Oxford parent Tom Moore is quite pleased with the education his first grade son is getting through the Oxford special education program. As a matter of fact, he couldn’t say enough about the teachers and staff.
“He’s getting wonderful assistance,” said Moore, whose son has Asperger’s Syndrom. “I give Oxford schools a top grade for their work in special education.”
However, the Oakland County taxpayer was stunned to learn that millions of dollars in special education funding was used by the Oakland Public Schools to build a new headquarters.
“I just feel like it was by and large pure public deception,” Moore stated.
According to reports, an investigation done by the Auburn Hills-based Whall Group, at the request of the Oakland Schools board of education, showed that $18.6 million in special education and vocational education funds was used to build the new $29 million Oakland Schools headquarters building. In addition, an extra $10 million in special education funding was spent on a fiber optics system.
“I was disappointed to hear this,” said Oxford school board president Ron Etherton. “In my opinion that money was misappropriated.”
Board trustee Steve Drakos agreed.
“Those funds should be untouched since they were dedicated for a specific purpose.”
Between $300,000 and $5 million in special education and vocational funding was set aside annually by Oakland Schools between 1998 and 2003 to finance the new headquarters. This news comes after a September 2001 millage that brings in $55.5 million annually from local tax payers for special education and $10.8 million for vocational education.
“It really doesn’t totally surprise me,” said Oxford board trustee Lee Barclay, “because of the way the millage in 2001 was handled over the summer time and so fast. Plus the way the groundbreaking for the new building happened so quickly right afterwards. It just seemed odd.”
In addition, the state is withholding the district’s $1.4 million payments for December and January until the 2002 independent audit is complete and given to the State Office of Audits. Payments to Oakland Schools will continue to be withheld until the situation is resolved.
The Oakland Schools board is currently reviewing the issues and recommendations presented by the Whall Group. At this time, they have removed all responsibilities from Superintendent James Redmond, but have taken no other action. Redmond is still receiving his $274,000 salary and benefits package.
“Kingdom building with money that was earmarked for another specific purpose is plain wrong,” said Moore.
He added that the local school board should take some kind of action in the situation, though he was not aware of what options they have.
“I think at the very least they should put out a public comment showing their displeasure with the situation.”
However, members of the Oxford School board of education did not address the issue during last night’s regular meeting. In fact, the only mention of the investigation by a trustee was when Barclay asked those present whether or not the state withheld funding would hurt Oxford schools and exactly how the members of the Oakland School board are elected. No information, motions or resolutions were presented on the topic for review.
In fact, no Oxford school special education instructors were willing to comment on the situation, and parents of special education students were hesitant to voice a view.
Oxford school officials did comment that they expect the district to be effected very little, if at all, by the situation and the state withheld funding.
According to Assistant Superintendent Ron Franey, the local school district is not strongly dependent upon the Oakland Schools monthly state funding.
“It’s my understanding that those monies would be used for Oakland Schools own administration and programs more than coming down to the local districts,” he explained. “In fact, 90 percent of our special education funding comes directly from the specified property taxes; only about 10 percent comes from the state through the ISD.”
Oxford Public Schools will still receive their allotted percentage of property taxes twice a year from the district.
“We’ve had to use other funds in the past to make up for any gaps in areas,” said Franey. “That’s what the special education millage this past summer was for, so we wouldn’t have to do that.”
If the Oxford School Board decided to take action or voice an opinion on the investigation, members must do so through a resolution.
For example, several political organizations have recommended a change in the election process of the Oakland Schools trustees from local school board elections to public elections. In order to do this, the Michigan Revised School Code states that local school districts can take the initiative to have the Oakland Schools board publicly elected.
If more than half of the county’s local districts, which would represent at least half of the students in the county on the last count day of the session, adopt resolutions calling for public elections of the Oakland Schools board members, then the public would have the opportunity to decide whether or not to publicly elect the board. If the voters decided to publicly elect the trustees, then the taxpayers would be able to directly choose candidates for the Oakland Schools board instead of the members being elected by the local boards..
Some members of the Oxford school board feel that though a change is needed, the recommendations for altering the election process of the district school board may not be the best or most timely.
Etherton stated that in his opinion the current election process and arrangement for the Oakland Schools board of education is adequate.
“I think that’s a good plan and how they are doing things works well.”
However, he does fell some changes need to be made.
“I wouldn’t want to do anything though without gathering more information and speaking with (Superintendent Virginia Brennan-Kyro) on the subject,” said Etherton. “I know I would definitely want to get an independent party’s opinion on whether this was legal or not.”
From an administrative perspective, Superintendent Virginia Brennan-Kyro believes communication is the key to a solution.
“We have a good relationship with Oakland Schools,” she stated. “I think it’s a bit early to be working a solution. I think it’s critical that (the Oakland school board) take the time they need.”
She added that those involved need to take decisive action, but that action must be based on a complete understanding of the information involved. Also, the Oakland Schools board will now need to begin work on rebuilding the relationships and trust that have been eroded by the situation.
“We can’t forget that it has been a terrific asset to our district,” said Brennan-Kyro. “I just hope that in the near future we’ll be able to go back to focusing on education.”