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School Board Positioning
Topic Started: Jul 9 2009, 05:38 PM (2,363 Views)
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Scheel to lead Livonia school board
By Karen Smith • Observer Staff Writer • July 9, 2009

Read Comments(4)


Lynda Scheel, a six-year member of the Livonia school board and a candidate for Livonia City Council, was elected president of the school board in a 6-1 vote Wednesday.

Trustee Steve King, who had hoped to be elected president, voted against the motion, in part, because he thinks she will be too busy as a Council candidate to focus on the school board.

“Do you know how hard it is to run for office?” he asked during a break in the school board’s annual organizational meeting. “Where do her loyalties lie?”

King said Scheel, who was president of the school board for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years, is going to lead the district in the same direction when change is needed. The district faces a projected $7.5 million deficit and a dwindling fund balance for the 2009-10 school year because of declining enrollment and increasing costs.

“We’ve had this conductor before. It’s time for someone new,” he said.
King, who’s starting his fourth year on the board, said he e-mailed his fellow board members, asking them to elect him president. “Things would have been very different,” he said.

Scheel said King ran for state representative while serving as a school board member — and that required contacting more constituents than City Council. “He never expressed any concern (about his being able to focus) and no one else expressed any either,” she said.

“I feel it (running for Council) won’t be a distraction.”

Scheel said she doesn’t understand King’s comment about wanting change in the board’s leadership when he didn’t nominate anyone else for president. “There was no other name put up for a vote; where’s his offer for change?” she said.

Besides, she said, she’s a change from Cynthia Markarian, who was school board president for 2008-09. Markarian did not seek re-election to the board in May.

Scheel said King also voted to re-elect Gregory Oke as vice president and Robert Freeman as secretary.

Scheel said she will need to resign from the school board if she is elected to City Council, but that wouldn’t be until January, mid-way through the school year.

She said she is looking forward to serving as school board president. “It’s definitely something I wanted.”

She said she wants to get involved on City Council because it is more encompassing, involving decisions about Livonia’s businesses and residences.

“But I feel I can also be a good leader on the school board,” she said.
Scheel was nominated for president by Trustee Daniel Lessard.

Trustee Patrice Mang nominated King for secretary, but that was after Scheel nominated Robert Freeman.

The board voted first on Freeman’s nomination, which was unanimously approved so it never voted on King’s nomination.

Gregory Oke was unanimously re-elected vice president. He was nominated by Mang.

Colleen Burton and Daniel Lessard took the oath of office for their new terms. Burton was elected for the first time in May. Lessard was re-elected. He is starting his 14th year on the board.

ksmith@hometownlife.com | (313) 222-2098

http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20090709/NEWS10/90709004/1027/Scheel-to-lead-Livonia-school-board


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LPS Reformer
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
I wonder how long it will be before she starts telling people to "come forth" again. ;)
“Child Abuse” means different things to different people....
----Randy Liepa 8/9/12
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Micki
I love teaching.
I don't think King is ready to be school board president. He is too green.
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Micki
I love teaching.
Or at least he acts that way. Unfortunately, the role of president has to be one where people respect the position. I am not sure if he would.
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Ms. AK
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Green?
Krome on Cars

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Micki
I love teaching.
Yeah, I don't really feel like he has ever been able to fully embrace his position due to lack of acceptance, or whatever it may be. The point being that he just hasn't been able to bring about the change that he has wanted to which keeps him at a low impact/experience level-- in my opinion.
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LPS Reformer
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
Anna Krome
Jul 9 2009, 08:50 PM
Green?
He hasn't become just like them. ;)
“Child Abuse” means different things to different people....
----Randy Liepa 8/9/12
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Micki
Jul 9 2009, 08:46 PM
Or at least he acts that way. Unfortunately, the role of president has to be one where people respect the position. I am not sure if he would.
And you think Scheel respects the position, or even commands respect in the position? Don't you remember her limiting time on speakers who had opposing views, yet allowed a former board member to speak almost endlessly? Don't you remember her attempt to have security remove a speaker from the podium? Don't you remember her childish speaking out of turn and public reprimands she made when Markarian was in fact president, not Scheel? Don't you remember her group picture taken on the city's painted emblem during the campaign in an attempt to fool the public into thinking the City endorsed her? Don't you remember when she would not let King speak before a vote was taken even though she said she would? Please tell me how Scheel has shown or commanded respect for the position of President, whether she was in the position or during the time Markarian was. Much of the public has no respect for her either. Last of all, don't you remember she is nothing more than and RRS (Randy Rubber Stamper?) Scheel's attitude of superiority is arrogant and tiresome. She flaunts that attitude, no matter what position she assumes.
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LPSisPoor
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King has made numerous attempts for change but doesn't get the support of the rubber stampers. He can't act alone and the others are too busy extending Liepa's contract.
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Monkfish
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SLIPPERY SLOPE
Jul 10 2009, 12:15 AM
Micki
Jul 9 2009, 08:46 PM
Or at least he acts that way. Unfortunately, the role of president has to be one where people respect the position. I am not sure if he would.
And you think Scheel respects the position, or even commands respect in the position? Don't you remember her limiting time on speakers who had opposing views, yet allowed a former board member to speak almost endlessly? Don't you remember her attempt to have security remove a speaker from the podium? Don't you remember her childish speaking out of turn and public reprimands she made when Markarian was in fact president, not Scheel? Don't you remember her group picture taken on the city's painted emblem during the campaign in an attempt to fool the public into thinking the City endorsed her? Don't you remember when she would not let King speak before a vote was taken even though she said she would? Please tell me how Scheel has shown or commanded respect for the position of President, whether she was in the position or during the time Markarian was. Much of the public has no respect for her either. Last of all, don't you remember she is nothing more than and RRS (Randy Rubber Stamper?) Scheel's attitude of superiority is arrogant and tiresome. She flaunts that attitude, no matter what position she assumes.
Couldn't agree more. Scheel acts more like a child than a President of a School Board. Micki says she's tired of LPSreformer's ways of presenting his point of view...but she accepts Scheel's tactics? Hmmmmmmm.
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Ms. AK
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I guess I want to know what specifically makes him "green?"

Ms. Mang is even "newer" to the BOE, and no one says she is "green." Why is that?

I think Mr. King is really, really honest and smart. He goes against the grain and speaks his mind. I like that he asks a lot of questions and that he is polite, even when Ms. Scheel is yelling at him or dismissing him out of hand.

Ms. Scheel has been very rude to the public and other BOE members. She supports some very divisive and wrong-headed changes to LPS. She supports Mr. Liepa and I do not think he is the best LPS could get.



Krome on Cars

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Micki
I love teaching.
SLIPPERY SLOPE
Jul 10 2009, 12:15 AM
Micki
Jul 9 2009, 08:46 PM
Or at least he acts that way. Unfortunately, the role of president has to be one where people respect the position. I am not sure if he would.
And you think Scheel respects the position, or even commands respect in the position? Don't you remember her limiting time on speakers who had opposing views, yet allowed a former board member to speak almost endlessly? Don't you remember her attempt to have security remove a speaker from the podium? Don't you remember her childish speaking out of turn and public reprimands she made when Markarian was in fact president, not Scheel? Don't you remember her group picture taken on the city's painted emblem during the campaign in an attempt to fool the public into thinking the City endorsed her? Don't you remember when she would not let King speak before a vote was taken even though she said she would? Please tell me how Scheel has shown or commanded respect for the position of President, whether she was in the position or during the time Markarian was. Much of the public has no respect for her either. Last of all, don't you remember she is nothing more than and RRS (Randy Rubber Stamper?) Scheel's attitude of superiority is arrogant and tiresome. She flaunts that attitude, no matter what position she assumes.
I can't stand Scheel, but I was talking about King and only King.
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Micki
I love teaching.
Monkfish
Jul 10 2009, 10:07 AM
SLIPPERY SLOPE
Jul 10 2009, 12:15 AM
Micki
Jul 9 2009, 08:46 PM
Or at least he acts that way. Unfortunately, the role of president has to be one where people respect the position. I am not sure if he would.
And you think Scheel respects the position, or even commands respect in the position? Don't you remember her limiting time on speakers who had opposing views, yet allowed a former board member to speak almost endlessly? Don't you remember her attempt to have security remove a speaker from the podium? Don't you remember her childish speaking out of turn and public reprimands she made when Markarian was in fact president, not Scheel? Don't you remember her group picture taken on the city's painted emblem during the campaign in an attempt to fool the public into thinking the City endorsed her? Don't you remember when she would not let King speak before a vote was taken even though she said she would? Please tell me how Scheel has shown or commanded respect for the position of President, whether she was in the position or during the time Markarian was. Much of the public has no respect for her either. Last of all, don't you remember she is nothing more than and RRS (Randy Rubber Stamper?) Scheel's attitude of superiority is arrogant and tiresome. She flaunts that attitude, no matter what position she assumes.
Couldn't agree more. Scheel acts more like a child than a President of a School Board. Micki says she's tired of LPSreformer's ways of presenting his point of view...but she accepts Scheel's tactics? Hmmmmmmm.
Re-read what I said Monk and Slippery Slope and calm down. There is no love lost between me and Linda. Once again, I was talking solely about King, not Mang, not Scheel, not Liepa... King.
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Monkfish
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Micki
Jul 9 2009, 08:45 PM
I don't think King is ready to be school board president. He is too green.
Who would you rather have? Scheel or King as President?

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Monkfish
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"Trustee Patrice Mang nominated King for secretary, but that was after Scheel nominated Robert Freeman."

Some of Mang's actions have me thinking she's selling out. She votes for Scheel?
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LPS Reformer
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
Not in a million years. ;)
“Child Abuse” means different things to different people....
----Randy Liepa 8/9/12
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Micki
I love teaching.
On a different note, LPS Reformer and I get along very well on a personal level and PM each other about different comments made. He knows how I feel and he knows that I appreciate him. I also know how he feels. I really don't believe that he has an issue with any of the comments I have made and if he did he would tell me. Or maybe he is to shy too? :)
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Micki
I love teaching.
Monkfish
Jul 10 2009, 05:26 PM
Micki
Jul 9 2009, 08:45 PM
I don't think King is ready to be school board president. He is too green.
Who would you rather have? Scheel or King as President?

That is a hard question because I dislike Scheel personally and professionally. The flip side is that I don't think King could be an effective president. He would be a lame duck and that wouldn't be good for the district either. Also, I can't imagine Patrice flipping sides and that isn't her job any way. She is to make responsible, sound decisions based on what she learns and she may have good reason for voting for Scheel. I think we should trust her. She has proven herself. Also, being on the inside of things can appear a lot different than being on the outside does. Give her a break. (That is a general comment about Mang, not directed at you.)
Edited by Micki, Jul 11 2009, 08:02 AM.
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Micki
Jul 11 2009, 08:01 AM
Monkfish
Jul 10 2009, 05:26 PM
Micki
Jul 9 2009, 08:45 PM
I don't think King is ready to be school board president. He is too green.
Who would you rather have? Scheel or King as President?

That is a hard question because I dislike Scheel personally and professionally. The flip side is that I don't think King could be an effective president. He would be a lame duck and that wouldn't be good for the district either. Also, I can't imagine Patrice flipping sides and that isn't her job any way. She is to make responsible, sound decisions based on what she learns and she may have good reason for voting for Scheel. I think we should trust her. She has proven herself. Also, being on the inside of things can appear a lot different than being on the outside does. Give her a break. (That is a general comment about Mang, not directed at you.)
I can almost understand why Mang voted for Scheel since there were no other nominees. However, this, I just don't understand:

"Trustee Patrice Mang nominated King for secretary, but that was after Scheel nominated Robert Freeman.

"The board voted first on Freeman’s nomination, which was unanimously approved so it never voted on King’s nomination."


Why would Mang (and King) vote for Freeman, making the vote unanimous, when Mang nominated King? The Freeman vote was first, so it makes absolutely no sense why either of them voted for Freeman. Was the nomination for King not seconded/supported? In any case, the right thing for Mang (and possibly King, unless he did not want to become secretary) to do was to vote NO on Freeman. Is the article in the paper correct?

I honestly don't even know how or why the vote for Scheel should have been unanimous. A NO vote is a vote of no confidence and should be voted as such when it reflects the true belief of the person voting. At the very least, King should have voted NO on Scheel since he requested his fellow board members to vote for him for president. Is there some board policy that says a unanimous vote must be made if there is only one nominee? Does anyone know?

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Ms. AK
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http://www.livoniapublicschools.org/boe.cfm?subpage=13969

I don't know the answer, but here's the link to the BOE "Policies" PDF.
Krome on Cars

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