A
SSOCIATED
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EWSPAPERS OF
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ICHIGAN
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AGE
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September 28, 2017
N
ORTHVILLE
- R
OMULUS
Northville Public Schools fami-
lies and community members can
learnmore about Bond 2017 at the
second of two community forums
being hosted by the Northville
Board of Education. The bond
proposal - which will go before
voters at the Nov. 7 election -
would allow the district to
upgrade school facilities, enhance
existing building security, and pro-
vide modern learning environ-
ments across the school district,
officials said. If approved, the
$104.85 million bond proposal
would result in a zero increase in
the current debt millage rate for
taxpayers, they stressed.
The second Bond 2017 commu-
nity forum is scheduled from 6:30
until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3 at
Meads Mill Middle School, 16700
FranklinRoad inNorthville.
Members of the Northville
Board of Education have said
Bond 2017 will benefit students,
families and the community in a
variety of ways, including; learn-
ing environment upgrades tomeet
modern learning and teaching
practices; improvements to
address the aging infrastructure
of district buildings; safety and
security upgrades that build on
security upgrades already inplace
and energy and operational initia-
tives to improve the environmen-
tal quality and efficiency of build-
ings, as well as reduce operational
expenses.
The bond proposal is the cul-
mination of a two-year facility and
infrastructure planning initiative
to upgrade aging buildings to sup-
port learner-centered school com-
munities. In March, a study com-
mittee of district and community
stakeholders came together to
review and analyze a comprehen-
sive Facilities Needs Assessment
for the district; consider stake-
holder feedback from two commu-
nity engagement sessions; priori-
tize needs; and present a recom-
mendation to the board of educa-
tion members. In July, the board
members unanimously supported
placing the $104.85 million bond
initiative on theNov. 7 ballot.
The bond proposal includes a
major addition and renovation at
Hillside Middle School, to main-
tain its near-downtown location,
with a portion of the existing
building being demolished after
construction of three academic
wings. Program upgrades at
Northville High School will sup-
port current and future enroll-
ment by expanding common phys-
ical education/fitness and co-cur-
ricular areas, along with installa-
tion of multi-use turf to replace
the existing high school athletic
field for physical education, ath-
letic, band and community use. In
addition, the bond will support
restoration and renovation of the
vacant Old Village School for the
Early Childhood program and
administrative offices.
“It makes financial sense to
bring this bond proposal before
voters at this time,” said
Northville Superintendent of
Schools Mary Kay Gallagher. “It
will enable the school district to
address much-needed facility
updates to meet the current and
future educational needs of our
students with no projected
increase in the current debt mill-
age rate. It also will allow the dis-
trict to preserve general fund dol-
lars for instruction and classroom
needs by providing a dedicated
funding source to address identi-
fied and prioritized site, facility,
safety and security and equipment
needs.”
The bond forumwill beginwith
a short presentation sharing the
overall bond proposal, its impact
on 21st century learning, and how
it can be financed whilemaintain-
ing the current 3.64 mills debt
millage rate for taxpayers.
Following the presentation, par-
ticipants can take part in breakout
sessions where they can hear
about projects and improvements
at individual schools and facili-
ties. Tours of Meads Mill also will
be available.
For more information about
Bond 2017 - including detailed
lists of bond projects by building;
answers to frequently asked ques-
tions about the bond and voting
information - visit the district web-
site at
and click on “2017 Bond
Information.” Questions regarding
the bond proposal can be emailed
A Romulus-based franchisee
of Tim Horton's Cafe and Bake
Shop will pay $22,500 to settle a
religious accommodation law-
suit filed by the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC), according
to the federal agency.
The EEOC lawsuit charged
that Sleneem Enterprises, LLC
who operates the Romulus Tim
Horton's, violated federal lawby
firing Amanda Corley after she
requested a religious accommo-
dation. According to the EEOC
lawsuit, in 2015, Corley was
hired by Sleneem to work at the
Romulus cafe. On Nov. 16 of
that year, Corley requested that
she be permitted to wear a skirt
instead of pants, in accordance
with her Pentecostal Apostolic
religious beliefs. Corley
attempted to present a letter
from her pastor, explaining her
need towear a skirt, court docu-
ments claimed. Rather than
allow Corley to wear a skirt,
Sleneem fired her, the EEOC
said.
Such alleged conduct vio-
lates Tile VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, which prohibits
employers from discriminating
against employees based on
their religious beliefs. The
EEOC filed suit in U.S. District
Court for the Eastern District of
Michigan after first attempting
to reach a pre-litigation settle-
ment through its conciliation
process.
The consent decree settling
the suit, in addition to providing
for the award of monetary relief
to Corley, prohibits any similar
discrimination in the future and
requires Sleneem to train shift
supervisors and managers on
all forms of discrimination pro-
hibited by Title VII, including
the obligation to provide rea-
sonable religious accommoda-
tions.
“Under federal law, an
employer has an obligation to
fairly balance an employee's
right to practice religion with
operating its business,” said
Miles Uhlar, trial attorney for
the EEOC Detroit Field Office.
“When this obligation is not
met, the EEOC will step in and
protect workers.”
The EEOC's Detroit Field
Office is part of the agency
Indianapolis District Office,
which oversees Michigan,
Indiana, Kentucky, and parts of
Ohio.
It makes financial sense
to bring this bond proposal
before voters at this time.
”
Under federal law, an employer
has an obligation to fairly balance
an employee's right to
practice religion with operating its business.
”
Informational forum on school bond scheduled
Romulus Tim Horton’s owner to pay $22,500 fine
