A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
7
February 11, 2016
B
ELLEVILLE
The largest crowd in two
decades appeared at the Jan. 25
meeting of the Van Buren Public
Schools Board of Education to
criticize both the superintendent
of schools and the high school
principal's recent handling of a
student foundwithahandgun.
Parents were also vocal about
the determination of the
Michigan State Board of
Education that cheating took
place during M-STEP testing at
Savage Elementary School that
resulted in the suspension of five
teachers.
Richard Ryman acted as the
spokesperson for a number of
parents at the meeting who he
said were afraid to speak to the
board members publicly for fear
of retribution. He said that since
Michael Van Tassel became
superintendent of schools, 164
teachers have left the district and
said there is now a hostile work-
ing environment in the schools.
He asked the board members
for an independent investigation
of the schools regarding the
working environment. He also
criticized the dismissal of the five
Savage teachers, who, he said,
were walked out of the building
during school hours when stu-
dentswere in class.
Boardmember Sherry Frazier
said that the boardmembers had
no knowledge of the teachers
being walked out of the school.
Members of the audience
responded that Director of
Curriculum Jeff Moore knew of
the situation.
Board President Brent
Mikulski asked, through a writ-
ten statement he read, that no
employees be named at the
board meeting and that names
not be used regarding the testing
at Savage or the student with the
gun at thehigh school.
Parents said they were upset
and concerned when both Van
Tassel and Belleville High
School principal Abdul Madyun
did not notify themof the student
found at the high school with the
gun on Jan. 15. A 14-year-old was
apprehended by administrators
at the school with an unloaded
gun and live ammunition in a
backpack. Parents were not noti-
fied of the incident until it was
reported on WDIV TV news Jan.
22, aweek after the fact.
Van Tassel subsequently
addressed the situation on the
district website and agreed that
while the correct procedures in
handling the situation, which
ultimately saw the student
expelled, the district had failed
in notifying parents. He also
addressed the cheating allega-
tions on the website, but has
made no other public comment
on either situation.
Rytman told the board
emphatically that when the stu-
dent thought about bringing a
gun to school he endangered the
students. “When he entered that
building with a gun, he endan-
gered all the students.”
Rytman also told the board
members that all the information
regarding the investigation into
the M-Step testing was not pro-
vided to them. He said students
were questioned by investigators
several times and asked ques-
tions in various ways and many
of the children were confused
and upset and could have provid-
ed incorrect answers to the ques-
tions.
“This is setting the board up
for a lawsuit,” Rytman said. “The
entire investigation is in jeop-
ardy because of the way it was
handled.”
Van Tassel did not speak dur-
ing the meeting and has refused
to speak ormake any comment to
the media regarding the situa-
tion.
Swimming sessions available
Registration for the winter
session of swimming sessions at
the Plymouth Arts and
Recreation Complex (PARC) is
nowunder way andwill continue
through Feb. 26. Registration will
be closed (online and at the
office) Feb. 15-19 and will re-
openFeb.20.
The pool will be closedFeb. 13
through 20 to complete updates.
Visit
/] to reg-
ister.
PARC aquatics program is a
swim program dedicated to pro-
viding a quality and price friend-
ly aquatics program to all ages
offering a variety of swim pro-
grams to fit the needs of begin-
ners, recreational, and competi-
tive swimmers. Classes are
taught by certified staffmembers.
Summer Camp registration opens
Maybury Farm will offer Day
Camp for Kids again this sum-
mer. MayburyFarmDay Camp is
a total hands-on experience that
offers a wide variety of activities
that are both educational and
fun-filled, according toNorthville
Community
Foundation
President Jessica Striegle.
Campers will enjoy learning
about farm animals including
grooming, feeding and walking.
Campers will take nature hikes,
do crafts, play games and learn
team building skills as they get to
know all about farm life and the
importance of farm animals in
our everyday lives.
Maybury Farm Summer Day
Camp is open to boys and girls
ages 5-12 years old. Camp hours
are 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, and Thursdays
fromJune 21 until Aug. 18. There
will be no camp the week of July
4. The cost is $60 per camper per
day or $150 per week, Tuesday
through Thursday. Campers can
sign up for one day or join for a
wholeweek.
To register for Day Camp, call
(248)374-0200
or
visit
-
dation.org. Space is limited.
Maybury Farm is located at
50165 Eight Mile Road in
Northville.
It is 1-1/4 mile west of Beck
Road onEight Mile, 1/2milewest
ofMaybury StatePark.
Count Me In storytime continues
The Canton Library is offering
storytime for children with spe-
cial needs, Count Me In, at 4 p.m.
on Saturdays. The storytimes are
designed for young children with
developmental displays and dis-
abilities. The programs are fund-
ed by the Dollar General
LiteracyFoundation.
Programs are planned for
Feb. 13, March 12, April 23, May
21 and June 18 at the Canton
Public Library, 1200 South
CantonCenterRoad.
For information, call (734) 397-
0999.
Inspire Theatre
presents lady pirates
Inspire Theater will present
The Lady Pirates of Captain
Bree weekends through Feb. 14
at the Westland Center for the
Arts, 33455 Warren Road in
Westland.
The play features the crew of
theKalaMae in their swashbuck-
ling musical tale of Captain Bree
and her lady pirates roaming the
Seven Seas in search of adven-
ture, love and laughter.
Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. on
Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m.
onSundays.
Tickets, priced at $16 for the
musical comedy, are available by
Calendar of events
This is setting the board up for a lawsuit.
The entire investigation
is in jeopardy because
of the way it was handled.
”
Angry parents question school board
See
Calendar,
page 8
