This Economy has presented some tough choices to all of us. Similarly, it has presented a very tough $3 Million challenge to the Novi School System.

The crux of this issue seems to be the High School Schedule change. The change keeps teachers in the class room 83% instead of 75% of the time. That is an increase in individual Productivity of 10.6%.

Increasing Productivity – That sounds like a way forward in a recession.

Let’s look at the individual student schedule. Under the new plan students are in class for 996 class hours per year with no additional school days. Under the current plan (4 X 4) we are talking 936 class hours. That’s a 6.4% productivity increase.

Increasing Productivity – That sounds like a way forward in a recession.

At the April 20th informational meeting there were a lot of individual statements and few individual questions. The most common question asked was “why now? Why can’t we have a couple years warning? Well I’m sure many of us would have liked a couple years warning for our jobs, mortgages, and investments, but we didn’t get it. Looking forward is what is important now.

The only question is, there’s a $3,000,000 bubble, where does the money come from? The alternatives seem to be to take away things at the elementary school level. In other words reduce the benefits of the schools who historically lead the pack in MEAP scores in the Novi School System. Schools that have historically met AYP progress goals.

Punishing the Productive – That sounds like a dead end in a recession.

Is that the lesson we want to hand to our next generation?

I’ll take a plan that increases productivity while saving dollars anytime.

On Tuesday May 5, we will have an opportunity to make a decision on an investment that will serve Novi for many generations to come.

It’s no secret that recent national studies show parks help attract both businesses and residents to new communities. This Signature Park will assist Novi in its continued effort to diversify the tax base, create economic development and improve the quality of life of its residents.

I respect everyone’s opinion, but I would ask this proposal be judged on its merits not on labels attached to it. If you are opposed to Signature Park merely because it can be labeled a “tax increase,” and those are unpopular now, I think that would be a mistake. It is either good for Novi – or it is not. If it is good for Novi in the long run the fact that it, technically, raises taxes does not magically transform it into something that is bad for Novi. Remember, we’re talking about .5 of a mil. That’s $75 a year for a home valued at $300,000. Let’s put that into perspective. It’s less than $1.50 per week. Surely $75 a year means something different to everyone. I get that. I have five kids, three in college, an aging parent and a mortgage on a house that has lost value just like yours. Not to mention a business that is trying to sustain itself during these trying times. But it’s the features and benefits of what $1.44 per week investment will return in the future that makes this almost a no-brainer.

There is one other very important aspect to the Signature Park; the preservation of 60 acres of open green space. If we are truly stewards of the future of our environment this is an opportunity, in all likelihood the last opportunity, to preserve 60 contiguous acres of green space in Novi. Surely the preservation of this much open green space for future generations is worth $1.44 a week. It’s worth it to me, regardless of what label is slapped on it: Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Liberal, environmentalist or tax raiser. This is good for Novi, that’s all I am concerned about. Please take the time to understand what this asset will bring to the community and
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visit www.novisignaturepark.com. There’s something for everyone in this park, and I hope you’ll join me and vote “yes” on May 5.

Very sad news regarding the death of Mark “the Bird” Fidrych. Looking at how brief his Baseball career was, one can’t fully appreciate Fidrych’s impact. “The Bird” phenom is hard to understand unless you lived through it.

1976 was a rough year in Metro Detroit. The city was still reeling from the first OPEC Oil Embargo (gas was an unbelievable 60-70 cents per gallon). Inflation was heading to 10 percent, the auto industry had faced it’s first “really big layoff”.

Like Detroit the Tigers were retooling. The champions of ‘68 and ‘72 were mostly gone, a few vets were there for DH duties and unproven rookies swelled the roster. The Tigers were headed for the cellar.

Here comes this exuberant, wacky rookie pitcher. He talked to the baseball, he had his own catcher (Bruce Kimm), he groomed the mound on his hands an knees, he went through all kinds of movements on the mound, he looked like “Big Bird” and oh, yes that unbelievable fast ball. Soon fans flocked to see him pitch. . . in Detroit and EVERYWHERE.

Tiger Stadium was near empty unless “the Bird” was throwing. Then you were lucky to get a ticket. On the Road if ‘the Bird’ “skipped” an opposing series, the opponent complained. You see Fidrych sold out on the road as well. Fans wanted “Rain Checks” if the ‘Bird’ didn’t pitch his turn in the rotation.

For an unbelievable summer no one cared about standings, wins and losses. Only one question mattered “Is ‘Bird’ pitching?”. If the answer was “Yes”, everyone forgot their troubles and turned to baseball. The Tigers would win 74 games, 19 of them went to the Rookie Pitcher.

The Career ended way too soon. Now Mark has left us way too soon.

We’ll miss you Mark.