Neavling also hosted Muckraker Report on 910AM from September 2017 to July 2018. Changes do occur; therefore, please check often for updates. The four board members have been in lockstep with their voting power on just about all issues pertaining to Edmondson. ROMULUS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION This Agreement entered into 18th day of March, 2013, by and between the Board of Education of . Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Now that that time has come and gone with no indication when it will end, some board members and a host of residents want answers to questions that include: What was a four-hour closed-door meeting involving the independent investigator, auditor and interim Supt. Those who support the superintendent of Romulus schools want answers about his job status. There are some things I want the community to recognize as I depart. Copyright 2021 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Due to recall guidelines that dictate when a board member can be subject to a recall, Trustee Nicole German was not included as her term is up this year. This past week, the RCS Board of Education made a few impactful decisions regarding the immediate direction of the district. There was nothing directly related to something Dr. Edmondson did, Carter said. . October 10, 2022 at 6:15 a.m. It is also the most culturally and linguistically diverse community in the state of Michigan with the school age population representing nearly 40 different . Pyles admits there were issues long before Edmondson was hired. 2022-2023 Online Enrollment; 2023-2024 Enrollment; 2023-2024 School of Choice; In-District Transfer Requests (New Resident or Current Student) . Congratulations to New School Board Members! Trustee Pete Bergeron left the council table to speak at the podium to the board as a member of the community and he didnt hold back. Sean McNatt about and why was the information not shared? Mar 20. Nearly 90 minutes later another battle between board members played out. Heis claimingviolations of the Michigan Whistleblower Protection Actand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. We want to know why it was not on the agenda for tonights meeting, Sarah Carter said. I brought in the META24 Labs program because it is a proven system for helping educate kids who dont thrive in the traditional classroom learning model. With opioid deaths on the rise, Michigan lawmakers introduce bill to crackdown on overdoses, Michigan Native American tribe to study building own power utility, By Mark Richardson, Michigan News Connection, Michigan man convicted of double murder was released from prison after new evidence surfaces, Michigan Legislature considers bills to abolish life sentences for juveniles, Lansing Mayor Schor launches exploratory committee for congressional run. "Almost immediately upon the beginning of Dr. Edmondsons employment, several members of the Romulus Community School District Board of Education, primarily the individually named defendants, began to create problems for Dr. Edmondson ". Members of the audience shouted their disapproval throughout the entire meeting, pushing Pyles to the point she called for a recess until the meeting could regain order. Guilford school board bill grows in Senate committee 19 hours ago . Home - Wyandotte Public Schools. Participate in district/departmental, school level, and parent meetings as required and deemed necessary. Ive never lost touch with the poor farm kid in me. Next week's clinic hours are: Noon to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. I question your ethics and integrity, said Sarah Carter, president of the Romulus Education Association. The Romulus Community Schools Board of Education meeting was filled with fireworks, including comments from Rita Hampton who said she has filed a recall petition. First of all, I believe this board was in violation of the Open Meetings Act two weeks ago. It maintains a focus on academics, athletics, nutrition and more and offers an opportunity for students to get the support they need to succeed in school and in life. On Sept. 30, I concluded my term as interim superintendent. Its a slow process.. Local Districts. How the district could have McNatt in place, a resolution for the leave constructed and an independent investigative firm selected without board discussion or violating the Open Meetings Act (if input was given from other board members) has not been answered. The Romulus school board suspended Acting Superintendent Flinnoia Hall for ten days without pay on Thursday, citing violations of the district's code of professional standards. Romulus Community Schools Board of Education meetings have been contentious for months and now that Benjamin Edmondson has been terminated as superintendent, questions are resurfacing about the status of a recall effort. She questioned why it was necessary to place Edmondson on administrative leave if he has nothing to do with the investigation and is not being investigated. WCCCD-Downriver 21000 Northline Rd. Carter said taxpayers should be concerned after several interim contract positions were recently filled. Use the Search For Public School Districts locator to retrieve information on all U.S. public school districts. Romulus High School is located in Romulus, MI. School Supt. You know why I got flowers? Once the motion was made the meeting, which was recorded and streamed, became disruptive from outraged members of the audience, and riddled with technical difficulties trying to communicate with various board members to get their vote on the issue. He said Tuesday afternoon that he has received several text messages from people in the district who thanked him for making the board be accountable for the cost. . ", In a statement to The Detroit News, Pyles said Edmonson was placed on a paid leave of absence "to enable an independent investigation into the serious dysfunctional operation of the districts business office, which problems were not being addressed by the superintendent.". Official minutes of Board meetings will be available to the Association as soon as they are prepared following Board approval of such minutes. Romulus Community Schools Board of Education Trustee Pete Bergeron wants to see financial information before supporting a new mentoring partnership. Debi Pyles, Judy Kennard, and Susan Evitts were named in the recall petitions. Running an Effective Board . We were behind before the pandemic, and we only lost ground over the past two years. There are an estimated 46 juniors in that same position, and approximately 60 sophomores who are not on track to graduate. Priya joined WDIV-Local 4 in 2013 as a reporter and fill-in anchor. The schools job is to be the heart and hub of the community, and that means serving our children, not our grownups. She said she understands there are people in the community who disagree with their decision to terminate Edmondson. Pyles said the boards near-term plan for this year is to retain an experienced interim superintendent while conducting a thorough search for long-term leadership, and she welcomes everyone in the community to be part of this process. All rights reserved. Regular meetings of the ICCSD Board of Education are scheduled on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Professional Development Center at the Educational Services Center, 1725 North Dodge Street . ROMULUS, Mich. Supporters of Romulus Community Schools superintendent Benjamin Edmondson packed Monday nights school board meeting, two weeks after he was placed on paid administrative leave. 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Those life lessons drive me to help young people find themselves, and I have committed a career to it in one form or another from education policy to presiding over graduation ceremonies for incarcerated people of various ages, trying to inspire them to get their lives in order and not lose their futures. I think theyre in the dark because of the narrative thats been told, Pyles said. Location: JR/SR High School . Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. View All Calendars is the default. Speaking of financial concerns, Wester later expressed one of her own that the district is paying a consultant $160 an hour and another one at $110 an hour, plus expenses and lodging. Romulus Community Schools. Romulus Community Schools prepares scholars for successful futures by delivering a safe, responsive environment for every student to grow and learn, because every adult is committed to their success. Irritation . All meetings are subject to change. Steve Neavling July 12, 2022 Re-Organizational Meeting 7:00pm July 25, 2022 at 5:30pm (This is on Monday- please note different day and time) August 9, 2022 August 23, 2022 Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. ROMULUS, Mich. At the Romulus Community Schools board meeting Monday night, board members raised an issue of questionable credit card spending by the superintendents office. Romulus superintendent Benjamin Edmondson. We call on community members and employees serving the students of Romulus Community Schools to attend the next school board meeting (Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.) and let our board members know that this . Serve as a liaison between Romulus Community Schools and other school districts that provide programs and services to Romulus students with IEPs. Now, she is looking for signatures needed for the recall campaign. Throughout we cover the basics and best practices in how to run a board of directors meeting. Dr. Benjamin Edmonson on a paid leave of absence while there is an internal financial investigation that includes probing questionable credit card spending by the superintendents office. Before launching Motor City Muckraker, Scroll to read more Metro Detroit News articles. February 16, 2023 - Work Session - Van Horne Community Center, Van Horne. Policy: Establishes policy for the district and shares in policy development. Thursday March 2. 2022-12-12-regular-board-meeting-minutes; 2022-11-28-regular-board-meeting-minutes; SMARTS Students Continue to Collaborate . A tax issue and use of a credit card and credit card policy also were mentioned before Terrell interjected, pointing out that an employee was being discussed who is on paid leave and anything pertaining to that matter should not be discussed in open session. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. We will not allow this effort to impact our commitment to responsive, inclusive leadership of the schools. . The number of board members needed to form the quorum for a board meeting however depends on the Constitution of the company. We are discussing the business office. He did not say that Edmondson was among those people. Romulus Community Schools superintendents supporters want answers about his job status, Romulus school board faces backlash for removing superintendent, Romulus Community Schools superintendent to be placed on paid administrative leave after alleged use of profane language, Romulus Community Schools suspends acting superintendent without pay for 10 days. Romulus is now figuring out how to help 45 of 150 incoming seniors who have no path to graduation next spring because they simply dont have enough credits. When he says he is going to do something, he does it.. Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox. Close. She said the superintendent would return when the inquiry was concluded and acknowledged that Edmondson is not under investigation. Once she is able to circulate the recall petitions, she will need 3,000 signatures for each board member. Please attend the Romulus Community Schools Board Meeting April 9th. This past week, the RCS Board of Education made a few impactful decisions regarding the immediate direction of the district. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Regular Meetings: 2nd and 4th Mondays @ 6:00 p.m. unless posted otherwise. Pyles responded with a written statement explaining that the members understand there are people who disagree with the decision to terminate the superintendent. . Tags: Romulus, Wayne County, News, Local, Local News, Romulus Community School District, Benjamin Edmondson, Education A tense school board meeting was held Monday in Romulus where some members . Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community. The process provides for this and it is anyones right to seek a recall of a public official. Education: B.A. ", He said he sought copies of the minutes of board meetings and committee meetings from June 15 to Aug. 23 and Sept. 13, saying the board secretary had not provided themsince July 28. Candidate Total Votes . Rita Hampton not only spoke to the board, but to the audience, as well. The Board of Education agrees to furnish the Union, in accordance with their . Roles & Responsibilities. Getting $120 an hour or $1500 a day, absolutely unacceptable to be spending money like that, she said. I had to fight for a spot on that team, long before racial integration in college sports was a popular idea. /*! School Board Meeting Date: Mar 13. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. . on The Amazon DTW1 fulfillment center is shown in Romulus, Mich., April 1, 2020. . Previous: Romulus superintendent placed on leave amid financial investigation, Priya Mann: Is he (Edmondson) under investigation?, Board president Debi Pyles: He is not, no., Priya Mann: He is not under investigation and has nothing to do with investigation but he is on paid administrative leave? February 8, 2023 - Work Session - Watkins - St. Patrick Church. Frustration lies in the fact the superintendent remains on paid administrative leave. Board president Debi Pyles tries to immediately adjourn which leads to outrage from some people in attendance. Dr. Edmondson showed up at the wake. The meeting ended with no indication whether Edmondson will return. Eureka Math K-5 Support By This has been a long-standing problem for Romulus Community Schools. Romulus Community Schools prepares scholars for successful futures by delivering a safe, responsive environment for every student to grow and learn, because every adult is committed to their success. Subscribe now to not miss a thing. School Board ; Superintendent; . I got a life-changing opportunity when I was accepted to Michigan State University, as a walk-on to the football team. By the time your meeting wraps up, you'll have a clear and concise record of every decision made and every task assigned. He came here for less money during a pandemic. It has nothing to do with whether I like you or not. Being poor in the country isnt much different from being poor in the city, in that opportunity doesnt come around too often. Bennie Elementary School (1) Board Office (4) Boyd Arthurs Middle School - Trenton (5) Brown Elementary School (1) Brownstown Middle School (1) . Youre just the president of the board, youre not the board and youre not the community, he said. This document allows you to fill in your local school board information for meetings and other information for a potential candidate. Fatigue/tiredness, 97, 58%. Skip to main content. Romulus School District is located in Romulus, MI. Edmondson has a master's and doctorate, according to the suit. I just want to see our financials, our account balances, he said. An outside investigator had already been selected at the time the motion was made. The Romulus Community Schools superintendent who filed a racial discrimination and whistleblower lawsuit against the district has been reinstated. If the board decides to approve the program, it could be in position to launch this fall. He joined WDIV in January 2015 as a general assignment reporter and has a Journalism degree from Michigan State University. She said all updates should be given to the board at one time to maintain transparency. Special meeting to discuss downtown violence . When the Romulus Community Schools Board of Education called me out of retirement in January of this year, I accepted the opportunity to help the district address . Hampton went to the commission three times before the wording on the recall petition was approved for Evitts and four times before the language for Pyles and Kennard was approved. The gym works with more than 200 Detroit students each year. 2022-12-12-regular-board-meeting-AMENDED 12/12-agenda; 2022-11-28-regular-board-meeting-AMENDED-agenda ", Pyles said in an email late Sunday that the superintendent was on paid leave "to enable an independent investigation into the serious dysfunctional operation of the Districts Business Office, which problems were not being addressed by the Superintendent.". At this moment in time in the Romulus Community School District, we are the laughingstock of all school districts, Wester said. Some board members also took a good deal of criticism, including a lashing from one of its own. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. I grew up literally dirt poor my family worked a farm in Cass County. . And if there is any discrepancy in a credit card, guess what I got flowers. More than 500 high school juniors and seniors attend for half of their school day, and are making a daily investment in their future careers. . In addition, the board hosts quarterly community meetings for the general public to learn about the latest news. Romulus Community Schools Board of Education meetings have been contentious for months and now that Benjamin Edmondson has been terminated as superintendent, questions are resurfacing about the . A representative began to give an update on the probe, saying he has spoken with a multitude of people in the district. Education: B.A. This past week, the RCS Board of Education made a few impactful decisions regarding the immediate direction of the district. The Downtown Boxing Gym is a nonprofit youth mentoring program that started in 2007 by internationally recognized coach and mentor Khali Sweeney. We know that IRS payments werent made, Pyles said. Romulus Community Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer, who fully and actively supports equal access for all qualified applicants, regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or transgender identity . Will Romulus Community Schools become a land of opportunity? Meeting Dates. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. "I have notreviewed the lawsuit filed by Superintendent Edmonson but can state that the reasons that Superintendent was placed on a paid leave of absence were for the reasons stated above," Pyles said. Edmondson said he was placed on administrative leave without notice "or any opportunity to be heard just days after he 'blew the whistle' and reported his concerns about a potential violation of the Michigan Open Meetings Act. (Livestream screen shot) I stand up for what is right and what I believe in.. I can work with you.. Wayne, MI 48184. "Not having access to all of those approved motions in a timely manner has made it difficult to understand and comply with recent mandates and directives.". Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Maybe this board needs to be placed on leave too, said a former student at the meeting. . Hall called an African American district employee a racial slur and another profane slur during an open school board meeting Feb. 10th. Meeting recordings are accessible on the district . Benjamin Edmondson walked out of the last meeting, and a few board members followed him, when they were caught off guard by an extensive resolution placing him on leave. A full 100% of DBGs kids graduate and go on to meaningful futures. We oversee education policy in the district, hire and manage district leadership, and work to ensure the districts finances are in order, she said. in Communications/Post Grad in Advanced Journalism. She said the work is worth the effort for a superintendent who rides the school bus with the children and brings the school together. She referred to a statement on the school's website in which she listed an auditor's finding of "14 serious Business/Financial Office problems" last year of which "12 of those 14 problems remain unresolved going into this year's audit.". Wayne RESA Room 223 33500 Van Born Rd. Teacher in Romulus, MI. He said its more of an issue of accountability than anything. Communicates general school information, district school closings, emergency notifications, student attendance, negative lunch balances, and other school-related information Comments (-1) Tweets by WBSDStrong In another assertion in the lawsuit, Edmondson said on Sept.20, he reported a concern about a potential violation of the Michigan Open Meetings Act to the board via email, citing a section of the act that requires "all minutes of any meetings be available for inspection 8 business days after the meeting and further, approved minutes within 5 business days after the meeting at which the minutes are approved by the public body. Time: 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. 4 Year Term (4) Positions. A motion was made during the meeting to return the superintendent from leave, but it failed in the boards common 4-3 split. I want an answer to what that was all about.. He said he reviewed board policies, regulations and spoke of looking into 21 situations of competitive bidding in accordance with board policy. Im retired and I have the time. I told the judge I was going to keep coming back, Hampton said. Her statement also said Edmonson "did not provide any meaningful or concrete plan" to address the problems in the district's business and financial operations and that he had no plan to fill the interim finance director position. The lawsuit said that the interim finance director, the executive director of K-12 instruction, the director of human resources and the payroll supervisor all quit due to problems with the four board members. District. Waterloo Community Survey; Learn to Swim this Summer!! I have been encouraged by so many people who wanted to do this, but just didnt have the time. We are aware of a local effort to recall several members of the school board, Pyles said in the written statement. She said Pyles is trying to hold Edmondson responsible for a financial situation he did not create and was working to fix. "Though this may not appear to be whistle blowing, I am actually coming to your firm to voice my complaint and concern," he said. The school board was consistently divided 4-3. . We are not discussing an employee, Pyles said. Romulus School District Main Menu Toggle. No district can operate this way, and as a group accountable to students, parents, and taxpayers in the district, we are taking serious steps because we will not let this continue.. The lawsuit saidon Aug. 23, the board "voted to place a formal letter of reprimand into Dr. Edmondsons file after accusing him of a litany of allegations, including that he failed to provide a key fob to Dixons employees or perform background checks on them; that he 'engaged in defiant behavior'towards the Board president, Ms. Pyles; and that he improperly sent emails regarding pay raises for custodians. ROMULUS, Mich. An investigation into financial practices put the superintendent of the Romulus Community School District on the sidelines for weeks. Romulus MI 48174. Special Board Meeting -CANCELED 6 PM (Romulus High School 9650 Wayne Rd Romulus MI 48174) Events; Aug 31 Wed. Romulus Community Schools Community Welcome Event! A woman, who seemed to be in disbelief at the move, remarked that the district was starting to make a comeback. For Parents. We courted Downtown Boxing Gym to come to Romulus because they have a 15-year track record of helping kids find themselves. Candidate Total Votes As a group of parents and students stormed the RCS board meeting recently, upset at a threat they thought was facing the athletics program, I wanted to tell them I know better than most the opportunity sports can provide to young people. Copyright 2021 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. You can request that you and your group is put on . Romulus Community Schools prepares scholars for successful futures by delivering a safe, responsive environment for every student to grow and learn, because every adult is committed to their success. During the community comments portion of the meeting, Tyra Payne told the board she lost her husband not too long ago and she was devastated. Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Southgate Community School District Board Member.