Ferndale Schools Superintendent Search Underway

Ferndale Schools Superintendent Search Underway (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 10, 2014) Who will be the next Superintendent of Ferndale Schools? This question is the focus of the Ferndale School Board as they embark on their search for their next top administrator.  After 14 years of service, Superintendent Gary Meier announced his retirement in May.  He’ll…

Ferndale Schools Superintendent Search Underway

Ferndale Schools Superintendent Search Underway (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 10, 2014) Who will be the next Superintendent of Ferndale Schools? This question is the focus of the Ferndale School Board as they embark on their search for their next top administrator.  After 14 years of service, Superintendent Gary Meier announced his retirement in May.  He’ll…

11th District State Senate Democrats Square Off at First Forum (video)

11th District State Senate Democrats Square Off at First Forum (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 12, 2014) A dozen days before the filing deadline, three Democratic candidates for the State Senate 11th District came before the Oak Park-Huntington Woods Democratic Club for their first forum. Current State Senator Vince Gregory of Southfield is being challenged…

11th District State Senate Democrats Square Off at First Forum (video)

11th District State Senate Democrats Square Off at First Forum (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 12, 2014) A dozen days before the filing deadline, three Democratic candidates for the State Senate 11th District came before the Oak Park-Huntington Woods Democratic Club for their first forum. Current State Senator Vince Gregory of Southfield is being challenged…

Cissell Gets Probation, Suspended Jail Time, in False Statement Case (video)

Cissell Gets Probation, Suspended Jail Time, in False Statement Case (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 8, 2014) Andrew Cissell, who was convicted of making a false statement on an initiative petition in connection with the Nov. 2013 ballot initiative to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana under Ferndale ordinance, was sentenced in 43rd District Court in…

Local Districts Named 2014 Best Communities for Music Education

Local Districts Named 2014 Best Communities for Music Education (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 27, 2014) The NAMM Foundation rates school  districts across the county in music programs, and this year they have named 376 districts to their 2014 Best Communities for Music Education List.  In Oakland County, Berkley, Bloomfield Hills, Ferndale, Oxford and Rochester Schools…

Gary Meier Announces Retirement from Ferndale Schools

Gary Meier Announces Retirement from Ferndale Schools (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 20, 2014) After 14 years as Superintendent of Ferndale Schools, Gary Meier has announced that he is retiring. In a memo to Ferndale Schools staff, Meier wrote: “It is with many mixed emotions that I write this letter to formally advise you of my…

Preferential Polices Stricken from Ferndale Schools Contracts

Preferential Polices Stricken from Ferndale Schools Contracts (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 20, 2014) At some point in the 1970s, language giving preference to the hiring and promotion of minorities, including non-Christians, made its way into teacher contracts at Ferndale Schools.  The wording “Special consideration shall be given to women and/or minority defined as: Native American,…

Gov. Snyder Confirms Financial Emergency in Royal Oak Township

Gov. Snyder Confirms Financial Emergency in Royal Oak Township (State of Michigan Press Release, March 19, 2014) Gov. Rick Snyder today confirmed his earlier determination that a financial emergency currently exists in Royal Oak Township. Under Public Act 436 of 2012, the Local Financial Stability and Choice Act, elected officials in the township now have…

Local Celebrities Read to Roosevelt Students (video)

Local Celebrities Read to Roosevelt Students (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 18, 2014) To an adult, it is twenty minutes away from their day jobs.  But to the youngsters at Roosevelt Primary in Ferndale, the guests who come to their classrooms on Reading Day are celebrities and heroes. The tradition takes place each year in…

Roaring 20s Dinner Raises Money for Ferndale Education Foundation

Roaring 20s Dinner Raises Money for Ferndale Education Foundation (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 15, 2014) The Ferndale Education Foundation had it’s annual dinner Friday with a Roaring 20’s Theme.  With feathers, fringe and furs the fine ladies of Ferndale mingled with dapper gentlemen in suits.  They enjoyed a delicious meal, watched dance, band and acting…

MEAP Scores Released, Improvement in Reading Celebrated

MEAP Scores Released, Improvement in Reading Celebrated (Michigan Dept. of Education Press Release, Feb. 28, 2014) Reading test scores for Michigan fourth graders improved for the fourth consecutive year, the Michigan Department of Education reported today. Results from the Fall 2013 Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) are reflective of what children had learned the previous…

Ferndale Schools Take Advocacy Trip to Lansing (video)

Ferndale Schools Take Advocacy Trip to Lansing (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 19, 2014) Dozens of concerned parents, teachers, students, administrators and Ferndale School Board Trustees gathered in front of Ferndale High School for an early morning rally and photo opportunity Wednesday, and to send a caravan off on an advocacy trip to Lansing. Armed…

How Are Michigan Schools Funded… (video)

How Are Michigan Schools Funded: Kevin Deegan-Krause Explains (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 18, 2014) How Michigan schools are funded is a complicated subject, but one that Ferndale School Board Trustee Kevin Deegan-Krause hopes to help the public better understand.  Deegan-Krause, who is also a political science professor at Wayne State University, gave two presentations…

School Funding Discussions Feb. 18, Advocacy Trip Feb. 19

School Funding Discussions Feb. 18, Advocacy Trip Feb. 19 (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 16, 2014) The Ferndale School Board and other advocates are focusing some of their efforts on Lansing as they grapple with the problem of less funding for public education. On Tuesday, Board Trustee Kevin Deegan-Krause will give two presentations on school funding,…