Brandon Twp.- Greg Allar served on the school board through what has been some of the most difficult years in the district.
Elected to the Brandon Board of Education in 2006, Allar vacated his seat at the Dec. 15 board meeting, thanked by his fellow board members and Superintendent Matt Outlaw for his year of service to the community.
‘I owe Greg a lot of thanks,? said Board Treasurer Kevin McClellan. ‘As our elder statesman, I learned a lot from him.?
Allar arrived to the board in a year in which voters passed a $73.4 million bond, used to build Oakwood Elementary, a new football field and the I-TEC Center, as well as for technology upgrades and other renovations and improvements.
The passage of the bond, however, came at a time when student enrollment was peaking and right before the housing market crash. The district has since faced very troubling times? with plummeting student enrollment and cuts in education funding, Allar and the rest of the board have had to make tough decisions, including lay-offs and wage reductions for teachers, outsourcing of custodial services, and various other reductions to the budget.
‘I think the board can take great pleasure in that it has faced many challenges and looked objectively and unemotionally at these issues and made decisions they can live with,? said Allar. ‘The opportunity to work with fine, outstanding educators and board members also ranks very high for me. I think it’s always challenging when an educator who thinks they have a handle on things is faced with other perspectives.?
Allar adds that he is stepping down from the board in order to let someone else offer a new perspective.
‘The public likes when there is change from time to time, with different views, that is why we have seven different board members,? he said. ‘I am a lifelong educator, someone that enjoys problem solving and I think I offered a different opinion based on my area of expertise.?
Although Allar is retiring from the Brandon BOE, he will continue to work at Oakland University, lecturing on Russian language, politics and history.
Robert Eisiminger will fill Allar’s seat on the school board, joining what Allar calls a team effort. Allar likens the role of board members to that of referees, making sure everyone plays by the same rules and understands each other.
‘We are not the outcome, we keep all perspectives in mind,? he said.
Outlaw called Allar’s exit from the board a huge loss for the district.
‘He is able to see the big picture and really understands what schools are all about,? said Outlaw. ‘His dedication to the community is unbelievable.?
Allar sees ‘great things? in the district’s future, despite the ongoing challenges.
‘The field of education is constantly under change, adapting to what resources are available to it,? Allar said. ‘Dr. Outlaw has a firm understanding of the needs of our community, is open to suggestions and thorough in his approach before bringing issues to the board… The continuing change is the fluctuation with what monies are available to work with so we can make decisions. The board is constantly faced with changes in allocations and it’s difficult to have a long range economic plan… Everyone talks about importance of education, but it’s not always funded so it can prosper. It’s been a pleasure to serve the community, I’ve done my best.?