Southfield Schools

the curriculum and taught throughout
• Ann M. Dillon
the various grade levels.
SOUTHFIELD is director of asso-
Doris Edwards agreed. "It is very
ciation for the Sisters of Mercy,
important for students to learn and
Regional Community of Detroit.
understand the history of all people of
She is a retired teacher, having
our city," she wrote. "As I believe my
vative after-school program held in
taught middle school for eight
own history should be taught, I
city facilities, an adult education pro-
years. She holds a bachelor of the
encourage
the
history
of
the
gram aimed at developing leadership
arts degree in history and political
Holocaust to be understood."
for neighborhood associations and a
science from the University of
Alvin Harris, a recent graduate and
city marketing plan that includes
Detroit-Mercy and a master of
council candidate, said the lessons he
school involvement.
received during his time in the school
education from Marygrove
"There are more and more signs of
University. She has basic and merit
system were covered adequately. "The
cooperation between the city and the
certification from the Michigan
Holocaust was covered around the time
schools," he said.
Association of School Boards.
we were also studying slavery in the
Outside of those changes, others
The 22-year resident of Lathrup
United States. However, each subject
have been felt in the makeup of the
was handled totally separate from the
Village served in a number of posi-
student body. Declining Jewish enroll-
tions in parent-teacher group lead-
other," he said. "As a student who
ment in the schools over the past sever-
ership for the past 15 years. She
received this education on the
al years has led to a few changes in pol-
developed and installed a number
Holocaust, I feel it is covered adequately
icy for a district that is now 75 percent
of parenting programs through the
and there should be no changes in the
minority. One was the announcement
current presentation given to students."
district's Parenting University Board
about five years ago that the district
On another key issue appealing to
and served on two Boy Scout troop
would no longer recognize the High
committees. She has been a
Jewish voters — that of making
Holidays by closing the schools — a
Southfield Board of Education
vouchers available — the candidates
move that caused little controversy.
member for the past four years.
all
agreed
that
the
vouchers
would
And while some districts devote
Dillon is married and is the
take students out of the public school
separate classes to study the Holocaust
mother of three, all them graduates
system
and
give
government
money
to
and memorial events to honor its vic-
unaccountable private and parochial
of the Southfield Public Schools.
tims, the district's Holocaust educa-
schools.
These
schools
would
be
s Doris Edwards is a project man-
tion program consists of portions of
agement consultant. She holds a
allowed
to
discriminate
as
to
whom
20th century history and of minority
bachelor of science degree in
they would enroll.
studies programs, said Kenson Siver,
Said Ann Dillon, school board pres-
mechanical engineering from
the district's spokesperson.
Tuskegee University and is study-
ident: "There is no guarantee that stu-
William Seikaly, a current board
ing for a master's in business
dents of any district will have the
member, believes in weaving the
choice of other educational alternatives
administration from the
Holocaust lesson into larger lessons on
University of Detroit-Mercy.
but there is the reality that public
human tragedies. Responding to a
The eight-year resident of the
schools
will
lose
critical
revenues
and
Jewish News questionnaire distributed
valued students and that public monies
district is past president of the
to all council candidates, Seikaly said:
PTSA at Birney Middle School, a
will be spent without accountability —
"I believe that as to the Holocaust
all without a proven track record of
member of the Parents and
issue, slavery and other dark periods
Concerned Citizens of Southfield, a
benefiting
students."
of our history, it is important that we
touch group leader at Word of Faith
Matthew Kamins did not respond to
teach them not as separate entities or
International Christian Center and
the questionnaire or telephone calls. ❑
events, but that they be embedded in
volunteers as an algebra tutor.

Five contenders vie for two school board seats.

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR

Special to the Jewish News

henever there is a political
race in Southfield, there
never seems to be a lack of
candidates.
For example, the city elections in
the fall drew a field of 10 people who
were vying for three positions. This
school board race is no exception.
Where some districts like Bloomfield
Hills and Farmington Hills have
incumbents running unopposed,
Southfield has five candidates compet-
ing for two positions; the positions are
unpaid. The candidates are Ann
Dillon, Doris Edwards, Alvin Harris,
Matthew Kamins and William
Seikaly. Election day is Monday, June
12.
It is no surprise that these are posi-
tions that wield quite a bit of influ-
ence. The school board oversees the
operation of 17 schools and a curricu-
lum that affects 9,800 students from
the pre-school program at Bussey
Center to the 12th graders at
Southfield and Southfield-Lathrup
high schools. The board members also
direct a budget of $100 million.
At the same time, the board must
work together with the city council in
implementing a number of joint pro-
grams.
Nimrod Rosenthal, Southfield's
director of community relations, listed
several projects involving both the city
and school governing bodies: an inno-

W

./
Berkley Schools

MAACOIVOMM=MAA.NI

CANDIDATE PROFILES on page 16

MM%

A challenger in bid for school board seat.

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR

Special to the Jewish News

I

f test scores can be taken as a
measure of a district's perfor-
mance, the Berkley School
District is doing pretty well.
On the California Achievement
Tests, the district performed well
above the national average on all grade
levels. The ACT scores show the dis-
trict's test takers boosted last year's
composite to 22.3 from 21.1 the year

612
2000

14

before. And the MEAP scores for
1999 were well above state averages on
all levels, despite a slip in most sub-
jects from the 1998 scores.
With 4,200 students attending nine
schools, the district also boasts cross-
district schools of choice, allowing stu-
dents in one area to attend a school in
another. Additionally, this district with
a $33.3 million budget offers 18
Advance Placement classes at its single
high school as well as other college
credit opportunities.

This year, incumbent Mark Benner
faces a challenge from Martin Klemet
to retain his seat on the board of edu-
cation. The board is responsible for
maintenance of the nine school build-
ings and instituting curricula for the
district's 4,200 students, from those
attending the pre-school programs at
Tyndall Center to those graduating
(this year: Wednesday, June 7) from
Berkley High School. Election day is
Monday, June 12. Trustees serve four-
year terms and are paid $30 per meet-
ing attended.
The Jewish News sent question-
naires to both school board candi-
dates. Benner returned his, but
Klemet did not and could not be

reached despite several phone calls.
Benner is pleased with the amount
of Holocaust education the district
provides to students. In addition to
teaching it as a part of world history
and cultural learning, the high school
hosts activities that include speakers,
literature studies and other events
about the Holocaust.
"I am proud to say that Berkley
High School devotes an entire week to a
series of Holocaust programs," he said.
Benner is also opposed to the idea
of school vouchers. "This evil idea has
little to do with education or the pub-
lic good. If passed, the social and edu-
cational effects will be devastating," he
said. ❑

