Published: October 17, 2007 12:00 am      

Millage, 2 seats on line in TCAPS vote

Election plays key role in direction of TC schools

TRAVERSE CITY -- The upcoming general election surely will be a defining moment for Traverse City Area Public Schools.

Voters will find a millage renewal proposal and two available school board seats on the ballot Nov. 6.

In the wake of a contentious decision to close three elementary schools and subsequent outcry from community members who contend the board didn't listen to them, the question remains: Will this millage pass?

District leaders hope the answer is yes.

The millage proposal seeks to renew the district's current rate of 3.1 mills and is up at the same time seven hopefuls compete for spots on the school board. And a change in the board's membership comes at the same time many in the community, including some candidates, are calling for just that.

"There's people on that board who are set in their ways," said Beth Young, a Williamsburg parent. "They are not going to listen to anyone else other than what they want to hear, and that's not why they were elected."

Young has a daughter in fourth grade at Mill Creek Elementary in Elk Rapids, and a seventh-grader at Traverse City East Junior High. She said the TCAPS school board "absolutely" needs a change.

The numbers hint at that idea: Last year, three people, including incumbent Alice McNally, ran for two open seats. This year, there are seven candidates, none of whom are incumbents. Members Richard Crampton and Joel Casler are not seeking re-election.

"A fresh perspective is always good," board member Suzann Brooke said. "We all need to expand our horizons, and having new people aboard probably will help the board to do that."

Brooke said new board members should spend time studying the issues and openness to independent thought and community feedback.

Above all, she said, a candidate needs to "hold the best interests of the students as the primary factor in making decisions."

That feeling is shared by outgoing board member Casler.

Casler decided last year not to run to allow himself more time to spend with his family. He hopes his successor has "compassion and concern" for the TCAPS community.

"As your school district goes, so does your community," he said. "I've time and time again wanted to make sure that the opportunities exist for our children to have a world-class education."

Current board President Gerald Morris said he wants new board members to have prior involvement in the schools, such as on school improvement teams or parent-teacher organizations.

In losing Casler and Crampton, Morris said, their combined years of experience on the board won't quickly be replaced.

"We have a lot of things confronting the district right now," he said. "That's why I'm so concerned about the experience level of the new board members."

The board vote and the millage proposal leave the district with a lot at stake, Superintendent James Feil said. The millage funding would provide $105 million spanning 10 years for capital improvements to school buildings, buses and technology, among other areas.

Administrators have prepared video clips on the district's Web site, and high school Student Senate members also are spreading the word.

Young, of Williamsburg, has always supported TCAPS millages. But she's not sure how she will vote this year, based on what she sees as the district's lack of fiscal responsibility. And, Young said, others in the community -- even those whose children already are grown -- share her views.

"It's really hard for me to say I won't support my school system," she said. "I've been proud of that school system.

"But they haven't proven responsible, so we have to take a much better look at the whole issue now."

If the millage were to fail, that funding loss would further hurt the already-strapped district.

"I don't think one can ever be confident" that it will pass, Feil said. "Am I fearful? I'm more hopeful. That's what I would say. I believe that this region values education."