October is Michigan Principals month!

This month we are honoring our school principals in the state of Michigan! I appreciate all that our school district administration does for our students, staff and community. Each one of our principals have been very involved and critical to the success of our district!

It is certainly not an easy time to be an administrator; from safety concerns to other challenges that they face, there is so much that they do. I can personally say that I know each and every principal here in the East China School District and each of our principals work hard and do an excellent job.

If you have not already be sure to thank your principal for all that they do!

Link Governor Snyder's Proclamation: http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277-57577_59874-366280--,00.html

No more excuses: Balance the budget

Here in East China for decades we have neglected the duty to balance our budget. I have been on the board for 5 of them and none have ever been balanced-I've voted no on each one as well for that exact reason.

I have sounded the alarm for years and have been simply ignored. At this point the state does have an eye on us because our level of fund balance is an an all time low when it comes to %. We are about to dip below 10%.

The  majority of the board has focused on cutting everyone at the bottom while giving pay raises to those at the top or modestly cutting (recently.)

I have sounded the alarm and at this point it is almost too late. If the board does not start cutting in coming years; and if the state does not increase funding (which they may-I'd depend on that, before the board) then we could get into a deficit situation.

My prediction is that the state will modestly increase funding and that may save the board, but there are still costs that will be increasing from retirement to health care. The board will privatize everything that they can and not cut anything else.

We need leadership and not the continued kicking of the can down the road. I know it's not a popular discussion, but it will be even less popular when the Governor has to come in and take care of what we were elected to do. No more excuses, BALANCE our budget!

Allen Reichle

My thoughts on redistricting

Since the board voted to close Eddy Elementary there have been many questions from concerned parents in regard to redistricting that have gone largely unnoticed.

Obviously, with a closure of an elementary school the elementary boundaries will change (there's no doubt.) The issue that many are concerned about is whether or not the lines will dip students that are currently expecting to go to SCHS to either Belle River or Palms elementary.

I understand the concern. I have first hand experience of this when I was in the 4th grade going into 5th back in 2000 they changed the boundaries from when I went to Pine River to Washington Elementary.

There are a lot of rumors and I would not suggest putting any stock in them. I do know that Mrs. Frank and Mrs. Murphy want the lines drawn to Puttygut Road (for secondary boundaries.)

Most of the concerns are with how the board will handle secondary boundaries and I understand those concerns. Personally I predict if this bond proposal in May fails we may see another flip-flop from the board as Gearing is more expensive to operate with the boiler/electricity issue.

Now my thought on all of this is simple: My prediction and the board's assumption should be that the bond fails in May, with that we will more than likely need to keep Eddy Elementary open and keep status quo at least for a while. We then need to determine once and for all the best approach to close an elementary school. I would suggest keeping the secondary boundaries as they are at least for now and phase in any changes as to not affect parents of students that have bought a house for the purpose of where their child will go to school.

Lastly, I also predict that details will not be put out to parents until after the election as they are going to mess with the boundaries ESPECIALLY if people vote in favor of the tax hike on May 3rd. The numbers just don't add up as of now and it's in your hands at this time.

Allen Reichle

An alternative plan to the tax increase in the East China School District

Below are links of my alternative plan to the 69% take hike being proposed and voted on, on May 3rd 2016.

Link to the video: https://youtu.be/MTBW2gQaSVs

Link to a PDF version for you to read: http://www.allenreichle.com/sinking%20fund.pdf

Politics of personal destruction

In a recent newspaper article there was an attempt to tarnish my reputation by a certain reporter. I will not name names, but for those of you who saw the article in print or online, you know what I am talking about.

Since being elected to serve on the East China School District board of education, I have tried my best to be the very most open, honest and transparent representative as possible. Prior to being elected I only had a Facebook account that I created to get the word out as I campaigned. Since being elected I have created several with other social media providers. LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus, a Facebook page (political page) as well.

I have always been hesitant of social media, even though I utilize it more than any other board members probably ever has on the school board here in East China, I do not like it, but I find it necessary to get the word out in the 21st century.

I have 3 friends who used to update my status on LinkedIn and Twitter on occasion. In that time frame (within the last year) an update was put out on LinkedIn-and only on LinkedIn that I had a Bachelor's Degree from MSU (which of course is not true.)

The reporter who wrote the story made a smear campaign to personally attack me, and not about the degree. She attempted to make it look as though I lied and then at the end of the article listed other things that she perceived as controversial. She not only asked for my school records and school grades, but she made accusations in the paper and printed things I did not even say.

I'll be the first to tell you I have made mistakes, we all do. I'm sure she remembers when she wrote back in December that I was not censured then that I was from the board for missing meetings due to my Army reserve commitment. I have the texts to prove how she was at the meeting and did not even have a basic understanding of what happened. Either she was not paying attention one bit or has zero comprehension skills.

I would share those texts and the recording I have of our conversation, but I do not believe that, that would accomplish anything more than a personal attack on her-which is not my objective. My objective is simply to clear my name from the defaming that took place.

I have never once been deceitful of my educational or work experiences. I submitted a public resume as recently as February when I applied for the SC4 position (I do not remember exactly what I put on it)... But you can FOIA that and get a copy to see for yourself.

This is obviously, I believe, a distraction from the real issue, which at this point is a 69% tax increase on the citizens of the East China School District. I understand investigative journalism is a dying breed-which is very sad, because I firmly believe that it is necessary for our republic.

Thank you and lastly, I am as open as a book and do not ever hesitate to contact me.

Superintendent: Gambling with taxpayer money

Yes you heard right. The Superintendent here in the East China School District is gambling with our tax dollars.

At a recent board meeting Dr. Skalka presented the plan that included potentially spending $3,500 on a facility use "study."

Before that meeting I spoke with two board members that said they had reservations about the whole idea. My understanding was that the board's direction was for the Superintendent and Operations Director to do the legwork in this facility use study.

I protested the $3,500 at the March 23rd board meeting and also in a post here on blogger after the meeting.

Then on Thursday, April 2nd I met with the Superintendent to discuss this issue and then he changed his tune.

The understanding of myself and the board (based on what we were informed by Dr. Skalka on March 23rd) was that the board had 3 options:

1. Barton Malow does the study and the board rejects their plans. Cost $3,500
2. Barton Malow does the study and the board goes with the plan (bond election passes) Cost: $0
3. Barton Malow does the study and the board goes with the plan (bond election fails) Cost: $0

So to the overall public and board this sounded like a sweet deal, right? Well, yet again, I was correct in my skepticism!

I wanted a copy of the contract immediately and was delayed in receiving it. I can see why now.

Now the Superintendent is saying that these are the new options:

1. Barton Malow does the study and the board rejects their plans. Cost: $3,500
2. Barton Malow does the study and the board goes with the plan (bond election passes) Cost: $34,000
3. Barton Malow does the study and the board goes with the plan (bond election fails) Cost: $9,000
1. Board will have option to go again with a "smaller" cost-It's not specified in the contract.

See the contract for yourself:

This is what was said in the Times Herald newspaper article:

That was quite a change from the 23rd, eh?-If that was not misleading, I'm not sure what is.

So why would this company say it's free? Are there deals in the works to guarantee work behind the scenes? This company is going to offer up the most expensive ideas (to force a bond to voters.)

It's common sense, where are they going to make their money? From the study? No! From spending your hard earned tax dollars on construction projects around the district.

This is all a part of the overall plot to get the board to support a super high school. I called it.

Do not forget that the same person heading this up with the company is the same person that left the school district. Isn't it odd that the same guy that should have done the job before as a district employee is now hired from a private company to do it?

At the very least this deal stinks and I can honestly say I was opposed to it and attempted to stop it before the Superintendent committed district money to it.

I will be a no vote on this study and I will not be a bargaining chip in this gamble with taxpayer money. Period.

Send a message: NO NEW TAXES!

Our Superintendent is pushing hard to get the board to put another bond on the ballot for voters to approve. First of all, to be very clear I am quite simply not in favor of raising taxes.

In these hard economic times, people cannot afford to continue getting increases in their property taxes.

Last November, voters approved a bond for school buses, in November of 2012 voters approved a renewal of the sinking fund and in August of 2009 voters approved a renewal of the technology bond.

I think it's time to give taxpayers a little break.

At the last board meeting there were a few comments made and I would like to take the opportunity to clear them up. First, I said that though East China's "voted tax rate" was the lowest, I stated that I was "pretty sure we receive the same amount as other districts."

First of all, I was technically incorrect, but to be clear, this only helps my argument. East China receives the most revenue out of all of the school districts in St Clair County.

Our millage/bond rate is low because DTE is located in our school district.

As you can see below the tax rate in East China is currently a little over 3 mills. We are the second lowest in the county.

With that being said we have to look at the whole picture. The East China School District has nearly $1.6 billion in taxable (property) value. We are second only to Port Huron for taxable value.

Now the last and final piece of the puzzle: the approximate income from property taxes. As you can see, East China leads the way on bringing in "voted tax revenue." Mainly the income stems from DTE property. 

So why am I bringing this up? It's simple, the Superintendent and a select few are beginning to make the case to raise taxes.

I would not be opposed to renewing current bonds or millages (essentially keeping tax rates the same), but raising taxes in a time like this? I don't think so.

In the last meeting a fellow board member and the Superintendent tried to make it sound like we do not get as much revenue, due to a lower tax rate. As you can see, according to the county treasurer, we are first in revenue-I thought and stated that we were even... I was just giving the benefit of the doubt.

The average homeowner in the East China School District has a home valued at approximately $120,000 (with a taxable value of $60,000) the current voted tax rate in East China is 3.14 mills per $1,000 taxable value (so take the 3.14 and multiply it by 60) That is $188.40 for the average homeowner in East China.

That in and of itself does not sound like much, but do not forget all of the other wonderful added taxes. Want to see exactly what your property taxes go towards? Go to this link: http://www.stclaircounty.org/offices/equalization/forms/2014/2014%20Tax%20rates.pdf

I can already see and hear the argument being made to raise taxes here in East China. The argument will be "our taxes are low." Just notice that same ones making that argument are the ones that do not live here or pay the taxes that they want raised.

I'll have an update for you on Friday on the contract that was signed to do this bond. Stay tuned!

Allen