Brandon Twp.- Some community members are ready to seek the recall of several school board members.
Bonnie Kerin, Kathy Stockley and Maria Lauinger, members of what they call a concerned group of citizens, plan to show a videotape of Superintendent Tom Miller’s hiring interview from three years ago, at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. today, March 8, at the library, 304 South St.
The women’s intent is to show the public what Miller said he would do for the district at that time and contrast it with his current management style, with which they are displeased. Afterward, Kerin said they will take names and phone numbers of people interested in taking action against the school board.
That action may include putting a recall on the November ballot.
‘We’re working to develop language for recall petitions for several, but not all boardmembers,? said Kerin. ‘It will be based on the activity of the last two-and-a-half years, and also based on activities and decisions regarding the continuation and extension of Mr. Miller’s contract.?
Kerin noted if the board votes at their March 10 meeting not to extend Miller’s contract, but takes no further action on his current contract, which doesn’t end until June 30, 2010, then recall efforts against Karyn Milligan, Beth Nuccio, Chris Yuchasz, Greg Allar, and Diane Wiley will go on; however, if they find grounds to terminate him immediately, then she said she believes the intent of the recall attempt will be served and she wouldn’t pursue the recall of these boardmembers.
Kerin said she named Milligan, Nuccio, Yuchasz, Allar and Wiley as targets of a potential recall because of their support of Miller since his hiring. She said the recall petition language for each boardmember will be different if she files in court.
Miller and the school board have been under fire this year after the board approved the superintendent’s decision to reassign Brandon High School Principal Michael Ferguson to the CHOICES program in January. Less than two weeks later, after protesting by students, staff and parents, Miller reinstated Ferguson. However, since then, a community outcry against Miller has been gaining momentum.
In order to get a recall motion against the boardmembers placed on the ballot, Kerin first needs to get petition language approved, and then would need at least 1,885 signatures on the petitions.
Allar, board president, had no comment on the recall attempt, but said the school board will be evaluating a variety of issues in closed session at the March 10 meeting, including Miller’s performance appraisal. The board meeting is set for 6:30 p.m., Monday, at the central district office, 1025 S. Ortonville Road.