At the Jan. 21 Oxford School Board meeting, Diane Myers presented 256 names of people who signed a petition in opposition to the dormitory to be built by the Weiming Education Group, which would house 200 foreign students.
Myers had taken to an online petition early last December in an attempt to garner as many signatures as she could to show the board that there is an opposing view out there.
‘After I had gone and gotten people to take the time to sign the petition and do all of that, I felt like I needed to at least turn it in,? Myers told this reporter.
While she feels better having turned it in, she doesn’t feel it will make a difference.
‘I feel like it’s already been decided and I’m just a little speck in their grand scheme of things,? Myers added. ‘There are 256 people on there who have signed and (are) trying to show their opposition and they don’t seem to care.?
As a part of the survey, signers were allowed to comment as to why they were in opposition; Myers read a few of the comments into the record.
? ‘I believe an issue like this should be left to a vote of the constituents of the Oxford School district as our kids and taxes are the ones impacted by a large decision like this? ? Ryan Harp, Oxford
? ‘The focus needs to be on quality of education for our kids in this community.? ? Gwen Corso, Oxford
? ‘Spend our resources on our kids; don’t waste time, energy and resources on foreign students.? ? Joseph Fisher, Oxford
? ‘Please put our student’s education first; that should always remain top priority and focus.? ? Kristy Clark, Oxford
? ‘Words cannot put how disturbing this is on so many levels. This was not the choice of the taxpayers of this school’someone else’s personal agenda.? – Pamela Crosson, Oxford
‘I just wanted you to see that there are other people out there that are concerned at how things keep being pushed along, even though there are lots of things going on with it,? Myers told the board.
Board President Jim Reis thanked Myers for coming.
‘You did a great job,? Reis said. ‘That’s very good, very brave, thank you very much. I appreciate it.?
While on the subject, Myers was hopeful to hear from board members as to ‘what are five benefits to the Chinese Dorms and Chinese students??
Rather than engaging in dialog during the meeting, Reis recommended Myers meet with him and Superintendent Dr. William Skilling after the meeting to discuss it further.
‘There have been a lot of forums and we have discussed it. There has been two or three forums in the newspaper,? Reis said. ‘We’ve discussed at length what we think the benefits are.?
Myers noted that the forums were after the agreement was ‘kind of a done thing.?
‘Well we’ve still been tweaking it,? Reis responded. ‘Why don’t you meet with us after and we can discuss that.?
During board comment, Board Treasurer Dan D’Alessandro also gave his thanks to Myers for coming to the meeting.
‘It’s never easy, but we do appreciate it. Even though some of the people think it’s a done deal, we always like to understand how the community feels,? he said. ‘I really urge you to talk to Jim and Dr. Skilling and maybe some clarity will come there and even if you don’t 100 percent agree, I understand that.?
Trustee Mark Stepek told Myers that they ‘love to hear these opinions.?
‘In my short tenure, I’ve seen changes because of comments that are made, so don’t stop. Things have happen,? Stepek said. ‘There have been dramatic changes to the agreement just in the last two months and it was because of public comment.?
Myers did take the time to meet with Skilling and Reis following the meeting. Skilling felt it was a ‘good conversation.?
‘I answered all of her questions that she had and I was able to dispel some of the misinformation and misunderstanding that was being presented by the statements of others that she read,? Skilling told this reporter. ‘I was really appreciative of her coming to the board meeting and sharing her thoughts. This is what doesn’t happen.?
‘Sometimes, too, and the perception is that all we do is international,? he added. ‘Every decision we make is ‘what is this going to do for our students?? At least that’s where I come from.?
While Skilling may have felt it was a positive conversation with Myers, she didn’t agree.
‘I just wanted five benefits to our Oxford Kids on why it’s good and basically they only came up with it’s going to fund other programs for our kids,? she said. ‘Other than that they didn’t have anything to say how one out of four kids is going to be a Chinese student is going to help our kids.?
Trustee Mike Schweig was glad to see some different viewpoints out there.
‘As we arrive at decisions as board members, we want to take all sides into account before arriving on a final decision on things,? he said. ‘It’s that kind of community involvement that will make us better.?
Skilling also pointed out that some of the petition signers were by folks who ‘don’t live in our community.?
Of the 256 names 235 were Oxford or Leonard residents, 10 were Metamora residents, two were Auburn Hills, two were Ortonville, and single signers from Oakland, Ishpeming, Fortwayne Indiana, Waterloo Illinois, East Lansing (former Oxford grad), Noblesville Indiana (2006 Grad), and Columbia Missouri.
Myers wishes the district would put out a survey to the whole community asking people to sign for or against the project.
‘That, I think, would be a better way of grasping where the community is in that decision,? she said. ‘But that’s not going to happen, so at least they know there is some opposition.?