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. Ms. The probe is expected to take about two weeks, according to the board. We oversee education policy in the district, hire and manage district leadership, and work to ensure the districts finances are in order, she said. He said its more of an issue of accountability than anything. "Though this may not appear to be whistle blowing, I am actually coming to your firm to voice my complaint and concern," he said. He did not say that Edmondson was among those people. The wheels seemed to fall off at Monday's meeting of the Romulus Community Schools Board of Education, in which the superintendent was put on administrative leave and walked out, and a few board members followed suit. We were shouting our disapproval of what was actually going on in the meeting.. The board voted 5-2 to postpone making a decision on the partnership. District Information. This file is auto-generated */!function(c,l){"use strict";var e=!1,o=!1;if(l.querySelector)if(c.addEventListener)e=!0;if(c.wp=c.wp||{},c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage);else if(c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if(!t);else if(! In addition, the board hosts quarterly community meetings for the general public to learn about the latest news. I was the oldest of nine kids born to parents who had little formal education. Paris McCarthy was elected to the Board of Education in 2022. To have a vote, you have to be on that (Zoom) screen and people were answering the phone on a cell phone. ", 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.". "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. Romulus Central School Board of Education meeting dates for 2022-2023 Meetings will start at 6:30pm (effective 1/24/23)in the District Office Wing Board Conference Room. The district is currently conducting a financial investigation into business practices and credit card charges. Our information is on the website. During its regular board meeting on February 24, 2020, the Romulus community schools Board of Education voted to rescind its appointment of Flinnoia Hall to the position of superintendent . He is seeking compensatory and exemplary damages;attorney fees, costs and interest; and "other relief as this Court deems just and proper.". . FILE - A cleanup worker stands on a derailed tank car of a Norfolk Southern freight train in East Palestine, Ohio, continues, Feb. 15, 2023. By the time your meeting wraps up, you'll have a clear and concise record of every decision made and every task assigned. 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. I had to fight for a spot on that team, long before racial integration in college sports was a popular idea. ROMULUS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS (hereinafter called the "School District") and the ROMULUS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS (hereinafter called the . Update: Romulus school board members debate superintendents return after investigation into financial practices. Time: 6 PM. Carter is the president of the Romulus Education Association. Theboard members began "pushing back on decisions within his discretion as superintendent, interfering with his ability to perform his job and improve the school district, and causing multiple District administrators and employees to quit," according to the lawsuit. 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. 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. You know why I got flowers? The law firm Clark Hill PLC was retained to oversee the independent investigation into the districts business and financial practices. Skip to main content. Calendar . It appears Board President Debbi Pyles, Susan Evitts, Nicole German and Judy Kinnard voted in favor of the leave. SPSD Board Meeting Schedule. Please contact the Secretary to the Board, Vania Moore at 313.873 . Location: Romulus High School @ 9650 Wayne Road; Romulus, unless noted otherwise. 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. Board president Debi Pyles tries to immediately adjourn which leads to outrage from some people in attendance. 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. The Romulus Community Schools superintendent who filed a racial discrimination and whistleblower lawsuit against the district has been reinstated. The mission of the Laingsburg Community Schools is to transmit essential knowledge and skills in a way that develops each student's ability to think clearly and solve problems while nurturing every student's potential. He went on to give information about his background and explain how entrenched and invested he is in the city. The issue was brought up for discussion at Monday nights board meeting where a decision on linking with the Detroit-based program was expected to be made, but it received some pushback from Trustee Pete Bergeron. Contentious Romulus school board meeting ends, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Contentious Romulus school board meeting ends with superintendent put on leave, Not again. 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. He went on to chastise Pyles for having the private meeting the day after the superintendent was placed on leave. That should outrage parents more than the prospect of losing a sports coach. . 6 Year Term (3) Positions. This has been a long-standing problem for Romulus Community Schools. 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? She said the superintendent would return when the inquiry was concluded and acknowledged that Edmondson is not under investigation. 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. Benjamin Edmondson was placed on leave last month amid an investigation into financial practices. 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. February 8, 2023 - Work Session - Watkins - St. Patrick Church. Three 4-year terms. 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. Please attend the Romulus Community Schools Board Meeting April 9th. While forming a partnership with the popular Downtown Boxing Gyms mentoring program appears to be a sound concept to most members of the Romulus Community Schools Board of Education, it is not a done deal just yet. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. Will Romulus Community Schools become a land of opportunity? Its at board meetings.. They are playing with people like theyre dumb, Hampton said. Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday. . The board establishes the structure to accomplish the vision, and periodically evaluates the results. A special meeting is planned for 6 p.m. Aug. 29 at Romulus High School, 9650 Wayne Road, to discuss the issue. Pyles responded with a written statement explaining that the members understand there are people who disagree with the decision to terminate the superintendent. Our school district began over 150 years ago and has transformed into a well-known, dynamic district that promotes inspiration, exploration and achievement in our students, staff and community. School Supt. Candidate Total Votes . Southgate Community School District Board Member. Meeting Dates. Pyles and Terrell were talking over each other as they continued to make their points. Official minutes of Board meetings will be available to the Association as soon as they are prepared following Board approval of such minutes. Board meetings are typically held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 a.m. and on the third Wednesday of each month with the regular business meeting at 7 p.m. Romulus Community Schools. Will Romulus Community Schools become a land of, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window). Some board members also took a good deal of criticism, including a lashing from one of its own. 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 Community Schools schools for this district: NCES District ID: 2630120: State District ID: MI-82130: Mailing Address: 36540 Grant St Romulus . At a school board meeting on Feb. 13, the . . 200,000 lose power as snowstorm blankets Detroit region, Fatal pedestrian crash involving Rockwood man under investigation by MSP, Parkinsons symptoms eased by non-surgical procedure, study shows, ARPA expenditures approved for 5 major projects in Downriver communities, Husband buys wrong instant lottery ticket in Taylor for wife, it turns out to be a big winner, Former Wyandotte City Hall to be renovated into mixed-use development, Detroit Rescue Mission set to open Wyandotte location on March 9, Woodhaven becomes 1st boys basketball team to finish undefeated in Downriver League, Multiple shots fired at Southgate resident; two bullets hit inside neighboring house, Trenton hockey tops Allen Park in OT; wins 6th straight regional title w/ PHOTO GALLERY, Plans in works to redevelop manufacturing building in Taylor, generating millions, Southgate officials organizing adult-only 'Hoppy Hour' for upcoming holiday, Burglar robs Lincoln Park man of his war medals and jewelry, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. . She also reminded Pyles that it was Edmondson who brought concerning financial issues to the districts attention upon his arrival to Romulus Community Schools. This past week, the RCS Board of Education made a few impactful decisions regarding the immediate direction of the district. Irritation . Mar 20. Romulus High School . ROMULUS, Mich. - Supporters of Romulus Community Schools superintendent Benjamin Edmondson packed Monday night's school board meeting, two weeks after he was placed on paid administrative leave. Eureka Math K-5 Support If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. He came here for less money during a pandemic. 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. We know that IRS payments werent made, Pyles said. SMARTS Students Continue to Collaborate . The board, during Edmondson's six-week absence for heart surgery, he said, voted to hire Dixon Public Consulting to investigate the district's finances. The four board members have been in lockstep with their voting power on just about all issues pertaining to Edmondson. 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. I want him back so he can do that job he said he was going to do. In a four to three vote that amendment to bring Edmondson back did not pass. Romulus superintendent Benjamin Edmondson. Recall supporters started the recall effort after the board voted to place Superintendent Benjamin Edmondson on leave on September 27, 2021. Responsibilities of School Boards 8.5 x 5.5 half sheet; Responsibilities of School Boards 17 x 11 poster; Facts About School Board Members 5.5 x 8.5 half sheet; Facts about School Board Members 11 x 17 poster He said he reviewed board policies, regulations and spoke of looking into 21 situations of competitive bidding in accordance with board policy. Dr. Edmondson showed up at the funeral. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. Its just the right thing to do. 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! More than 100 high school students - all members of SMARTS - gathered at the Imagination Station last month to continue sharing their ideas, plans and successes when it comes to supporting their classmates, schools and community. The process provides for this and it is anyones right to seek a recall of a public official. "Your compliance will allow me to ensure I am following all of the formal Board Motions, as expected," the lawsuit said. It is also the most culturally and linguistically diverse community in the state of Michigan with the school age population representing nearly 40 different . Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. 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 School Board Meeting Date: Mar 13. Please welcome Superintendent Dr. Benjamin Edmondson, who returns to RCS as of February 1, 2023 . SPSD BOND BID OPENING. Last year, the finance director left,and in the past month, an accountant and the director of human resources resigned, both blaming the board. Find out in advance about other schools that have implemented successful programs, or dealt with related problems, and outline the steps that lead to a solution. Please check the calendar for locations, dates, and times. Sold - 36558 Goddard Rd, Romulus, MI - $70,000. Priya joined WDIV-Local 4 in 2013 as a reporter and fill-in anchor. You guys are going to be investigated, yelled one person from the audience and another said, We are not a destination location, were a place to get off.. Bargaining Committee Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. The Board President serves as the spokesperson for the School Board's position on all items related to the public schools. 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 . Update: Romulus school board members debate superintendent's return after investigation into financial practices "We want to know why it was not on the agenda for tonight's meeting," Sarah . Board Meeting. Ive never lost touch with the poor farm kid in me. Jason anchors Local 4's 5:30 p.m. newscast. I think theyre in the dark because of the narrative thats been told, Pyles said. I want a legal opinion from our law firm because I have one on the contrary.. She said the superintendent brought a different type of spirit into the district. . Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community. I dont know whos responsible for that. I stand up for what is right and what I believe in.. . Home - Wyandotte Public Schools. I want him back, she said, slamming her fist on the podium. Once the motion was made the meeting, which was recorded and streamed, became disruptive from outraged members of the . February 8, 2023 - Work Session - Elberon Community Center. On Sept. 30, I concluded my term as interim superintendent. Each of the 19 programs offered at SCC . Before launching Motor City Muckraker, Scroll to read more Metro Detroit News articles. Those who support the superintendent of Romulus schools want answers about his job status. Hampton has followed through on her promise. I submitted the papers for a recall today, Hampton said to applause. ROMULUS, Mich. A tense school board meeting was held Monday in Romulus where some members called for the return of its superintendent. in Communications/Post Grad in Advanced Journalism. The superintendent of the Romulus Community Schools filed a harassment and racial discrimination lawsuit against the district and school board, saying he was placed on indefinite leave . View details, map and photos of this commercial property with 0 bedrooms and 0 total baths. I'm sure you've . Board President Debi Pyles read the resolution and said the probe would take two weeks and an independent investigation would be launched into the districts finances. 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. 4 PM - 7 PM . Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Calendar: SCS District. Education: B.A. Kennard and Evitts did not respond to a request for comment for this story. 17 Mar. . Please bring your spouse, a friend, or fellow supporter of public education.. At the Romulus Community Schools board meeting Monday night, board members raised an issue of questionable credit card spending by the superintendents office. Use the Search For Public School Districts locator to retrieve information on all U.S. public school districts. "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.". 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. I can departmentalize that. At times, including when Pyles tried to adjourn the meeting without public input, the shouting from the audience overpowered the two members of the board remaining on camera. She said she understands there are people in the community who disagree with their decision to terminate Edmondson. The Downtown Boxing Gym is a nonprofit youth mentoring program that started in 2007 by internationally recognized coach and mentor Khali Sweeney. Thursday March 2. Meetings can be accessed live via Zoom. Romulus Community Schools Board of Education Trustee Pete Bergeron wants to see financial information before supporting a new mentoring partnership. Top 5 most common symptoms reported (Symptom, Number reporting, Percentage of total respondents): Headache, 125, 74%. Youre just the president of the board, youre not the board and youre not the community, he said. 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. Its still not clear whether Edmondson is coming back from administrative leave. 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.". A special meeting is planned for 6 p.m. Aug . This document allows you to fill in your local school board information for meetings and other information for a potential candidate. The meeting ended with no indication whether Edmondson will return. 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. You havent shown us that this board cares about students. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Location: 9th . Copyright 2021 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Records Requests Fax Numbers: Romulus is academically behind not just by state standards, but by the standards of surrounding schools and academic peers. Im retired and I have the time. 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. 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. . She said the last straw for her was the chaotic meeting in which Edmondson was placed on leave and how embarrassing it was. ONLINE. 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. I grew up literally dirt poor my family worked a farm in Cass County. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. . In a move many watching and in attendance didnt appear to see coming, a motion was passed in a 4-3 vote to place School Supt. Running an Effective Board . She said there were many people who wanted the recall, but said they didnt have the time it requires to organize it. Debi Pyles, Judy Kennard, and Susan Evitts were named in the recall petitions.