School Board Discusses Head Count, Bus Ads

The unofficial head count Oct. 5 that indicated a decline in enrollment was the focus of an administrative report and discussion Monday by the West Bloomfield School Board, with members agreeing to be "aggressive" in investigating the cause in the drop.

The board, which met at the library, noted that the decline was greatest in the elementary level, whereas some middle school grades actually increased in size.

Assistant Superintendent Rick Arnett said the decline was expected, but that projections were that the number would be about 50 fewer students; the actual count showed 127 fewer students in the district.

"We ask administrators to make calls and check, we send out invites, we work with our local realtors ... Some years you get it right on, sometimes you get it off, and this was one of those years it happened to be off," Arnett said.

Board President David Einstandig said it was the greatest differential in projected versus unofficial figures he's seen since 2007. that the district counted 6,603.2, including full-time equated students (FTE), while the blended count was 6,617.72 FTE. (Read that story for an explanation on full-time equivalence.)

Administrators at Oakland County districts don’t have to submit official results to Oakland Schools until Nov. 9, after which an audit will start.

Arnett pointed out that the district may see a variation from unofficial Oct. 5 numbers to the official total in November, but added that he did not foresee a substantial change.

"Naturally, you get conversation out there," Trustee Melanie Torbert said, referring to the fact that the neighboring school district in Walled Lake saw growth. "I don't want us to not communicate that it's happening and to communicate that we are going to be aggressive in looking to resolve it."

Board members noted that myriad factors contributed to loss in the district, but Vice President Bruce Tobin advised that it may not be the fault of the district.

"I don’t believe just because Walled Lake has grown is a reflection on the district’s quality of education," Tobin said.

Board discusses controversial bus advertisements

Mike Scott of The Oakland Press reported Oct. 18 that Treasurer Nelson Hersh may have unknowingly profited from ads inside of 15 school buses since spring 2007. At Monday's meeting, the board collectively reiterated that was not aware that ads appeared on buses since that time period before being taken down last August after school board election candidate Carol Finkelstein commented at a meeting Aug. 30 to inform them.

Finkelstein was quoted in the most recent story by The Press to express outrage over Hersh allegedly receiving free advertising for his orthodontist practice as a result of what the district called a misunderstanding. Finkelstein was the lone public comment Monday.

"It is difficult to believe that no one knew the ads were on those buses for four years … a prompt, thorough, public investigation is in order," Finkelstein said.

Without mentioning Finkelstein by name, Hersh indicated Monday at the meeting that he felt unfairly persecuted and that the allegations were a smear tactic. who will be defending his seat on the board in the election Nov. 8; Torbert will not run. Hersh gave the district a personal check for what he felt he may have owed.

"My integrity has been challenged and I resent it," Hersh said. "If anyone would think that I would cheat the district out of a hundred dollars or even a thousand dollars with all that I've paid to the district, they're crazy."

Stay tuned to Patch later this week for a story of greater depth regarding the controversy, including more comment from various board members at Monday's meeting.

Other highlights included:

• The board unanimously approved (7-0) to enter a cooperative agreement with the Greater West Bloomfield Cable Communications Commission, as discussed and approved by the township board at The agreement allows for WBTV to be operated by the commission at the , which has no operational use. The district also seeks to address the future of WBTV, which saw its sole employee retire last June. Although the agreement doesn't take effect until Nov. 1, the commission taped Monday's meeting "in a show of good faith," according to assistant superintendent Thomas Goulding.