As the presidential debates ended last week (thank goodness), I’d like to say this: Debate is good. The free exchange of information is good, even if the information is bad.
Bad is good? How can this be? How can bad information be good for folks? Well, easy (in some skewed sense of logic possessed by yours truly). The way I see it, time will usually ferret out any bad info. Then, armed with the good information, we can judge them who used the bad.
I wanted to say this, not because of the presidential debates, but on a couple of local issues. In the sleepy little hamlet known to some as Goodville, but to most as Goodrich Village, there’s a game afoot. There’s an effort to dissolve said village so the only governing body would be Atlas Township.
As a resident of this community, I signed the petition to get the motion in front of a voting populace. I did not sign because I am a big hater of the community which I reside, or because of a dislike of any public employee. As a matter of fact, the only time I had a concern with the village, Village Administrator Jakki Sidge listened to mine and others? concerns and changed her plan accordingly. That’s what you want in a public employee. Thanks, Jakki.
I just want the issue debated. Without the issue looming towards a vote, I do not believe the issue would be discussed at all. Whether or not to dissolve Goodrich Village proper is an emotionally-charged issue. The free exchange of information on the pros and cons will only help folks make an informed choice. Residents of this village need to make their decisions based on information, tradition and feelings (not just from one angle).
I look forward to this debate and I reckon the folks residing in the villages of Oxford, Ortonville and Lake Orion will find it of interest. If it turns out that village government is just another antiquated layer of bureaucracy that can be tossed onto the ash heap of history, then village governments across the state may soon start to disappear.
I think I will ask the muckity-mucks of this newspaper to sponsor a series of town hall meetings, debates on the subject. Got any questions, get ’em to me.
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Goodrich must be a hotbed these days . . . the other week number one son Shamus brought home a letter from the new superintendent of schools, Kim Hart. I commend Hart on her effort to start informing local parents on school issues.
The October 11 letter went on for a page and a half on the sucky economy and how cuts were made at Goodrich Area Schools and how more could be coming. I spent the better part of an hour reading and rereading that letter. By the time I was finished, there was barely enough room for any more of my notes or comments.
Her letter got me thinking. (Thanks Superintendent Hart. This is a good thing, because if you asked any of my teachers in the Clarkston school district, you’d find out I tend to keep to the non-thinking side of any issue. I’m good that way.) The sup’s letter was kind of gloom and doom and well, even though the folks in Goodrich are fortunate, we cannot long hide from stupid decisions made in Lansing.
The classrooms will be colder this winter and warmer this spring; the athletic department was slashed by $30,000; a pay-to-be-part-of-the-team (not to play) program was instituted; French clubs, Students Against Drunk Drivers and artsy-fartsy clubs were disbanded and the slashing may not be done.
The questions I have were many, and since I ain’t too bright, I believe others may have similar questions. How much money is being spent per student as compared to two years ago, five or 10 years ago?
For athletic trips, buses will take athletes to an event but the student must find a ‘ride home.? Does this mean buses will drop off a team then turn around from away games and drive back to Goodrich, leaving a team somewhere? Or, does this mean the bus will wait until a game is over, take them back to the local school where they will have to find a ride home?
There will be scholarships for those families with financial issues — who is on the committee and what are the guidelines?
Why do we even have a French Club, when the language of this country’s future is Spanish?
What does it cost to have an after school club?
How many students were effected by the program cuts?
Is there an athletic boosters club to help defray costs? And, finally, what can the community do (besides writing blank checks in the form of more taxes) do help the situation? I think I’ll also pass these questions to this newspaper’s muckity-mucks. Stay tuned.
Send comments to: dontrushmedon@charter.net.