BEYOND School Closing Among Board Budget Options Joining in For
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® hometown life ® WIN FREE TICKETS BEYOND SHRINE CIRCUS - MARCH 30 Iinsnrp f K j p / l / GO TO HOMETOWNLIFE.COM TO ENTER PANCAKES SUBSCRIBERS - FIND YOUR COPY WITH TODAY'S NEWSPAPER Maple syru sweet THURSDAY FOOD, B7 March 17,7011 The Observers Eccentric Newspapers Volume 124 Number 61 $1.00 hometownlife f t com a Ga n n e t t c o m p a n y PIPELINE School closing among board budget options Student scholarships The Plymouth Community BYBRADKADRICH Chamber of Commerce has recommendations, which have been members began considering some 34 Former board Presidents Mark OBSERVER STAFF WRITER p o litic a lly to u c h y fo r b o a r d m e m b e rs recommendations — made with vary Horvath and Mike Maloney urged the kicked off the fundraising in the past, include changing or even ing levels of im portance — made by b o a rd to a p p ro a c h th e p ro b lem w ith a drive for its Student Citizen Plymouth-Canton Community eliminating the Talented and Gifted the finance committee. Some 19 of greater degree of urgency than they’ve Scholarships with a mailing Schools officials will likely close one program, privatizing services, extend them were items that could be accom shown so far. Horvath pointed out that, last week to all chamber elementary school and move the ing class sizes and cutting teachers. plished for the 2011-12 school year; the with a $17 million deficit, the board members. Chamber officials Starkweather Education Center as The difference this tim e? They’re rest would need some study and some w o u ld h av e to co n sid er 170 o p tio n s said some $2,700 had already they deal with a projected $17 million pretty sure some — or all — of those tim e and were projected for the 2012- averaging $100,000 apiece in order to been donated, "assuring each hole in the 2011-12 budget. cuts might have to be made. 13 school year or beyond. get to the magic number. He said if the student will receive $540." The closing of an elementary school “I k n o w w e’re g o in g to h a v e to Taken as a whole, the recommenda board meets twice a week for two hours The Chamber of Commerce was among many political “third make some decisions we don’t want to tions total far less than $17 million in at a time, it gives trustees “about 17 will reward up to five rail” items discussed Tuesday as the make,” board President John Jackson cuts. District officials said the differ m inutes” to discuss each option. Plymouth/Canton students district’s Board of Education began said. “We should do it w ith our eyes ence would likely be made up by using “The clock is ticking, and it’s down with Student Citizenship considering recommendations made o p e n .” the fund balance, projected at some to about 16 minutes,” Horvath said. Scholarships. These schol by its finance committee to deal with The eye-opening process took $11.6 million at the end of this year, arships will be based on the looming budget deficit. Other another step Tuesday, when board and potential staffing cuts. Please see BUDGET, A2 community service only, not grade point average. There will be a selection committee who will pick one student each from Canton, Plymouth and Salem high schools, Plymouth-Canton the Starkweather Education Center and a non-PCCS stu dent living in the district. Companies and individuals reaches contract are asked to give contribu tions that generally range from $25 to $100 and the con tributions are tax deductible. with teachers Contributors will be recog nized on the chamber's web BYBRADKADRICH leaves in place the step page and at the Showcase of OBSERVER STAFF WRITER increases teachers get for Plymouth on May 23. To make years of service. The teach a contribution, you can down After nearly a year of nego ers also agreed to increased load a donation form from the tiating, and more than six health benefit contributions, chamber website at www.plym- months after their last deal increased co-pays to pre outhmich.org/chamber/Student- expired, Plymouth-Canton scriptions, office visits and Citizenship-Scholarships. Community Schools officials trips to the emergency room, For more information on h av e re a c h e d a n e w c o n tra c t along with the in-network the program, call the cham agreement with the district’s deductible. ber, (734) 453-1540. 1,100 teachers. The district is giving The deal, the effect date teachers $300 each for a Raking in volunteers of which is Aug. 31,2010, is flexible medical spending a one-year deal that expires account, and another $100 The Plymouth Community Jesse Llndlbauer and his sister, Sarah, share a moment Sunday during a spaghetti-dinner fundraiser at All Saints Aug. 30. The PCCS Board of for a classroom benefit. United Way is seeking volun Catholic School in Canton Township. Jesse, 16, is recovering from the effects of an infection that spread to his brain. Education voted 6-0 Tuesday According to Bihun, those teers for the spring "Rake- (Secretary Adrienne Davis c o n c essio n s w ill c o s t th e d is N-Go" event scheduled for was absent) to accept the trict some $400,000, and the April 30. d eal. increased contributions from Volunteers are invited to Ray Bihun, the district’s te a c h e rs to th e ir h e a lth p la n help clean yards and provide Joining in for Jesse chief of hum an resources, will save the district about $1 light labor for senior citizens said the sides spent more million, meaning the district in the Plymouth, Plymouth than 20 sessions negotiat nets some $600,000 in sav Township and Canton com ing the deal. Some 80 per in g s fro m th e d eal. C om m unity eases burden for ‘SuperJess’ and his fam ily munities. The day of the cent of the members of the The negotiations were a event, volunteers will meet at Plymouth-Canton Education drawn-out process stretched The Salvation Army Plymouth BY MATT JACHMAN Association reportedly over some 11 months. It got Corps at 9 45 1S. Main St. at OBSERVER STAFF WRITER approved the deal in a ratifi contentious at times, with 8 a.m. to check in. The PCUW cation vote. teachers taking to shows of will supply a continental It’s often during our great “Both sides worked really solidarity at board meet breakfast and yard waste est trials that we find our hard to get an agreement,” ings, crowding the meeting bags, but volunteers are greatest strengths and the Bihun said. room with dozens of teachers a n d ta k in g to th e p o d iu m to asked to bring rakes, garden physical and moral support PCEA President Nancy of friends and family that can Wojtowicz agreed. demand a new deal. tools, hedge trimmers and help see us through. “We spent a lot of tim e on But Bihun said there gloves. We are also in need of That axiom was certainly total compensation (salary “weren’t any real sticking some volunteers willing to do at work Sunday at All Saints and benefits),” Wojtowicz p o in ts .” some minor gutter cleaning. Catholic School in Canton said. “Both sides had to give “We spent a lot of tim e on To help out the day of the Township, where hundreds and take a little bit. We felt la n g u a g e ,” h e said . “T h e y h a d event, respond by April 16 to of people gathered to support like we came up with a fair needs, and we had param Krista at kstrobel@ameritech. 16-year-old Jesse Lindlbauer, agreement considering the e te rs, a n d w e h a d to w o rk net or call (734) 453-6879, Ext. 6. who is recovering from the economic tim es we’re dealing w ith fa c ilita to rs .” traum a and complications w ith .” Part of that language Mother knows best c a u se d b y a n in fe c tio n t h a t The one-year deal con had to do with a new state Local women and girls s p re a d to h is b r a in , a n d h is tains no increase to the are invited to send us (in 50 parents, Barb and Dave, Jesse Lindlbauer, who suffered an infection that damaged his brain and is basic salary structure, but Please see TEACHERS, A3 words or less) the best advice and their family. The event undergoing intensive therapy, poses Sunday with friends, from left, Mark you received from your mom. was a spaghetti dinner in Montante, Lucas Dziadzio, Andrew Kelty, Peter O'Connor and Dylan Bonell. Include a photo of your the school’s gymnasium and Lucas, Peter and Dylan wear their ’SuperJess Support System' T-shirts, mom or, better yet, you and cafeteria, one of several fund while Jesse's T-shirt reads, ‘Impossible is Nothing.' your mom. E-mail your best raisers planned for the com Re-finance Your submission and photo (jpg in g w eeks.