,,kta • lirfat i4, eztel 46' ?„a/eazi j 9 Custom notilier Head Of His Class Taut Cicciti-ni or cAten Suits • Sportcoats Tuxedos • Slacks • Shirts Topcoats • Raincoats Shoes • Sweaters • Socks Ties • Cuff Links Custom Buttons Ask for Sheila Blum Fashion Consultant Taut Ciccliini jor (Women Skirt Suits • Pants Suits Blazers • Slacks • Shirts Topcoats • Accessories PERSONALIZED SERVICE IN YOUR HOME, OFFICE OR IN OUR SHOWROOM BY APPOINTMENT 271 MERRILL BIRMINGHAM 48009 (248) 646-0535 Need a New Coat? Check out the Painters and Wallpaper Hangers in our Marketplace 12/3 llome_And 1-999 12 Service Guide. - Seymour Gretchko named Michigan's Superintendent of the Year. oping in-service programs for teachers, Gretchko said, provid- ing each with a personal comput- _t e. r in return for 60 hours of train- hen the West o ing over three years. Bloomfield School Although Gretchko empha- District opened a sized how fortunate he was in new building in community backing for the 1995, school board members school district, other communi- could have named it Greer ties of similar income don't neces- School, after the street where it's sarily support their public schools located, or Wellington School, - to this extent. after a nearby subdivision. They Gretchko maintains tha-t sup- could have used the opportunity port in West Bloomfield not only to memorialize a retired or through academic expertise, but deceased school employee. also through constant communi- Instead, they took the unusual . cation and openness. step of naming the school Several parents praised his Gretchko Elementary in honor involvement with the Parent of Dr. Seymour Gretchko, the Communication Network, a district's current superintendent. group that provides a forum for "He was a little overwhelmed, parent input. Each of the district's but very gratified," recalled West Bloomfield Superintendent Seymour Gretchko 11 buildings has its own PCN, in the lobby of the district's high school. school board member Beth and Gretchko attends nearly all of Borson. the monthly meetings held by the Gretchko's response was the Yorker, he received bachelor's, master's central body of PCN representatives. same this year, Borson said, when he and doctoral degrees from Wayne "He certainly doesn't sit in his ivory was named Michigan's Superintendent State University. tower," said PCN representative Lou of the Year — gratified but somewhat Gretchko and his wife, Ilene, West Goutman. "I find him to be a good taken aback by the fuss. Bloomfield residents since 1969, have leader — open-minded and a very In choosing Gretchko for the three children and four grandchildren. good listener." award, the Michigan Association of As superintendent,.Gretchko leads Gretchko said credibility is always School Administrators cited his a 6,300-student district that has an issue in leadership. Its important strong leadership skills, communica- proved its willingness to invest in new for the public to know you're going to tion skills, professionalism, communi- construction, additions to existing listen; you're going to run an open sys- ty involvement and the success of the buildings and technology — all indi- tem. " students... cators of the trust the community has This fall, students and parents A panel of teachers, school admin- in the district and its leader. strongly protested a district decision to istrators, board members and parents A recent survey of southeast ban backpacks at West Bloomfield selected him for the honor. Gretchko Michigan's public schools gave West High School during the school day. will receive the award at the MASA's Bloomfield an A+. Public meetings took place and, midwinter conference. "His strengths are many," Borson even though Gretchko had been a "I am really happy the state has fig- said. He has a vision for this school strong proponent of the ban, he ured out what we have known for a district and he never veers from that reversed the decision. very long time," commented parent vision. He never shuns any issue or "We instituted the ban because of Barbara DeMarco. concern, and he's always moving for- concerns over student safety," he said. School board member David Gad- ward. There's nothing negative I could "Students and families were overwhelm- Harf said Gretchko has the wisdom say about the man." ingly opposed so we went back to a vol- and perception that speaks of many In a recent interview, Gretchko said untary policy. My own feelings at the years of experience. "But he doesn't that any honor he receives is "due to time were that the decision was appro- rest on his laurels. Instead, he looks to the people who labor in our schools, priate. But when you raise questions meet the needs of the students into to the Board of Education, and to a with the public, you have to be respon- the next century. " community that values and treasures sive to what the public tells you." Gretchko, 69, became West education." Gad-Harf said the incident typified Bloomfield's superintendent in 1983. The technology program, in specif- the superintendent's leadership style. He came from the Detroit Public ic, would not have been possible with- "He realized it was time to back off Schools, where he taught elementary, out the support of both the school and move on, that there were larger middle and high school, and worked board and community, he said. issues to be dealt with," he said. "If it as counselor, assistant principal and Just having computers in the class- were an issue vital to student learning, principal before becoming a Detroit room is not enough. West Bloomfield he would have insisted on it." Ei area superintendent. A native New has been among the pioneers in devel- DIANA LIEBERMAN StaffWriter W "