Goodrich- A school board member says complaints filed by a teachers union representative is harassment and aimed at silencing his opinion.
Two letters obtained by The Citizen from the Goodrich Education Association and the Michigan Education Association sent to ABC 12 general manager Tom Bryson, charged board member Michael Thorp with using his work e-mail address inappropriately.
The first letter, dated July 5, 2005, accused Thorp of using his address and affiliation with ABC to promote his political agenda. A second letter, dated May 25, 2006 said the e-mail address was used to solicit votes during the recent school board election. Both letters were signed by Michigan Education Association Union representative Dianne Brengenzer.
The Federal Communications Commission? the government agency which regulates radio and television communication? also received a letter about Thorp, but a copy of the complaint could not be obtained by press time.
‘About a year ago I was told that Mr. Thorp would no longer be using his ABC e-mail for his work with the board,? said Brengenzer.
The problem with Thorp replying to personal e-mail from his ABC account is the implication of ABC’s supporting his statements, said Brengenzer.
‘I don’t send my personal letters on my MEA stationary or MEA e-mail, because to me, that gives it a certain weight that doesn’t apply and shouldn’t apply,? said Brengenzer. I can’t claim that was his intent, I personally don’t feel that was proper. I was just asking as far as his work, ‘is that proper???
Throp questioned Brengerzer’s motives.
‘I can find no other incidents in the state where a union representative has sent letters to (a school board member’s employment) supervisor,? said Thorp. ‘She’s been coming after me for a long time and trying to affect my employment.?
The board voted unanimously on Monday night to have school attorney, Bill Albertson, draft a response to the letters.
‘The board wants a formal response to Ms. Brengenzer’s communications regarding Mr. Thorp,? said Albertson. Trustees have now ‘authorized council to provide a draft of a response on (their) behalf.?
‘This is in the initial stage,? explained Albertson.
Thorp has been an employee of Flint-based Channel 12 for eight years and has more than 25 years of broadcasting experience. At Monday’s school board meeting, Thorp said he has never had another complaint written about him to the FCC and that the MEA grievance had been dismissed as frivolous.
A member of the school board since 1992, Thorp has been re-elected four times and served as board president for about four years.
Jim Bleicher, news director for ABC 12 said he was aware of the letters Brengenzer sent, and was not aware of any current wrongdoing on Thorp’s behalf.
‘There was a valid complaint that we took care of a year ago, ? said Bleicher. ‘Fairly innocuous, but still, (Thorp) shouldn’t have been doing it so it was stopped.?
Brengenzer also disagreed with Thorp’s placement of a sign encouraging his re-election to the school board along M-15 the day of the election. This was contrary to a statement Thorp had made expressing his intention to advertise for re-election, said Brengenzer.
Thorp said the sign was made by his daughter, at her own request.
‘In the past election I chose not to advertise, I spent no money,? said Thorp.
Brengenzer disagreed.
‘If you look at Michigan campaign finance laws, it doesn’t matter who does it, (Thorp is) responsible. He did advertise,? said Brengenzer.
Brengenzer took issue with a letter to the editor Thorp published prior to the election, which she described as one ‘touting his attributes as a board candidate.?
Bleicher said he was unaware of any further problems and does not see ABC taking any additional action in the matter. However, said Bleicher, Thorp was writing a response to the complaints.
‘As a result (of the complaints) I’m not answering e-mails regarding school issues at the office,? said Thorp. ‘I’m not responding to people at work, my e-mail address is not on the school web site.?
However, Thorp has found an issue in Brengenzer’s approach and said he feels personally harassed.
‘She’s saying things in public, I’m just doing my job as a board member,? said Thorp. ‘Everyone knows were I stand…as an elected official I must express myself.?
?(Brengenzer is) trying to silence me. (She) filed a grievance with me. It’s harassment. She’s going after me personally.?
Brengenzer disagreed, saying it was nothing personal, but rather an inquiry for truth.
‘There’s no vendetta or anything,? said Brengenzer. ‘My judgements are solely based on their positions as a board member, how they comment, how they vote.?
‘I don’t even know the man personally.?