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SCHOOL BOND page 3

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M4n2f1AU4LFAIN_IFIIESI

said attorney Dan Tukel, a mem- Walled Lake Consolidated School
ber of the Citizens for Walled District approved the sale of
Lake Schools Committee and bonds for new construction was
head of Timber's Edge Subdivi- in 1989, and in 1991, Pleasant
sion Association in West Bloom- Lake Elementary was built.
Since then, three similar bond
field.
The passage of the bond pro- proposals have failed, the last one
posal would cost owners of homes by only 150 votes in February
that are assessed at $250,000 1995.
The district has seen a huge
about $5.30 per week, he point-
influx of new students. From
ed out.
"It's a smart investment for 1989 to the present, enrollment
property values. Even if people jumped from 9,000 to 13,000 stu-
don't have kids in school and are dents. The district, which covers
not looking at it from the stand- 55 square miles and spans sec-
point of education, it makes sense tions of nine communities, esti-
from a dollars-and-cents stand- mates that 550 new students are
point," he said. Mr. Tukel has no entering Walled Lake Schools
every year.
children.
To ease overcrowding, the dis-
Attorney David Meldman, the
father of 18-month-old triplets trict is leasing Meadow Lake
and treasurer of the opposition Elementary from the Birming-
group, Citizens Alliance for Bet- ham Schools for 500 students.
ter Education, said the proper- The contract, which is up in
ty values issue is being exploited 1997, has a two-year option to
by bond supporters to "pander" renew.
"The facilities haven't kept
to senior citizens' fears.
"It's part of the typical mantra pace with the new growth," Mr.
— that it will boost prop-
erty values. A lot of the
buildings in the district
are condos and for people
who don't have kids in
school, so they're trying to
appeal to their pocket-
books," he said.
And notwithstanding
"exaggerated" concerns
about overcrowding, Mr.
Meldman believes the ed-
ucational system in gener-
al needs a major overhaul,
not more money. Citizens
should consider charter
schools and other forms of
"individualized" education
rather than the universal
model that has failed stu-
dents for three decades, he
said.
Mr. Meldman, who has
not decided how or where
his children will be edu-
cated, also believes the
school board did not seek
input from district resi- David Meldman: A major overhaul, not more
dents before calling for an- money.
other bond election.
That is simply untrue,
said Dr. Bill Hamilton, assistant Tukel said.
Despite the rural appeal of the
superintendent for curriculum.
He said various citizens' com- area covered by the Walled Lake
mittees drew up recommenda- school district — lakes and woods
tions that were aired in public still abound — and the ongoing
construction of pricey homes,
hearings.
"We invited all citizens that many Jewish families remain
we have publicly known to be leery of moving into the district
opposed to the bond issue to at- because of the repeated bond fail-
tend those meetings, so we have ures, say area realtors.
Melanie Bishop-Cohen of Real
really tried to reach out to those
folks to solicit their input. This Estate One in West Bloomfield
last time, we even had a phone- said families with young chil-
in evening and the board was dren are likelier to buy or stay
here for that to solicit informa- in the district than those with
children approaching adoles-
tion about the bond," he said.
District spokesperson Lois cence. She has noticed, howev-
Lange said the district realized er, that fewer people have
the election was set on Shabbat moved out of the district this
but was assured by several Jew- year than last in order to be in
ish citizens that it won't be a a different school district.
"If they don't pass the bond, it's
problem because of the avail-
ability of absentee ballots.
SCHOOL BOND page 17
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