Canton Observer for July 16, 1992 - Canton Public Library

2A(C)
The Observer/THURSDAY, JULY 16,1W2
Firm to study schools administration
BY DARREJLL CLEM
STAFF WRITER
A consulting firm will be paid as
much as $23,000 to study and recommend
possible changes in_lhe organization
uf""tht
school administration.
In another move, a California
consultant will be paid $1,400 plus
—travel capcnooB to conduct a work.
shop in August to help new Superintendent
Larry Thomas and the
velop a working relationship.
The two measures were approved
unanimously Monday by the school
board. The money will come from a
S3-miliion superintendent's contingency
fund that the board had
earlier set aside.
In a study that will cost $21,000
to $23,000, the consulting firm of
Plante Moran will examine the administration's
organizational structure
and central office staffing levels.
The firm will interview Bbout 70
district employees, including cen-
tral office administrators and
school principals, and survey comiiiuin^
roc
ommendations for the di«t"ft «
ministration.
Noting that most administrators
and Hrhonl hoard mpmhera are rela-
tivel? new on the job because of a
large turnover rate, Thomas sug-
outside expertise."
The 10-week study, in part, is expected
to result in a recommended
reorganization of the administration,
Thomas said.
"We're a little thin," he said.
"There are some areas that we need
additional help in."
Right now. for example, the district
has no deputy superintendent
because of the departure of Thomas
Svitkovich, who took a new job in
the Carman-Ainsworth district.
The study is also "expected to
focus on cost-efficiency and accoun-
WAYNE-WESTLAND
tability of the administration,
Thomas said.
"I panpU in the ifflnmunitv
to feel comfortable that we're
efficient (and) accountable." he
said, adding later, "This is something
that I think is needed to improve
the school district'
Board P-maident Leonard Posey
tion is that "$23,000 is a lot of money,"
but he joined five other board
members in approving the proposal.
Posey also suggested that more
than one firm should be contacted
for any future studies to compare
costs.
Former board member Andrew
Spisak, who resigned last week, has
been critical of the money the board
has begun spending on consulting
fees.
"1 am unable to forget that these
same people, under the guise of saving
taxpayers money, have spent
more money on consultants and
new attorneys and reports than you
can imagine," Spisak said in a
statement July 6 announcing his
immediate resignation.
In a second proposal Monday, the
board Agreed to hire consultant
Dick Foster to visit the district to
conduct a workshop on relations between
the Thomas administration
and the SCTKKJI
The workshop will help school officials
develop a plan for becoming
"effective leaders." Thomas said.
Foster will be paid $1,400 for two
days, plus expenses. He has been
hired by such districts as Livonia.
Taylor and West Bloomfield.
Thomas worked in the latter district
before being named Wayne-
Westland superintendent.
Foster will help the school officials
develop a process for improving
working relations and improving
the district. #
"I really do believe this is another
step to help move our district forward,"
Thomas said.
Activist 'fought city hall' on airport issue
Warren Dusbiber showed you could fight city hall —
and win.
Dusbiber, 70. who helped organize citizens opposition
to public ownership of Mnttetal Airport in Canton
Township, died early Saturday from an apparent heart
attack, friends said.
He celebrated his 70th birthday the day before.
"If it hadn't been for Warren Dusbiber. the city of
Plymouth and Plymouth Township would own an airport
right now." said Dennis Shrewsbury, Plymouth
city commissioner who opposed the airport-purchase
effort as a commission candidate.
"He taught people that they could fight city hall."
Shrewsbury said.
"Warren was really the father of the Plymouth
Township Concerned Citizens," said Robert Zaetta. a
co-founder of the group.
"He was the one who first noticed the township was
going to buy an airport." Zaetta said. Dusbiber got citizens
in the city and township together to meet to oppose
the effort, and took reams of notes and made
tapes of government meetings where the airport issue
was discussed.
In the face of strong citizen opposition, the Plym-
Candidates from page IA
With Kirchgatter giving up her
trusteeship to run for treasurer,
Canton residents are assured of at
least one new trustee alter November.
The remaining three incumeni
trustees are seeking re-election.*
They are Bob Shefferly. Phil LaJoy
and John Burdziak. Their challengers
are Jim Panos. Melissa
McLaughLin and Catherine Tyree.
Shefferly, 66. was elected to the
board four years ago after 10 years
on the planning commission. He
has continued on the planning commission
since as the board of trustees'
representative.
A retired Detroit News advertising
executive. Shefferly has been
married to the former Lorraine
Laiklam for 42 years and has three
children and sev#n grandchildren.
LaJoy, 48, was appointed to his
position three years ago to fill a vacancy.
The owner and manager of a
N'orrell Tempopary Services
franchise. LaJoy served on Canton's
merit commission for nine years
and is the founder of Canton's annual
Memorial Day Soccer Tournament
LaJoy is also the chairman of
the Canton Cable Committee and a
business owner. " *
Burdziak. 56. was appointed to
the board of trustees last year to fill
a vacancy. Before his appointment,
Burdziak spent 14 years on Canton's
zoning board of appeals,
downtown development authority
and planning commission.
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outh Township government got together with Canton
to seek federal grants to buy the airport, abandoning
an earlier effort to seek those grants with the city of
Plymouth. , •
Some observ ers saw the move as an attempt^ to
abandon the airport purchase, as federal officials have
been asked to approve restrictions some say they are
unlikely to approve.
The Federal Aviation Administration has yet to notify
Canton and Plymouth Township if the grant application
will be approved.
Dusbiber was born July 10, 1922, in ^ psilanti. He
was a chemical engineer with Burroughs Corp., retiring
in 1981. He was a member of the St. Andrew Episcopal
Church in Livonia.
Survivors include wife Lois; sons, Dairy of Ypsilanti
.and Brian of St. Paul. Minn.; a daughter. Wendy Porter
of Canton; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services were Monday at the Vermeulen Funeral
Home in Plymouth. The Rev. Robert Clapp officiated.
Burial was Wednesday at Highland Cemetery,
Ypsilanti.
Memorials can be made to the Michigan Heart Association.
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Burdziak is a telephone engineering
consultant to Michigan Bell
and married with three adult children
Among the Republican challengers
for trustee, Panos and
McLaughlin seem to have the best
chance. Tyree. 46, who works at
Ruby's Produce Market on Michigan
Avenue, declined to complete
the Observer questionaire and
refused to have her picture taken.
Panos, 51. is the director of public
works for Romulus and a member
of Canton's zoning board of
appeals. He was among the first of
the trustee candidates to put signs
out this year. Panos and his wife.
Sandy, have one adult son.
McLaughlin, a 35-year-old home-
Warren Dusbiber
maker. has lived in Canton for 30
years and served on the planning
commission since last year. She and
her husband. John, hava two young
children.
In the race for supervisor and
clerk. Republican voters have no
choice. Incumbent Supervisor Tom
Yack is unopposed and clerk Loren
Bennett has no GOP opposition.
On the other side of the primary
coin, Carol Bodenmiller is the only
Democrat candidate for clerk. Bruce
Phillips is the only Democrat candidate
for treasurer. And Schuch
and Cleaver are the Democrats running
for trustee. (Schuch did not return
the Observer's questionaire
and did not schedule an interview.!
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from page IA
He is from the fifth generation of a
captive black bear family.
The trainer said Channel 2 director
Jeff Forster has agreed to attend
oba. " Superintendent
Larry Thomaa said
' The new aefcao*
cial assessment taxes for people 65
and older until they sell their houses
or die.
Tyree opposes cityhood for Canton.
saying. "Canton Tewnship is
better off aa a township."
Tyree also supports the WTUA
sewer project and favors the con-
- %
Melissa McLaughlin
In addition. McLaughlin supports
the WTUA sewer project and
the construction of a recreation
building.
Jim Panos
the trustees didn't even know
the simple stuff (like ordering vehicles),"
he said
as we can." he said
Burdziak favors additional industrial
development because it
would "ease the tax base " and ease
the lax burden on residents
On road improvement. Burdziak
likes the policy of paying 50 percent
of the cost of Wayne County pro)
ects. "If you want paved roads,
that's the only way you're going to
get it." he said. "Otherwise wed
never get it done "
Regarding cityhoou for Canton.
Burdziak said "it's getting to the
point where we'll probably have to
consider it, (even though> taxe>
would have to go up to buy road
maintenance equipment." (City's
are responsible for road maintenance
within their boundaries,
whereas townships are not. I
struction of a recreation center.
On bringing more industry to
Canton. Tyree said she " doesn't
know how much is really here and
opposes additional industrial devei
opment "at this time
TyTee declined to fill out the Observer
questionnaire and have her
picture taken for this article.
extended leaves
mond. who accepted a similar poit in the Walled Lake
dMftet
• Board members Richard LeBlanc and Fred Warm
bier opposed extending Drum mon d s leave Warmbier
has repeatedly denounced such extensions, snd l-e
Blanc said Monday he oppoae* leaves beyond one year
unless an employee is laid off
Bond' members Vkki Wehy. Laurel Raisanen.
Leonard Poaev and Francis "Bud" Winter approved
Drum mood's leave, but some indicated they would
support • HJftU* TMU
Earlier this year, the board denied a fifth year leave
Thomas Yack. a former empfovee who a unopposed
his tod for a second term aa Cantao Township au
School officials aaid they don t oppoae extended jab
law*, for employ*** who are pregnant or fll Moreover,
the superintendent aaid eaaptoyeea should receive ape
cial consideration if they are elected to public office ar
recerve aa epportuaity to teach ia a foreign country
1
(C)3A
^Republican
was first e
Bob Shefferly. 66. . twice tor our roads. 1
in 1968 and spent the laat 14 years t*een the two community forma to
on the planning commission.
see what alternatives we have avail-
Shefferly also represents Canton able to us." he wrote
on the Southeast Michigan Council In his candidate interview,
of Governments and the Nankin Shefferly aaid. "I'm certainly ready
Transit Commission. He's a mem- to give (cityhood) a real cloae look."
ber of the Canton Elertion Commis- As a city. Shefferly aaid. Canton
sion and a board member of the would not have to depend on -the
Carriage Hills Homeowners Associ - county for road improvements.
ation
On industrial development.
The retired Detroit News adver- Shefferly said "the area we need it
tising executive has a bachelor's degree
in business administration
mo$t is right around the airport."
He added that Mettetal will eventu-
Bob Shefferly
from Wayne State University.
ally become an industrial park. development manager, a post office
Of all the candidates. Shefferly For the long term, Shefferly said and a la/ge hotel.
alone suggested that township offi- Canton needs "to tie its various Shefferly also supports the
cials should consider cityhood for components together to make a WTUA newer project, low -density
Canton. "I opposed the idea of a community we can all relate to." To residential development on the west
city structure in 1988, but after s«e that end. he suggests that Canton side and the construction of a recre-
ing the problems we have when we should have only one school disation center, but not with addi-
must deal with the county and pay trict, one newspaper, an economic tional taxes.
Republican Phil LaJoy. 48. was
appointed to fill a trustee vacancy
three.years ago after Hank Walen
died. "I'd love to have a chance to
get elected to it once." he said.
The owner and manageujf Nor
rell Temporary Services (in Ann Ar
bori and Canton Township Hall of
Fame member was a township mer
it commissioner for nine years.
LaJoy characterized the approach
to development on Canton's east
side as "damage control" in his answer
to the Observer questionaire.
"When opportunities present themselves.
(we should) work on reducing
density "
On the west side. LaJoy is "in
complete agreement with the restriction
of ail commercial development."
He favors the idea of having
large lots on the west side.
On Canton's roads. LaJoy said.
"We must continue to develop a relationship
with Wayne County to
lobby- for road improvements to ensure
that with more families mov^
ing in we do not become gridlocked
like most of Oakland County."
l^Joy also approves of the
WTUA sewer project, supports the
construction of a recreation center
ibot not with new taxes), opposes
cityhood and wants more industrial
development.
Phil LaJoy
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