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Redford Union Restructures to Address Deficit: Parents' Campaign Leads to Changes in District Plan

Posted on: Friday, 17 March 2006, 06:00 CST

By Zlati Meyer, Detroit Free Press

Mar. 17--When parents learned earlier this year that the Redford Union School District planned to close Bulman Elementary, they launched a lobbying campaign to keep the school open.

The financially struggling district wanted to shut the school, plus Roosevelt Elementary School, which it rents out; the Beck Educational Center, and the board of education office.

The Bulman parents' campaign paid off.

On Monday, the school board voted 5-2 to shutter the other three buildings, sparing Bulman. But up against a projected $3.7-million deficit, Redford Union also will lay off 41 staff members for the 2006-07 school year.

The plan calls for reconfiguring some other schools, such as Stuckey and Keeler, and moving offices and programs.

"There were a heck of a lot of 'Save Bulman' signs up, a lot of publicity, a lot of campaigning," said John Pullum, who ran the Save Bulman Web site. "I didn't see the Keeler signs up. I didn't see the Stuckey signs up.Once again, they might have been up there, but I didn't see them."

Juanita Goulet, treasurer of the Bulman Parent Club, also applauded the mobilized moms and dads.

"We invited the school board to come in and answer questions," said the mother of six. "They told us, 'OK, get a plan, if you want to get your school to stay open.' The school board came up with a fourth option, because parents got together and had their voices heard."

After a number of community members objected to the district's original building-closure plans, school officials crafted another 10 proposals, many the result of public input. Faced with a shrinking student population and higher health care and fuel costs, Redford Union is feeling the pinch, as are other school districts in southeastern Michigan.

Under the plan that will take effect this fall, Bulman and Stuckey elementary schools will accommodate all the second- through fifth-graders, while MacGowan Elementary School will be home to pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade. Keeler Elementary School will house the elementary day-treatment program for students with emotional issues.

The board offices, the evening high school, the alternative and community education, the child care program, GED classes, schools of choice for grades 6-12 and central registration will be at the Pearson Education Center.

"This was voted in because it utilized the buildings to their maximum capacity," school board secretary Patricia Isabell said. "It gave us the money we needed to prove to the state that we're really working hard on the deficit, and yet it allowed us to keep three schools open for the children -- Bulman, MacGowan and Stuckey."

She added that the special-ed pre-kindergarten and the Michigan School Readiness Program, currently at Beck, will move to MacGowan.

Though he sympathizes with the parents who wanted the school board to choose a different plan, Pullum pointed out that all kids could learn from the experience.

"Stand up for what you believe in and don't give up," he said. "We're in a society that votes. Luckily, we live in a country where you can have freedom of speech and can voice your opinion and not get censored for it. If they believe in something strong enough and are willing to fight, they could possibly win."

Contact ZLATI MEYER at 248-351-3291 or meyer@freepress.com.

photo

This sign on Fox Street in Redford Township is to thank the Redford Union school board for keeping Bulman Elementary open.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Detroit Free Press

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Source: Detroit Free Press

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