALL students and I think this "discipline gap" nonsense is doing no one any favors. You cannot bring the high achievers down and make students fearful of going to school "because no one does anything about troublemakers" in order to close the achievement gap. I think if money is going to be spent anywhere, it should be on after-school tutoring that provides a late bus and classroom assistants. Also, it's too bad Ann Arbor doesn't have a Boy/Girls Club. As a side note, I think Community would be a terrible location for a school for at-risk kids---too many temptations. If RC HAD to be moved, Skyline would be my first choice.
Claude Kershner
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 1:27 p.m.
I thought Clemente was the school for at risk kids? Wasn't that/isn't that the purpose?
A Voice of Reason
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 12:36 p.m.
why isn't it (Community High School) for kids who are at risk of not graduating?
Jim Mulchay
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 11:53 a.m.
Just speculating - If the resignation was hand written it might have been "spur of the moment" - "I've got to get out of this asylum ASAP"; If it was typed it might have been a "contingency", held off to see how the board was responding to various agenda items (sort of a "reverse" vote of "no confidence" in the board?); And maybe it is really nothing to do with the job, and timing was incidental ("I'll give it to them when the meeting breaks up") As far as a "debriefing" style meeting - this is always great in theory. But to be effective you really have to check your egos, preconceptions and prejudices at the door and be willing to speak bluntly and frankly. This is not easy to do in the world of immediate electronic media where ii is easy to take any comment and "spin it" however you'd like. Just speculating.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 11:47 a.m.
"In response to why she dedicated a paragraph of her two-paragraph resignation letter to zero-based budgeting, Green said because she thinks it is really important. Green explained the district's budgets were lacking in detail and moving to line-by-line accountability, the first stage of zero-based budgeting, will improve the district's budget process and allow school officials new ways to find savings. "I love this district. I believe in this district. (Line-by-line accountability) is the key to financial survivability." Translation: The AAPS budgeting process is deeply broken and if not fixed ASAP as THE top priority, the $8.6 million structural annual deficit cannot be fixed without damaging the quality of the AAPS. It is telling that her resignation letter laid out only ONE priority and this was it.
Jack Panitch
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 2:54 p.m.
You owe me a beer. You owe Steve Norton six for the insult of confusing me with him, as he is unquestionably the better man.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 2:37 p.m.
@Jack Panitch: Sorry for my mistake. I confused you with Steve Norton then.
Jack Panitch
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 12:23 p.m.
I'm not sure where you get your information, @Stephen Lange Ranzini, but I never served as Andy Thomas's campaign manager, and while I think extremely highly of his integrity in public service and would vote for him again, that's pretty much as far as my connection to him goes. He and I certainly haven't communicated about zero-based budgeting. Steve Norton was Andy's campaign manager. You do not usually make stuff up, so I would be interested in hearing you identify your source.
Goober
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 11:42 a.m.
Zero based budgeting is an excellent idea. I have implemented this same concept in business many times with great success. What the team learns from this exercise is how to quantify and justify each and every line item or expense/cost. This type of information is sorely needed if the BOE ever intends to get a true handle on the financial needs of our school system vs. their practice of emotional financial decisions. Yes - zero based budgeting does take team work and training.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 10:59 a.m.
@Jack Panitch: Considering the fact that you have served in the past as Trustee Andy Thomas' campaign manager and the two of you are close, I find your opposition to zero based budgeting interesting. Does Trustee Andy Thomas also oppose zero based budgeting? How many other trustees? Since Superintendent Green felt that moving to zero based budgeting was the ONE way forward, if the board wasn't willing to support her in moving there, that would explain a lot. I'd quit too, if I were in that situation.
Jack Panitch
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 10:09 a.m.
The District might also consider issuing a report, along with its budget recommendations, that addressed the alternatives and explained why some were rejected and others adopted. But I'm not sure, especially when I read about the history of its use in the public sector, that zero based budgeting will lead us all into the promised land. As Paula Gardner observes, we need more information about Dr. Green's plan for implementation beyond what's contained in her letter of resignation. And if we ask her, she might be delighted to share more on this subject. I'm eager to take that class.
Jack Panitch
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 10:07 a.m.
It is beyond debate that there needs to be greater transparency in the budgeting process. Moreover, lip service to greater transparency isn't helpful, and a once a year stab at greater transparency isn't helpful either. If the public says it needs more information to engage in the process in a meaningful way, and the information isn't forthcoming, then the public begins to feel as though the invitation to participate is just for show. But after reading several detailed explanations of the use of zero-based budgeting in the public sector, I'm not so sure it makes a bit of sense to adopt. The main disadvantage to the approach is the level of work involved, and for reasons beyond the District's control (all having to do with the state's process for setting K12 funding levels), the process always starts later than the community is comfortable with. I'm not going to put any words in RA's mouth, but I bet he felt like one of those amazing Cirque du Soleil jugglers each year, never coming close to dropping a ball; but the important difference being that no one appreciated the act. I do not speculate as DonBee does elsewhere in this commentary, that a move to zero-based budgeting would reveal much. Rather, it might reveal that we have a lot of predictable, expenses that don't need to be justified beyond the fact that they are required by law or common practices to operate. There have to be ways -- short of zero-based budgeting which could have the tendency of requiring greater resources and moving us back even further in the cycle in engaging the community -- of getting us to the greater transparency the community feels it needs. For example, something as simple as updating the "user friendly budget guide" issued back in maybe 2008 or 2009 in TR's time and never reissued or updated would go a long way to help the public understand and engage.
Goober
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 9:31 a.m.
In my 'over 35 years' worth of experience in business, I do not recall ever having an auditor find any issue with books kept following standard accounting practices. This experience included changing auditors, even with one that had the account for many years. I believe the problem we face is from a lack of concern over spending patterns not to budget and people responsible not doing their job.
DonBee
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 2:48 p.m.
Mr. Ranzini - I wonder what would happen if they brought in a different auditor, instead of the one they have been cozy with for the last 15 years? Do you think that if this was truly untangled that some interesting facts about the budget might come to light? I do.
A Voice of Reason
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 12:17 p.m.
I said that too: Last "dying" request in her resignation letter says it all!
aaparent
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 10:50 a.m.
The continued dysfunction of the BOE. The trustees ask the executive attorney Comsa if would be ok to talk and debrief about why Pat Green broke up with them. They have a lot of big emotions they wonder if they can discuss out loud. Lightfoot tries to push the board to look at its dysfunction but her colleagues don't take her seriously, despite her military background. Our district is being led by trustees who are making their leadership into a game of Simon Says or Mother May I. @Wake Up A2 suggests the obvious and Ruth Kraut did something similar on her website -- survey your troops in all the barracks. The teachers in every building will tell you what is going on. The counselors in the secondary schools will add important information about how students are impacted daily. If the BOE leadership stays the same, no one should expect any change. Mexicotte seems to live in an imaginary world and believes hope and faith will lead the district to a better place. Her colleagues voted her in as president. They should vote her out. The voters can try to recall the board, but there isn't time and kids will be hurt by that. A petition asking the board to reorganize their leadership or have some community members coach them to get more focused on being effective leaders instead of dysfunctionally waffling and venting their passionate views about many issues concerning education at the board meetings. Meanwhile, students back in every building are looking for leadership and help. The teachers and building staff are holding things together for the kids.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 10:46 a.m.
Paula, also, avoiding Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) disclosable discussions to keep the public uninformed is also very hostile!
Steve Bean
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 3:53 p.m.
I appreciate Jack's efforts to redirect the commentary toward encouragement and constructive feedback.
Jack Panitch
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 3:05 p.m.
Look, a couple of days ago, Andy Thomas gave an interview and then was immediately vilified for speaking his mind. Now you are vilifying the entire BOE for thinking twice about raining down the same s-storm. Additionally, exercising a little discretion and patience would likely yield the information you seek. This is all fresh now, and the response should not be to pick up the torches and pitchforks and march on the District Library building (not Balas, right?). If Dr. Green isn't saying anything more than what she's said publicly, no one likely knows anything more than what she has said publicly, and any "debriefing" session would involve a lot of unnecessary conjecture, anyway, something none of us need. From my perspective, be quiet, be patient, be a sponge, don't act like this is our first rodeo, and maybe we'll learn something useful.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 1:40 p.m.
@Jack Panitch: You are correct, I should have written "Paula, also, avoiding sunshine law provisions governing Open Meetings to keep the public uninformed is also very hostile!" If AnnArbor.com had an edit button, I'd use it! @Paula Gardner is also correct "We tend to use FOIA as an umbrella term for sunshine laws, simply b/c we need to use it so much more frequently." I did mean Sunshine Laws and the specific sunshine law at issue here is the Open Meetings Act, as @Jack Panitch points out.
Jack Panitch
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 1:22 p.m.
And where's Ed V when we need him? : )
Jack Panitch
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 1:03 p.m.
The point is that it's a completely different set of considerations. Educate yourselves. Knowledge is key. But more importantly, online commenters have been calling the BOE dysfunctional for engaging in this type of discussion under the fishbowl of the OMA for months now. Now, we are taking them to task for deciding not to do it? Is this our first rodeo?
Paula Gardner
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 12:30 p.m.
We tend to use FOIA as an umbrella term for sunshine laws, simply b/c we need to use it so much more frequently. That's been the case with the schools in particular.
Brad
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 12:14 p.m.
I find it telling that we need to know the difference between different ways of concealing transparency.
Jack Panitch
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 12:07 p.m.
Unless I miss my guess, this is an OMA thing, not a FOIA thing. And since we are letting it all hang loose here in the commentary, I find it telling that we don't know the difference.
Paula Gardner
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 10:52 a.m.
Yes - what I'm also thinking: It also sounds like there's a strong commitment to keeping any reason for that out of the public eye, for reasons that seem face-saving. Rather than harming the chance to hire a quality candidate in the future, I think hashing out issues in public - hopefully to some resolution - would assure a candidate that they're stepping into a role that can be supported.
Paula Gardner
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 10:43 a.m.
The 1 a.m. written resignation during a meeting - and during the middle of a discussion about an important program in the schools - raises concerns for me. It goes beyond unusual; it feels hostile.
A2PuzzledParent
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 10:30 p.m.
I agree. The manner in which she submitted her resignation was so completely unprofessional - really appalling.
A2centsworth
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 7:11 p.m.
It makes her appear guilty of shenanigans!
A2Realilty
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 4:17 p.m.
Spot on Paula.
TheDiagSquirrel
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 10:36 a.m.
Of course they aren't. Either they know Patricia Green isn't retiring after all, and will be hiring in at another district (and are too embarassed to speak about it now), or they are simply as terrible communicators as Green was. Either explanation is plausible...
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 10:33 a.m.
Federal and state legislatures passed the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and other "Sunshine Laws" to ensure that politicians cannot cover up the truth and that those who do are exposed and voted out of office. Unfortunately, some of Ann Arbor's key civic leaders, both in our city hall and public schools, have forgotten this basic lesson.
Claude Kershner
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 10:26 a.m.
"What the heck happened?" Perhaps, Ms. Lightfoot if you made yourself available to the public forums to talk about the budget and stayed out of courtrooms crying race you might be able to answer that question.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 10:22 a.m.
The "Just FOIA That" mentality on the AAPS board described in this article in excruciating detail is so pervasive and it's just wrong! Openness and transparency of government information advances democracy and good governance, helps fight corruption and government incompetence and is crucial for the defense of basic human rights. Here's the Michigan Legislature's stated purpose for enactment of the FOIA: "It is the public policy of this state that all persons . . . are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and public employees, consistent with this act. The people shall be informed so that they may fully participate in the democratic process." It is sad that some of our civic leaders need to relearn this. I wrote a column last year about this topic: www.annarbor.com/news/opinion/ann-arbor-city-council-and-school-board-both-need-lessons-in-open-government/
Wake Up A2
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 10:12 a.m.
A simple staff survey will tell you why. Start with Balas then send it to the schools. That will get the quickest response.
Orangecrush2000
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 12:37 p.m.
Maybe the board believes that they would be the only ones who would know what happened?