Whoa, and does he ever.  He accuses this writer's past - and society's continuing - nemesis, By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), of "killing our children" (and I can't say that's wrong).
This is why Akindele's Unleashed blog is clearly one of the best in the Michigan blogosphere.

Here's a sample of his powerful critique:

Every now and then I look at what BAMN is doing in the community. Here are a socialist group of bandits that causes more hell than a headache.

First, they were against my friend Ward Connerly and the whole affirmative action thing. Thank God my sister Jennifer Gratz and company won that war. We thought BAMN would go away and crawl back in their cave.

I guess not.

Now, these misfits are having a town hall meeting on solving the crisis of public education in Detroit. [Dec. 6 if you're interested].
...
Again, where is BAMN on these critical issues [charters, parenting, and choice]? Where are those quacks Steve Conn and Heather Miller?
...
BAMN is doing nothing but keeping our children angry. Our children do not need anger. Our children and parents need options.

Having seen the Conn game and Ms. Miller an action, I'm fond of Akindele's use of terms here, even if it is slightly over-the-top. When you incite riots and take your children out of classes for your political machinations and you're a public school teacher, the term "quacks" is has a descriptive truth to it despite its ad hominem nature.

The Howell Public Schools has witnessed its third school board resignation in six months. In addition to the two elected seats in May, that means that the majority of the board will be completely new by the time the next selection is made.

Howell is clearly a district in turmoil. Zarko Research met (and indeed communicated with) for the first time on Monday evening Howell's notorious Vicki Fyke, at a Duncan Hunter speech here in Oakland County we were covering for OaklandPolitics.com. Fyke informed us of Doug Norton's retirement, and attributed part of the cause of that to Zarko Research FOIA work. Nonetheless, we would disagree with that interpretation and suspect Norton's reasons were broader. The ZR FOIA simply wasn't that important and at best only exposes conditions in the district, not creates them. Clearly the district has issues that are affecting a whole range of people, and our reporting can not be a driving force behind that. Here's Howell's press release yesterday:

The Board of Education of Howell Public Schools announces a second Board Member vacancy, effective October 11, 2007.

Parties interested in applying for this unexpired Board Member term should do so at the Board of Education Office located at 411 North Highlander Way, Howell, Michigan.

PLEASE NOTE: Anyone who showed interest in the seat made vacant by Mary Jo Dymond’s resignation, MUST RESUBMIT A LETTER OF INTEREST for filling the vacancy left by Susan Drazic’s resignation.

In order to apply, interested parties must submit a brief letter of intent or Interest in Board Vacancy Form, in hard copy, (no emails or faxes will be accepted) at the Board of Education Office no later than 3:00 PM on Tuesday, October 16, 2007. Material received after this deadline will effectively disqualify the late candidate from being considered by the board on October 22, 2007.

When the letter is submitted, each party will be provided with a more detailed set of qualifying questions which should be completed and returned in hard copy (no emails or faxes will be accepted) to the Board Office no later than 11:00 AM on Friday, October 19, 2007. Materials received after this deadline will effectively disqualify the late candidate from being considered by the board on October 22, 2007.

Qualifying candidates will be screened and interviewed in person at a Regular Board of Education Meeting set for Monday, October 22, 2007, at 7:00 PM.

During the interview process, each candidate should be prepared to give a brief oral statement. The board will then do its evaluation and decide on the appointment.

The candidate appointed, as early as October 22, 2007, will serve only the unexpired term until the point of the upcoming School Board Election currently scheduled for May 6, 2008.

Philip Westmoreland, President

Howell Board of Education

UPDATE: RepublicanMichigander, a former Howell resident, has excellent ongoing coverage of the issue. 17 people applied for the first seat, and no doubt most will double up for the second. Fyke is among them, apparently.

The Michigan Education Association (MEA), a union of teachers, may have a union of administrators go on strike against it for messing with their retirement benefits. Now if that is an irony among ironies, I don't know what is. Here's a clip from Gongwer on the issue:

M.E.A. FACES POSSIBLE STRIKE
Employees of the Michigan Education Association have been considering a strike after MEA President Iris Salters recommended cutbacks in retirement benefits.

The United Staff Organization, the union representing employees of the MEA and its subsidiaries, said it was committed to bargaining around the clock to have a contract in place by August 31, when the current contract expires.

MEA leadership has proposed reductions in pension benefits and increases in retiree healthcare premiums, but the union's employees balked at the proposal, arguing the MEA has been working to avoid such cuts to teachers and school personnel around the state.

"We find it completely unacceptable that MEA President Salters would propose rollbacks that would gut staff's current retirement plan," said USO president Tom Greene. "Our bleak future becomes their bleak future."

Catch that part about "MEA leadership has proposed reductions in pension benefits and increases in retiree healthcare premiums ... " I wonder if MESSA is their insurance provider? Regardless, and even if necessary, the MEA proposal puts the shoes of the school administrators on their own feet.

I wonder if the MEA lawyers in the HEA/MEA/NEA et al v. Howell Public Schools and Chetly Zarko FOIA lawsuit will go on strike too? We could only be so lucky. Alas, the MEA outsources its legal help.

Sometimes a couple of facts come together surprisingly. Hence, ZR takes notice of this New York Sun article from February 21, 2007, quoting Apple's Steve Jobs at an education reform conference. Jay Greene titles the piece simply, "Steve Jobs has guts".

And he certainly does:

"I believe that what's wrong with our schools in this nation is that they have become unionized in the worst possible way."

The problem with unionization, Mr. Jobs argued, is that it has constrained schools from attracting and retaining the best teachers and from dismissing the less effective ones. This, in turn, deters quality people from seeking to become principals and superintendents. "What kind of person could you get to run a small business if you told them that when they came in they couldn't get rid of people that they thought weren't any good? Not really great ones because if you're really smart you go, ‘I can't win,'" Mr. Jobs said. He concluded by saying, "This unionization and lifetime employment of K-12 teachers is off-the-charts crazy."

Wow. That's a shot across the union bow. Consequences:

There is a price to be paid for this kind of frank analysis and Steve Jobs knows it. "Apple just lost some business in this state, I'm sure," Mr. Jobs said. Of course, Apple sells a large portion of its computers to public school systems. By taking a stance against school unionization, Mr. Jobs may lose some school sales for Apple.

Now, with that in mind, ZR has to ask. The "I-Pod for every school student" scandal here in Michigan didn't break until early April. This article was written in late February. How did Jobs convince a pile union-loyalist Democratic lawmakers from Michigan to go for the I-Pod idea? The Michigan Education Association and even MFT/AFT (Michigan Federation of Techers) might ask the same questions if this was on their radar.

ZR came across this from the rather remarkable Citizens for Responsible Spending - 834, a citizen watchdog group that monitors spending in the St. Croix Valley District 834 schools of Minnesota, and has recently focused on the administration's request for a new school when the old one appears perfectly fine. Apparently, Minnesota school bureaucracy is no different than elsewhere. Like all bureaucracies, its about growth and resource accumulation, not necessarily what the legitimate mission of the bureaucracy is in the first place (teaching students, in this case). This is why - when government is necessary or exists in a certain domain there must always be eternal local vigilance in keeping expenditures in check. It's not that the people in government are evil - most are very well motivated and competent. It's that the system is configured to perpetuate itself and there is no natural competition to keep it in check.

A google news search shows that no mainstream media outlet appears to have covered the change public comments policy at today's University of Michigan Board of Regents meeting. ZR chastises the media for its complicitly - although the public comments doesn't affect a media right (speaking is typically not done by the media), any assault on access rights is bound to come back and later hurt the media.

The Detroit Free Press first look at the Board meeting was this positive look at the two race-neutral scholarships the Board adopted to comply with Proposal 2. No doubt this was newsworthy, but as a capsule of the meeting woefully incomplete (both the stadium controversy and the Open Meetings Act issue must). It is possible we'll see more detailed analysis in the slower non-wire news cycle.

But in searching for open meetings issues, we found this interesting, now two-week old piece, about guess who? The MEA and a quorum of school board members illegally meeting in March over a teacher complaint.

Four Ypsilanti school board members violated the Michigan Open Meetings Act when they attended a March 8 meeting of teachers and staff who complained about then- High School Principal Layne Hunt, according to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office.

Criminal charges, however, will not be filed, Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Steve Hiller said in a memo released Wednesday to The News. Hiller wrote there is not enough evidence to prove that Amy Doyle, Andy Fanta, Cameron Getto, and Tom Reiber intended to violate the state law.

Hiller's nine-page memo dated June 5, stemmed from a meeting the board members attended at the Michigan Education Association's office on Carpenter Road in Pittsfield Township. Doyle and Getto have since resigned from the board. After much controversy at the high school, Hunt resigned as principal March 28.

It's nice to know a County Prosecutor got involved (that's one of the great things about the OMA, they do have that discretion although we rarely see it used), and that the ultimate outcome was two board members doing the right thing and resigning. Here, the MEA used its own offices, not to subvert FOIA but rather OMA. It's unknown as to whether Principal Hunt should or shouldn't have resigned, but its clear the pressure was on him, to the point of illegal secret meetings.

UPDATE on Ypsilanti secret meeting.

This Ypsilanti Courier piece gives us far more detail on the issue of the secret meeting:

Washtenaw County Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Steven Hiller ruled last week that a March 8 meeting with Ypsilanti High School teachers and staff who had concerns and complaints about then-principal Layne Hunt was in violation of the law.

Hiller said he would not prosecute the matter, however, because he could not prove there was intent to commit the violation.

In a nine-page memo, Hiller outlined the case against the four trustees, Amy Doyle, Andrew Fanta, Cameron Getto and Thomas Reiber, who attended the meeting after a communications snafu. Doyle and Getto have since resigned from the board.

Hiller then concluded the board members had broken the law by deliberating on the issue of firing Dr. Hunt. If the trustees deliberated and/or made a decision regarding the issue, the meeting would have been a violation of the OMA because no notification was given and no minutes were taken.

But, attendees at the meeting insist the session was for information-gathering only and no deliberations or discussions were held.

"It was for information-gathering purposes only," insists Kelly Powers, president of the Ypsilanti Education Association. "That's what they [the trustees] said at the beginning of the meeting and that's what happened. They listened and took notes."

Big things come in small packages. One of the great things about little newspapers is they cover their local stories in better detail than the regional newspapers we are all accustomed to seeing. And the internet finally picks most of them up now.

You have to love that Orwellian spin coming from Kelly Powers, of the YEA (Ypsilanti Education Assocation). "Information-gathering purposes only". "Deliberations" on the other-hand is a pretty big thing to define. I suggest that if you gather information - or prostrate yourself in front of a union leadership group who is feeing it you your daily dose - you are deliberating (perhaps in a non-meaningful way, but ... ). Deliberating is the act of working toward a decision. Collecting information is a vital and integral component of working toward that decision. The difference that YEA alleges is superficial.

The reason we have an open meetings act is so that no "special" (interest) sub-set of the population has secret access to our public official in the decision-making process. The Michigan Education Association, NEA, and its satellites (HEA, YEA, etc), fight long and hard for their special privileges and access. And whether its unions or corporations, it's time to say no more.

The Detroit News editorial board has chimed in on the Michigan Education Association's ridiculous argument that the actions of union-official teachers on public time should generally be exempt from FOIA.

And they hit the nail on the head. The editorial title says it all: "If taxpayers pay for it, they should see it." And the money shot:

"A private group like the MEA is entitled to keep secrets, but not on public property. If it can afford to be one of the state's most generous lobbying outfits, it can afford to make sure that officers of its locals conduct business on their own computers."

And as to Doug Norton's arguments that I have "an ideological bent" against unions - aside from its absurdity (I grew up in a two union-parent household) - it's "irrelevant." FOIA applies to even those the Michigan Education Association dislikes, as the News points out. If the Freedom of Information Act only applied to those without "ideological bents," it would, of course, apply to no human being. Zarko Research has never claimed to be a non-editorializing news source. And while I struggle to present well-documented and tight original source evidence as often as possible, conclusions are drawn - and my history and potential biases are out-in-the open right here on this site.

And so much for Doug Norton's "friendly lawsuit" statement. Raymond Davis, Howell Public School's attorney seems to put that bold spin (I'm being generous this morning) to rest.

Lisa Roose-Church reports in the Livingston Argus that Howell teachers voted, and are now taking a week to count theit vote, on the collective bargaining agreement signed the night of the election.

This is the same Howell teachers' union that sued Howell Schools the day before the election in a reverse FOIA lawsuit to stop Zarko Research from reporting on their activities (or stop us from doing the research to do meaningful reporting). ZR has now intervened in that litigation, and will report on it as appropriate. But why would it take a week to count 500 votes? Who controls those ballots? Sounds like union politics straight out of an old Hoffa movie. Does the union gain from delay in counting the vote so that the bargaining agreement remains secret longer (the school won't release the agreement until it is ratified)?

Howell Education Association officials are still counting the Howell Public School district's 492 teachers' votes to determine if the teachers ratified their three-year tentative agreement reached earlier this month during a mediation session with Howell Public Schools.

Marybeth Roose, the Howell district's director of community education and communications, said Monday night after the Board of Education meeting that a final tally was not available, but district officials are "hopeful."

HEA President Doug Norton said the union hopes to have a final tally within the week. Once that is done the union's board of directors must approve the deal before it goes before the full Board of Education.

Norton said he expects the union board to set a special-called meeting in "the next few days" to deal with the matter and he hopes the school board will vote on the contract at its June meeting.

Norton declined to provide details on the proposed contract, which reportedly allows teachers to keep their union-affiliated health benefits with a contribution of $600 the first year, $750 the second and a tiered contingency plan in the third year.

Pay raises reportedly include a 0.5 percent retroactive raise, since they have been working without a contract since July 1, 2006; a 1 percent raise for next school year; and a 2.25 percent hike in the third year.

Norton told the school board at its May 14 meeting that the contract has concessions that the union didn't believe it would have to make. He declined Monday to be more specific.

"We all had to take stock and allow tough compromises," he said May 14, adding that the district and union must not "mutually address issues" facing the district.

"We are ready to do just that," Norton noted.

This e-mail chain reveals more of the union leadership issues in the Howell school system, along with its paranoid response to a school district request to itemize teaching supplements following the Vicky Fyke book controversy. While it may or may not be the case that such a request put an undue work burden on teachers, one might understand the logical reasons why the district might seek such a list and try to work on ways to reduce that burden, a point well made by yet another rational and professional teacher. That same teacher - in a very professional and jovial tone - also tries to raise an issue of how teachers were under-informed (a point raised by other teachers, despite Norton's attempt to isolate the teacher and claim he's all alone) on the MESSA and insurance issues. Norton's response is to assume that he's being accused of "misleading" teachers on MESSA. His response to the teacher's query on the "slate system" of elections is also quite telling. Norton prefers a "coherent" and smooth leadership. It's unclear whether Norton is opposing the checks and balances system of Constitutional democracy and opposing parties controlling different branches, or supporting the "spoils system" of awarding Executive appointments to the winner of the presidential contest, but it is clear Norton wants his union to all be on the same page. While American democracy is far from perfect - and those "opposing camps" are often in nasty conflict - it is precisely the opposition and melding of opposition in government that creates our "checks and balances" and prevents a monolithic and out-of-control government. On the surface, the Soviet Union seemed pretty harmonious - but the human conflict was just buried, and inefficiency incredible.

3/1/2007
From: Norton, Doug
To: Davenport, Daniel; McDowell, Johnson
cc: Langer, Karen; Schrock, Jason; Carrier, Ryan; Capy, Catherine; Hughey, Jeff; Rowden, Jason

At the last two Board of Director's meetings of the Howell Education Association I have raised the issue about how our HEA Constitution and By-laws requires us to proceed with elections of a slate of officers. I have explained that a member at the 10-12 building has raised a concern about this and that I think we need to consider the issue. You have not been identified, of course. I have explained that our present system originally replaced a system where the president, the secretary, and the treasurer only were elected. In that system the president then appointed the Vice Presidents with the approval of the Board of Directors. At the time of the change it was considered more democratic if the members were aware of who were slated as vice presidents before a vote for president was cast by the membership. This system has been in place for 20+ years.

At each of the Board of Directors meetings referenced above I called upon the Board members to consider whether they think the issue that you bring forward should be considered for action. This would require a vote of the Board in order to develop a proposal and send the proposal to a full membership ratification, since changes in the Constitution and By-Laws require a full membership vote. At the last Board meeting, Karen Langer also raised the issue of whether the Board of Directors should initiate a process to consider a change. I did not make this motion myself because, as with how I feel about the United States system, I think that the members would be ill-served if officers of the association, elected to coherently run the association, were from opposing camps. In my view the election is designed to resolve disputes ahead of time, thus hopefully avoiding internal conflicts within the leadership team that could inhibit its ability to effectively run the association. Despite the clear invitations to consider change, not a single A.R. present has made a motion to consider change in this area. This includes your own A.R.s from the 10-12 building. You are certainly welcome to come and address the Board of Directors on this matter yourself of course.

On your continued implication that you are being mislead on MESSA: I must say to you that you are expressing an opinion held by a very, very small number of members if any beyond yourself [ed note: ZR has identified a number of individuals with professionally stated concerns, although it isn't clear that "mislead" is a term that was ever used]. We will have a General Membership meeting soon where you will have another opportunity to express your opinion to the membership and get its reaction. In the meantime, we continue to seek answers from the district on the facts attached to their proposed health system and although it is deeply troubling how reticent they seem to be to provide those facts, we can clearly see that it has serious flaws. Unlike MESSA, where the members have a long track record to rely upon, this proposed system is relatively untested. Just ask Pinckney teachers how they now feel about the new health care system that they recently accepted to find out about all the hidden flaws that can be confronted to the great detriment of the members.

Hopefully you find this email to be coherent. I understand that you do not always find my communications to be such and about that I am saddened.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Davenport, Daniel
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 2:23 PM
To: McDowell, Johnson
Cc: Langer, Karen; Schrock, Jason; Carrier, Ryan; Capy, Catherine; Norton, Doug; Hughey, Jeff
Subject: RE: Important message from the HEA Executive Committee

Hi-

I don't know of anyone who was asked to make such an inventory but I imagine it relates to the recent book challenge. I mean, inventorying textbooks certainly isn't in my job description but it isn't out of the question for me to contribute my thought to the process, especially when it benefits the whole district. It is probably to our benefit to start identifying weak spots so we're better able to defend ourselves against attacks that come from our own board!

I've talked to two ARs about the process of selecting representation. I would like to see membership have the opportunity to decide if we want to continue with a straight-ticket system when we feel so poorly represented. I know this isn't an issue until the next time we vote but I'd like to see it addressed. Especially since confidence in the union is waning. The rhetoric in this message is a perfect example of why people at the high school feel poorly represented. That along with the bizarro use of lime green initiatives [ed note: reference to the T-shirts] that we never consented to. It makes us feel like all we have is empty paranoia and no real argument [ed note: this seems to be a great description of the reaction of union leadership to every individual union member's expression of even the slightest concern].

The other issue I still haven't seen addressed is real answers about health benefits. I've said from the beginning that we need to have someone outside of MESSA talk to us about health benefits so we can make an informed decision. Now we'll have to take what we can get. Clearly it would've been better to settle for status quo rather than be strong armed into something else, especially for those of us who make the least.

I'll admit that I feel unrepresented by the union but my only recourse is to continually express my concerns in the hope that it will lead to change. There are only 3 jobs like mine in the district and we'd rather not bargain alone. *grin* [ed note: this hardly seems like an unprofessional way to express concern]

-Dan

p.s. I can't remember if there is another rep I should be including on this. I apologize.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: McDowell, Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 9:57 AM
To: All HPS Teachers/Principals
Subject: Important message from the HEA Executive Committee

Howell Teachers,

We write this email in great dismay at the recent action by the Director of Curriculum to place a great burden on the already overworked teachers in this District. By now you may have received the recent email from Jeanne Farina regarding the logging and listing by teachers of supplemental materials used in their classroom. If you have not, it is quoted below. Not only does this possibly violate the contractual agreement to not force teachers into non-teaching duties, but it also places a great burden on teachers to perform the District’s work without any fair compensation.

As one elementary teacher wrote:

“If I were to include all materials, including teacher professional books containing worksheets, my classroom library, guided reading library, poetry, read alouds, biography library, videos, maps, posters and anything else I am forgetting, I would have to list close to 1000 items?! This is NOT an exaggeration! I have spent years building a curriculum that the district has failed to provide me-- and now I'm supposed to spend a weekend sending her a list? Perhaps I should send HPS a bill?”

At this time, the Union leadership suggests that you do not use the supplemental materials you have in your classroom until the District devises a plan that does not constitute a hardship for teachers and require teachers to perform non-teaching duties.

If these supplemental materials are those which you have personally purchased, it is suggested that you begin taking these materials home.

If you find that you simply cannot take these materials home because the District has not provided you with any other curriculum to teach, then please make this situation known by emailing Jeanne Farina and the members of the School Board. School Board member’s emails can be found on the District’s website.

If you have supplemental materials in your classroom that the District has purchased, we suggest that you not use them until the District has sent a representative to log and list these materials and have them approved by the Curriculum Council.

Yours in Solidarity,

HEA Executive Committee

Jeanne Farina’s email:

“At our recent principals’ meeting we discussed the need to identify all supplemental materials used by our teachers. Supplemental means – anything used with a group of students to enhance the approved core curriculum.

Please ask your teachers to list these resources on the attached grid. We will compile the lists by grade and subject. The information will be discussed and approved at the next K-12 curriculum meeting. We are compiling these lists for core subjects only, at this time. (E.g. Math, Science, Social Studies, and ELA)

Thank you in advance for your assistance.”

A large part of this story has become the nature and vitriol with which union leaders attacking dues paying average union members that disagree or even offer constructive advice. This e-mail continues to document the nature of those attacks.

But it also brings us back to that "survey" that the Howell Education Association commissioned solely for "PR purposes", as a previous release demonstrated. The survey appears to be straight out of an Orwellian novel - it is written to "require positive responses" and those who responded negatively are chided and told to "opt-out" of the process.

Is this the way union leadership should treat its members?

From: Hughey, Jeff
To: Bessert, Dianne; Forbes, Lindsey; Autrey, Lynette; 'Cameron, Barb'; Elliott, Carol; Langer, Karen; Norton, Doug; Tatman, Dallas

LOL..............YES

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Bessert, Dianne
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 11:02 AM
To: Forbes, Lindsey; Autrey, Lynette; 'Cameron, Barb'; Elliott, Carol; Hughey, Jeff; Langer, Karen; Norton, Doug; Tatman, Dallas
Subject: RE: Survey

Just tell him he is out of touch with reality and to contact the mother ship with the ghosts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Forbes, Lindsey
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:58 AM
To: Autrey, Lynette; Bessert, Dianne; Cameron, Barb; Elliott, Carol; Hughey, Jeff; Langer, Karen; Norton, Doug; Tatman, Dallas
Subject: FW: Survey

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Parrish, Doug
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:40 AM
To: Forbes, Lindsey
Subject: RE: Survey

Your choice of words serves only to enflame the issues. Please stop editorializing in releases from the HEA. My dues do not support that kind of an approach to this difficult situation. We want to appear as professional as possible.

Thanks.

Doug
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Forbes, Lindsey
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 8:23 AM
Subject: Survey

Dedicated HEA Members,

The initial response to the survey we sent out yesterday has been outstanding as over 100 members have already responded. Thank you. You may view responses by accessing the survey (link provided below) and clicking on "graphical summary" in the toolbar to the left. You will find responses recorded individually. We will compile this data in a spreadsheet in order to provide totals in the near future. If you have not done so already, please respond to this survey no later than Tuesday, March 20th.

In addition, we would like to recognize the fact that this survey in no way identifies all the ways in which HPS teachers demonstrate our commitment to our students. One clear example is the recent effort made by many teachers to make sure that our students continue to have access to works of literature that will enable them to grow. Teachers in this case were clearly putting kids first, even at risk of personal and professional attack.

Finally, a very few members have entered negative numbers in the survey. It is with a sense of optimism (as opposed to naiveté) that we remind you that the way in which the questions are worded requires positive responses. Please be advised that this survey is voluntary and if you choose not to participate, you may "opt out". We would like to re-assure members that the Association values the seemingly countless hours and dollars you continue to contribute despite the district's unwillingness to provide us with a contract that does the same.

[school link removed]

Sincerity and Gratitude,

Crisis Committee

This email exchange again captures the nastiness of how Howell union president Doug Norton treats his own people, attacking him with an "ad hominemn fallacy" argument following a simple question. The teacher - well-versed in logic - points out that just because he quoted a group at odds with the MEA doesn't make their factual claims right or wrong. He then proceeds to ask Norton to back up a factual claim about the law that is left "hanging" and makes it appear as if he may (or may not have - see below) indeed have captured Norton in a flat out lie to his own membership about why the union keeps secrets from its own members.

The message exchange references a web-article (http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=8301) by the Mackinac Center linked by one union "association representative" who stands up for one of his employees because she wanted to know what the school had offered at that point. Norton tells his members that it is illegal for him to reveal the offer - but since other states open meetings acts appear to require negotiations be fully open (and I'll note that while Michigan's Open Meetings Act and FOIA might allow closure in certain highly regulated situations, its not clear either require it) it would certainly seem to not be a federally-regulated Unfair Labor Practice. ZR certainly does not know the law on that matter - but would reiterate Mr. Carrier's challenge to the union to tell us (union members and the public) what it is (cite the statute or case history specifically). Whatever the law, the internal secrecy and nastiness caused by the secrecy almost proves the Mackinac Center points in the article:

The adversarial and political nature of the collective bargaining process frequently distorts or stifles communication among key groups in a school district.

That "adversarial ... nature" is even within the union. The article recommends a completely transparent negotiations process ... an interesting idea that should be looked at.

Again, Norton savages his own member for the uber-sin of mentioning something the Mackinac Center wrote, but Norton's attack earns the intellectual razor of logic the teacher returns to him proving that he is worthy of being a teacher (and maybe a better union president, since he listens and stands up for others, rather than slapping them down upon disagreement). The puzzle that is starting to take shape is of an out-of-control, disrespectful union leadership. Even if it would be an ULP to disclose the offer - why criticize your members for asking?

RE: Members letter draft 03-13-07
From: Carrier, Ryan
To: Norton, Doug; Capy, Catherine; Hughey, Jeff; Langer, Karen; Rowden, Jason
cc: Schrock, Jason

it might be helpful if you could point us, ARs, in a direction to get an answer...

OR (please) answer this question to end the discussion:

Is there a law that states, "union representation is NOT allowed to discuss offers with its membership" ?

OR is this a practice that the MEA has developed in the best interest of its membership?

I am NOT hurt by the connotation of your replies. I just want a credible source of hard information...I believe a fact is a fact, no matter the source.

Example: I read on a certain non-reputable blog that Doug Norton was the president of the HEA.

I'm disappointed by the tone of our email conversations; hence, from this point forward I will only communicate in person...I do NOT want my words interpreted negatively.

Respectfully,
Ryan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Norton, Doug
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 1:13 PM
To: Capy, Catherine; Hughey, Jeff; Carrier, Ryan; Langer, Karen; Rowden, Jason
Cc: Schrock, Jason
Subject: RE: Members letter draft 03-13-07

10-12 A.R.s

It is hard for me to believe that we have Associatiom .Rep.s that actually think that the Mackinac Center is a credible source of hard information when even the media identifies them as a right wing think tank or worse.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Capy, Catherine
Sent: Thu 3/8/2007 12:58 PM
To: Hughey, Jeff; Carrier, Ryan; Langer, Karen; Sebestyen, Jennifer; Rowden, Jason; Norton, Doug
Cc: Schrock, Jason
Subject: RE: Members letter draft 03-13-07

I read the article...Wendy's not in it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Hughey, Jeff
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 12:57 PM
To: Carrier, Ryan; Langer, Karen; Sebestyen, Jennifer; Rowden, Jason; Norton, Doug
Cc: Schrock, Jason; Capy, Catherine
Subject: RE: Members letter draft 03-13-07

Is this the Mackinac Center article with Wendy Day blasting Public Education?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Carrier, Ryan
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 12:18 PM
To: Langer, Karen; Sebestyen, Jennifer; Rowden, Jason; Norton, Doug; Hughey, Jeff
Cc: Schrock, Jason; Capy, Catherine
Subject: RE: Members letter draft 03-13-07

I'm not certain that this is the case in Michigan according to this article. I'm still researching; however, I would direct those interested to read for yourselves....

http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=8301

Sincerely,
Ryan

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From: Langer, Karen
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 8:30 AM
To: Sebestyen, Jennifer; Rowden, Jason; Norton, Doug; Hughey, Jeff
Cc: Schrock, Jason; Carrier, Ryan; Capy, Catherine
Subject: RE: Members letter draft 03-13-07

Jennifer,

It is considered an Unfair Labor Practice for us to share the district's proposal before it is TA'd.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Karen
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From: Sebestyen, Jennifer
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 8:23 AM
To: Rowden, Jason; Norton, Doug; Hughey, Jeff; Langer, Karen
Cc: Schrock, Jason; Carrier, Ryan; Capy, Catherine
Subject: RE: Members letter draft 03-13-07

Thanks for your response, Jason.

Doug, I would still like to know what the district is offering.

Jen
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From: Rowden, Jason
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 8:37 AM
To: Sebestyen, Jennifer; Norton, Doug
Cc: Schrock, Jason; Carrier, Ryan; Capy, Catherine
Subject: RE: Members letter draft 03-13-07

I can honestly say that I don't know. If teachers have questions about bargaining they should contact a bargaining team member directly. I will list the ones from the HS below. If teachers have questions/concerns regarding our currently enforced contract, then AR's are here for your convenience.

(HS)Bargaining Team Members: Doug Norton, Jeff Hughey, Karen Langer....

Hope this helps.

Jason
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From: Sebestyen, Jennifer
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 8:09 AM
To: Norton, Doug
Cc: Schrock, Jason; Rowden, Jason; Carrier, Ryan; Capy, Catherine
Subject: RE: Members letter draft 03-13-07

Good morning. Thanks for the update. I would like to know what the district is offering us.
Thanks,
Jen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please see the important update from bargaining!

What does the average union member reading these exchanges make of all this? It's almost painful to read and ZR has deeply considered whether certain things (like the names of courageous people - like Ryan Carrier - behaving professionally) shouldn't be published as a matter of editorial discretion (for example, ZR is completely avoiding trivial "frivolous" uses of e-mail like discussions of sports games, etc., because some of that give and take, while still a use of public time for personal use, is neither "newsworthy" [though still public records since using the public email system is taxfunded] nor "abusive"), and it is certainly painful to watch "the sliming" of otherwise great teachers because they don't lockstep (and they are probably otherwise loyal believers in the idea of the union!!) to the union bosses whims and think independently. But sunlight and the light of day are the best disinfectants for everyone and it is clear that is necessary here.

And while I've never met Ryan Carrier and have no idea what his politics or inclinations are - I want this guy teaching future generations. And its clear he's not alone - previous e-mails I've published show at least two other teachers taking the heat - often behind their backs. And that's just the one's we know about and just those who've spoken up at all in any way.

Secrecy is a generally destructive force. Why again is the MEA suing for secrecy?

Was it to protect the average teacher? Or union leadership from the average teacher?

Here are several news reports on yesterday's "show cause" (to temporarily continue the temporary restraining order, an issue not under dispute) hearing in Livingston County Circuit Court. ZR won't comment on the hearing details until more legal analysis is done, but the stories provide some flavor of the hearing.

Livingston Press, May 11, 2007
Detroit News, May 11, 2007
Detroit News, May 10, 2007, News Briefs.
Livingston Press, May 8, 2007

www.whmi.com - pasted here because there is no direct link:

MEA Granted Injunction To Prevent E-Mail Release
News Photo5/8/07 - A temporary restraining order has been signed by Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Stanley Latreille that prevents Howell Public Schools from releasing more e-mails by leaders and members of the teacher’s union. Some of the e-mails had been released to political consultant Chetly Zarko last week through the Freedom of Information Act. He says they indicated a pattern of union members misusing district time and resources. Union President Doug Norton told WHMI that Zarko’s conclusions were erroneous and part of an effort to disrupt ongoing negotiations for a new contract. Zarko said a second batch of e-mails would further prove his point. However, the Michigan Education Association asked for the injunction saying that the e-mails were exempt from public release because they contained information that is subject to the attorney-client privilege. A hearing in the case has been set for Thursday. (JK)

Consultant Accuses Howell Teachers Union Of Misconduct
News Photo5/8/07 - The head of the Howell Education Association is vehemently disputing the allegations of an Oakland County-based political consultant that the teachers union is improperly using school time and resources in the course of their efforts to secure a new contract. Chetly Zarko (left) heads up Zarko Research and previously served as Director of Media Relations for the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or Proposal 2, which prohibited affirmative action in the public arena. Using the Freedom of Information Act, he obtained the e-mails of union leaders and members from the accounts they used with Howell Public Schools. He cited several examples he says indicate that teachers were using school copiers for union business and planned to utilize parent addresses from homeroom teachers to send out union information. However, HEA President Doug Norton says that Zarko has completely mischaracterized the e-mails and makes assumptions that are wrong. He says one e-mail example Zarko provided in which a teacher says they’ll run off copies after school assumes the teacher used school copiers when in fact they used copiers that belonged to the union. Norton says Zarko’s accusations were timed to affect Tuesday's school board elections as well as their ongoing negotiations for a new contract. Zarko says that another batch of e-mails will be released after today’s election that will further illustrate his contentions. Norton, who says Zarko is an outside agitator whose real target is the Michigan Education Association, counters that many of those e-mails concern parent-teacher communications that never should have been released. (JK)

ZR notes that in its press release, we never focused on the photocopier issue, and challenged the fact that the flier was passed out on teacher time at a parent-teacher conference, which is the critical (and far more offensive than a few photocopies) abuse of trust. While the copier quote does suggest a possibility of misuse of copiers, our language NEVER said it proved anything of that nature. What has been proved, from day one, is misuse of the email system (which, according to law, is no different than paper records), and secondaritly, misuse of time and special access (to parents) granted by the nature of the teaching position. The copier issue is a strawman. The remainder of the personal attacks are obviously irrelevant, false, and ad hominen.

Exposing internal dissension and elitist treatment by union leaders of a union member who presents an alternative view of the bargaining goals and costs, these three email chains say a tremendous amount about the internal operations of Howell education.

First, reading in reverse order (to preserve the feel of the email), look at the top quote by union president Doug Norton. It proves that he KNEW THEIR WAS A DIFFERENCE between public resources and the private "yahoo group" mailing list the union created (this fundamentally cuts to the core of the MEA "reverse FOIA" lawsuit), which he was using to shut out a segment of his own representational base and maintain "more privacy". An estimate of the number of people in that group suggests that only 15% of the union population is there.

Several other emails will show how one union member gets privately and viciously attacked for expressing a view about health savings accounts. He advocates for what he labels an "HRA", I presume meaning a health retirement (savings) account, an idea that could be "win-win" for everyone. For that independent thought, you'll see him raked over the coals behind his back. Another union member expresses a concern to the whole group that bargaining solely for MESSA with no salary increases would very conservatively cost individuals $20,000 in cash over a 20 year career and he wondered whether it was worth.

Thank you Rod. By the way everyone: we have developed a Yahoo Group that we are rolling out to members. It is potentially a great place for dialogues like today's to be managed in a more private context. We are not going super fast with the "roll-out" because we really want to insure as best we can, that it will stay within the group. So far the response has been very good. I will try to speed this process since clearly we need an avenue to communicate without upsetting those who do not want to be involved and find it upsetting. I agree with those of you who have pointed out that dialogue is healthy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Bushey, Rod
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 11:29 AM
To: [Alot of people]
Subject: RE: MESSA statement

I have a music colleague who teaches in Traverse City, and she described this scenario a few weeks ago. It is certainly true!
Rod Bushey

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From: Norton, Doug
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 8:57 AM
To: [Alot of people]
Subject: RE: MESSA statement

I have been aware of this story for several years, of course. It was all over the media during the time that it played out. I have heard it from the Traverse City leaders who were involved. I have heard the story from the Uniserv Directors who were faced with it. We would not make this up, as I am sure you understand. What would be our motive?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Hosner, Suzanne
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 9:31 AM
To: [Alot of people]
Subject: RE: MESSA statement

Can you tell us the source of the statement?

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From: Norton, Doug
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 7:44 AM
To: Ayers, Jennifer; Ayers, Nancy; Babcock, Jason; Bell, Amy; Bishop, Carolyn; Bissell, Rosemary; Bruce, Tom; Byrd, Jennifer; Devine, Michelle; Dunn, Lori; Franzel, Jennifer; Gallatin, Rochelle; Grabowski, Caroline; Hager, Gail; Hillaker, Brenda; Holman, Cynthia; Isenegger, Maureen; Kafka, Davalyn; Kreeger, Abigail; Kuehn, David; Martin, Bill; Mena, Emilie; Moulton, Carrie; Moyle, Elizabeth; Nicholas, Andrew; Northrop, Brad; Smith, Judi; Taylor, Rebecca; Uppman, Katherine; Vischer, Katherine; Watts, Laurie; Williams, Jayne; Wlodarczak, Danielle; Adams, Marci; Alvarez, Phyllis; Armstrong, Anne; Ash, Ryan; Ash, Tracy; Bissett, Melissa; Bolden, Audrey; Brady, Andrea; Breece, Margaret; Breiner, Donna; Brewer, Teri; Burkert, Thomas; Bushey, Rod; Capy, Catherine; Carrier, Ryan; Cesarz, Martha; Clifton, Eric; Dallacqua, James; Davenport, Daniel; Delaiglesia, Alberto; Deschenes, Catherine; Dewey, Phillip; Diab, Tom; DiNatale, Gabrielle; Donnelly, Ann; Dukes, John; Dunham, Brenda; Farrier, Mike; Flynn, Mike; French, James; Gagalis, James; Goodwin, Jennifer; Hart, Linda; Haskins, Luann; Heaton, Karann; Hengesbaugh, Cathy; Highfield, Cathy; Hill, Kevin; Hiller, Wendy; Hines, Andrea; Holcomb, Matt; Hosner, Suzanne; Huber, Janet; Hughey, Jeff; Irrer, Lisa; Jackson, Gigi; Johnson, Marty; Johnson, Michael; Kasprzak, Zachary; Klapper, Jeffrey; Krebs, Meredith; Kutey, Candi; Kynast, Angie; Laine, Louise; Langer, Karen; Lekander, Debbie; Lewkowicz, Dawn; Lipski, Craig; Lounds, Jason; Malo, Amanda; Manson, Mary; Marek, Michael; Martin, Sarah; Mate, Thomas; McCall, David; McClure, Kathy; McConnell, Cheryl; McDowell, Johnson; McEvoy, Marilyn; McLaughlin, Julie; McMann, Janice; Metz, Aaron; Mezga, Betty; Michaud, Mathew; Mihail, Debra; Millar, Duane; Miller, Joanna; Miller, Joseph; Monast, Carol; Motta, Jane; Mozdzierz, John; Musolf, Bev; Nolan, Mary; Nolen, Daniel; Norton, Doug; Oglesby, Mark; Olszewski, Tim; Panaretos, Nancy; Parrish, Deven; Parrish, Doug; Peckens, Jennifer; Peiter, Timothy; Perlman, Cynthia; Powelson, Bruce; Preston, Cate; Riordan, Brian; Ritenour, Dana; Rivera, Beth; Roberts, Annette; Rogers, Nicole; Rowden, Jason; Ryan, Mike; Saoud, Joanne; Schafer, Michele; Schafer, Randy; Schrock, Jason; Scott, Terry; Sebestyen, Jennifer; Shafto, Maryjane; Shantry, Kristine; Shaw, Eric; Sidge, Joan; Simeck, Mari; Slattery, Dennis; Smigell, Jason; Solowczuk, Debbie; Somers, Dawn; SOMMER, TERRY; St. Pierre, JoAnn; Stark, Laura; Starkey, Jennifer; Starkey, Robert; Steele, Kristy; Steinhelper, Mike; Stoody, Mary Ann; Szalay, Laszlo; Talberg, Gregory; Thacker, Monica; Trepkowski, Kylie; VanCoppenolle, James; Villarreal, Mary; Walker, Eric; Walker, Krista; Webster, Dawn; Webster, Paul; Wernette, Theresa; WRIGHT, DOTTIE; Zents, Kathy; Adrian, Margaret; Anderson, April; Andrews, Chris; Babcock, Jonathan; Barnett, Kristen; Bessert, Dianne; Bistak, Wendi; Bohnett, Leslie; Bradner, Mike; Brinker, Leah; Cain, Toni; Campbell, Gerrie; Carl, Jeff; Case, Cindy; Clark, Tricia; Colburn, Carole; Cooley, Margaret; Coopersmith, David; Cowger, Carrie; Cowles, Mark; Cox, Suzie; Craig, Kristi; Donnelly, Mark; Dorer, Pam; Downes, Jeff; Eltringham, Ronald; Falls, Neil; Fisher, Marisa; Forsyth, Daniel; Freeman, Barbara; Groth, Paul; Hannon, Kristie; Hastings, Jeff; Hess, Becky; Hess, John; House, Christina; Houser, Diana; Hutchens, Tonya; Kacin, Jan; Kelleher, Debra; Kilgren, Amy; Klausing, Jamie; Langley, Charlene; Literski, Cathy; Lyons, Beth; Martin, Kathryn; Marzewski, Dale; McDonald, Sara; McKale, Chad; Meinka, Kylie; Morrish, Julie; Mulvihill, Jennifer; Neuroth, Cathy; Olschanski, Lorin; Pennoni, Megan; Purington, Jacob; Rea, Cynthia; Rose, Cheryl; Schippers, Mari; Storey, Steve; [ed. discretion: redacted last name], Natalie; Szabo, Pamela; Theos, Susan; Thompson, Joan; Urban, Kerri; VerBurg, Stephen; Voight, Michelle; Way, Sandy; Wood, Kellie; Wood-Vincent, Barbara; Adam, Joseph; Baron, Susie; Bradner, Melissa; Buckingham, Heather; Burch, Melissa; Carl, Barb; Clay, Jan; Clifton, Lori; Coomes, Colette; Deland, Jason; Elliott, Jan; Fleck, Kristina; Harde, Lisa; Hayosh, Michelle; Highum, Robin; Horne, Ryan; Jilek, Jana; Kellams, Linda; Linhart, Sheila; Longeway, Meghan; Lund, Linda; Miller, Kate; Nelson, Tina; Nielsen, Marilyn; Nowak, Melissa; Ott, Lori; Palo, Heather; Pilat, Emily; Prince, Greg; Tinsley, Beth; Tucker, Beth; Vlahos, Kristina; Walsh, Patricia; Wildman, Catherine; Beckett, Jean; Butler, Christia; Cheyne, Randi; Davis, Sarah; Drury, Barbara; Evans, Jane; Flore, Jen; Hughes, Chris; Johnson, Ryan; Johnson, Sandy; Karaska, Penelope; Langell, Theresa; Lemons, Mary; Miller, Marie; Miller, Ryan; Muzik, Marilyn; Nelsestuen, Sarah; Ortiz, Laurie; Paweski, Susan; Punch, Laurie; Richardson, Darlene; Senchuk, Dixie; Shaw, Mary; Spicer, Eric; Tarrant, Laura; Tolles, Judy; Urban, Lorrie; Wanless, Beth; Welty, Katie; Zacharias, Cecile; Ahmedani, Dana; Autrey, Lynette; Beech-Nugent, Barb; Bemben, Lonna; Berryman, Katherine; Boutell, Mary; Brown-Nall, Elizabeth; Bugaski, Rebecca; Challiss, Dani; Chanavier, Marie; Cote, Tara; Culver, Catherine; Elliott, Carol; Fisher, Catherine; Harris, Kathy; Kelly, Alisha; Kleckner, Hannah; McGarey, Nancy; Minsker, Erin; Myers, Wendy; Needham, Sarah; Nelson, Shirley; Pennell, Jill; Rhoads, Sheri; Rossman, Tami; Ruffins, Bob; Ryan, Kelly; Schmitt, Nicole; Terry, Kristina; Trail, Andrea; Armitage, Iris; Atkinson, Beth; Bearden, Sondra; Bergman, Kathy; Burgess, Rosemary; Cain, Jill; Carroll, Cheri; Crofoot, Kay; Dittmer, Jennifer; Dubay, Mary; Dubay, Randy; Duguay, Tina; Gorton, Douglas; Guetschow, Marcia; Hahn, Kimberly; Hardin, Allison; Johanningsmeier, Amy; Keaton, Karen; Kincaid, Kathy; Kreeger, Terry; Lloyd, Erin; Manninen, Suzanne; Morgan, John; Park, Cindy; Pressel, Holly; Schmidt, Danielle; Seyfarth, John; Sharp, Steven; Spence, Roxane; Syrett, Andrea; Terry, Barb; Zimlich, Erin; Boyd, Nicole; Carey, Megan; Cook, Andra; Crichton, Ruth; DuLong, Meghan; Eicher, Cindy; Everard, Tina; Forbes, Lindsey; French, Karen; Fuhrmann, Karen; Grainger, Alison; Hash, Stacey; Heide, Renee; Hibner, Kayla; Holnagel, Joshua; Jackson, Pat; Joslin, Sandy; Karschnick, Sue; LaCour, Christie; Lamothe, Tonya; Laszlo, Selina; Lebron, Jennifer; Little, Jenny; Nichols, Peggy; Nikolas, Debra; Parke, Tracy; Piro, Sue; Porter, Sara; Potts, Sam; Schrock, Eric; Sheffield, Teresa; Spencer, Eunice; Surian, Tammy; Tribley, Mindy; Walraven, Rachel; Abbott, Leann; Barron, Mary; Bigos, Sheryl; Bollella, Gina; Buck, Bonnie; Carnevale, Michelle; Cook, Joseph; Deadman, Kevin; Dhue, Beth; Dole, Jennifer; Durocher, Ruth; Eggleston, David; Eldred, Christopher; Ellens, Kira; Enciso, Cheryl; Falls, Kelli; Faron, Heather; Frank, Denise; Gehres, Jennifer; Gillingham, Eric; Gut, Kathleen; Hanner, Judy; Hobbs, Jincy; Hodge, Jeff; Howlett, Heather; Kraegel, Sally; Leftwich, Martin; Lester, Katherine; McGahey, Michelle; Miller, Deborah; Obrien, Anne; Pethoud, Sue; Purdy, Beth; Radcliffe, Deanna; Richardson, Duane; Rigney, Gloria; Roberts, Amy; Rowley, Anthony; Royer, Kimberly; Russell, Keena; Rutherford, Cindy; Salmeto, Anthony; Schwartz, Keith; Siekierka, Sandra; Smith, Florentina; Stanley, Sue; Starr, Amy; Stimson, Jeffery; Sulkowski, Colleen; Szymofelnik, Rosemary; Tatman, Dallas; Thomas, Erin; Vandeberg, Donna; Veilleux, Rachel; Webb, Jim; Wicker, Jim; Wright, Diane; Young, Becky; Young, Jennifer; Baker, Beth; Barlow, Sharon; Cain, Lisa; Cosgrove, Allison; Deyo, Sarah; Esbrook, Cathy; Gardner, Kathy; Gariepy, Marlene; Hibbard, Jennifer; Holmes, Carol; Holmes, Dan; Holmes, Leslie; Keddle, Kristin; Kelly, Michelle; Laviolette, Kim; Locy, Barb; Lundin, Gay; Malewitz, Kathy; Miller, Susan; Minnis, Erin; Morgan, Michelle; Risner, Ashley; Salmeto, Felecia; Schoendorff, Christine; Teahen, Barb; Thelen, Terry; Williams, Joy; Wright, Tracy
Subject: MESSA statement

A story to illustrate why we continue to resist on your behalf. [attached was a two page Microsoft Word flyer created apparently by MEA asserting that another school's "experiment" in 2000 with being a policy holder backfired costing millions]

A second message chain based off the same initial broadcast message by Doug Norton. Particularly note the appearance of a response by Devan Parrish and Eric Spicer, who do some simple math, or in Parrish's case, advocate for HSA/HRA and buffet style insurance. Parrish is both publicly ostracized and in the third and final chain for this entry, you'll seem him privately attacked by union leaders. While it would be valid and normal for union members to disagree on the issues, and ultimately union leaders have to choose among possible beliefs, the attitude and disrespect for alternative views (recall the "survey for PR purposes only" email ZR originally reported) shines through.

From: Doug Norton
To:[Alot of People]

Yes, we are very unhappy that the climate, the stance of the Board, the law, the readiness of many members, etc., etc. bring us to the postition where the contract will not be what it should be regardless. Despite the fact that this is unfair it certainly doesn't mean that we should not be say "enough is enough."

Sorry folks but I am done responding to this dialogue however interesting and illuminating as it has been. Let's consider using the Yahoo Group

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Spicer, Eric
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 1:17 PM
To: [Alot of People]
Subject: RE: MESSA statement

I would like to throw out some numbers and please correct me if I am wrong. One of my big concerns with not receiving a raise in lieu of keeping our current insurance is this:

If I make 40,000 year and do not receive any % raise i will lose out on $400 for that year. If I am going to work for the next 20 years and never make a dime over 40,000 (for the sake of easy math) I miss out on $8,400. This doesn't seem like a lot if we have to make a choice between insurance and percentage raise, but what i think we aren't considering is the purchase power of that money. The purchase power of that $8,400 translates to $21,507 based on an 8% rate of return- very conservative) after 20 years. Also, every raise that we recieve after taking a 0% increase is based on that lower amount. This equals a lot of money!! You can see that for those people who have quite a few years left stand to lose the most.

I am not saying that a % is more important than our insurance or vice versa, I just wanted to throw some numbers out there.

~Eric
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mezga, Betty
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 2:01 PM
To: [Alot of People]
Subject: RE: MESSA statement

I agree with you. We do not want to do personal attacks. I did respond to Deven personally and did relay that like you, my husband has insurance. However, I feel strongly that because I am fortunately in that area I need to be especially considerate of those who have a different circumstance. MESSA has been good to me, but has been an even more critical need for many others. I'd not like to see that end.
Betty Mezga

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Moyle, Elizabeth
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 1:31 PM
To: [Alot of People]
Subject: RE: MESSA statement

I feel that Mr. parrish is getting slightly attacked for his opinion. There are young teachers who, by good fortune, don't need as much health care right now. Yes, yes, I understand everyone gets old, some have kids and so on, but let's not forget that when you start off in your career you like, no you really look forward to those pay raises and well let's face it most of the time you don't require that much health care. I also understand that once you give it up you can't get it back. My husband as well had a serious accident, he fell from a ladder and was in a coma for 3 weeks with a serious brain trauma injury and we were not sure if he was going to live or die and what followed well I don't wish it on anyone. The bills were more than they would be if I had a child. Thank god my husband had his own insurance. Some of us are fortunate to have spouses that have really good insurance. I feel that because I am a fortunate one that insurance isn't that important to me because my husband has it. Please don't take this as I don't care about others in the district, but also know that I haven't heard anyone talk about this side of it. No one seems to be thinking of those that don't necessarily need that much insurance. I am for our insurance now because I consider the future, showing that I am a team player, but let's remember that people have a right to their opinions and not everyone is at the same stages in the their life as everyone else. It isn't my fault that I am young. It isn't Mr. Parrishes fault either. Let's not turn on each other or become forceful towards each other. Things are rough enough.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Deadman, Kevin
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 10:48 AM
To: [Alot of People]
Subject: RE: MESSA statement

Mr. Parrish,
I am very glad to hear about your great health.I wish this health on you in the future. Most of us old and ailing folk have children and some need medical care. Some need quite a bit of medical care. I believe our membership is more concernd with our children and families than we are ourselves.I also hope that your children are healthy and do not need PT or diagnostic procedures.Most of our membership believes our district would follow this pattern if not worse. If the district was offered a plan that saves them money and allows us to keep MESSA, why would that not be acceptable. The only conclusion I can come to is that they will save more by denying services that we currently NEED not enjoy! Thank God for Messa--Think about your children, families, and future.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Parrish, Deven
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 10:06 AM
To: [Alot of People]
Subject: RE: MESSA statement

It's clearly a frightening cautionary tale. However, are we to necessarily assume that the same disasters would befall our district? Would we have to be lemmings running off the same cliff? Or can we capitalize on TC's hindsight to avoid potential pitfalls in the future?

As a young teacher who uses very little health care, and after some discussions with a CFP, I am convinced the HRA option is worth serious consideration for those in a similar position. But members who are perhaps older and rely much more heavily on the excellent coverage MESSA provides would not benefit from that plan. We can't have it both ways though, because MESSA won't allow competition. No "buffet" style plan. Frankly, I see that as a problem.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Michaud, Mathew
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 9:45 AM
To: [Alot of People]
Subject: RE: MESSA statement

I have family member working for the TC schools. She has been there for some time and works for the administration. She corroborates the information that Doug Norton has shared. Clearly, this offer is unacceptable. Downright scary!

Michaud
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Hosner, Suzanne
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 9:27 AM
To: [Alot of People]
Subject: RE: MESSA statement

I was in no way suggesting you made it up. Of course you wouldn't. But these are important decisions and it's important to know where the info comes from whether it could be slanted in any way. I thought it was a copy of something you had from a publication and just wanted to know which one. Like everyone, I'm just trying to look over the options.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Norton, Doug
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 8:57 AM
To: [Alot of People]
Subject: RE: MESSA statement

I have been aware of this story for several years, of course. It was all over the media during the time that it played out. I have heard it from the Traverse City leaders who were involved. I have heard the story from the Uniserv Directors who were faced with it. We would not make this up, as I am sure you understand. What would be our motive?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Hosner, Suzanne
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 9:31 AM
To: [Alot of People]
Subject: RE: MESSA statement

Can you tell us the source of the statement?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Norton, Doug
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 7:44 AM
To: [Alot of People]
Subject: MESSA statement

A story to illustrate why we continue to resist on your behalf

Parrish (Devan) takes plenty of heat there, but the private elitism by those supposedly representing him is interesting.

From: McDowell, Johnson
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 11:07 AM
To: Bessert, Dianne; Autrey, Lynette; barb cameron; Bessert, Dianne; Elliott, Carol; Forbes, Lindsey; Hughey, Jeff; Langer, Karen; Norton, Doug; Tatman, Dallas
Subject: RE: Parrish letter

I know...this discussion is a god send...

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From: Bessert, Dianne
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 11:57 AM
To: Autrey, Lynette; barb cameron; Bessert, Dianne; Elliott, Carol; Forbes, Lindsey; Hughey, Jeff; Langer, Karen; McDowell, Johnson; Norton, Doug; Tatman, Dallas
Subject: Parrish letter

Oh my God. We couldn't have done better if we wrote the letter ourselves. I love the responses he generated. Hope mommy is also getting the replies.

In what I'm going to make as an ongoing series (I have other commitments and don't have time to post everything with analysis all at once), here's some more e-mail, this time an example of what benefits MEA was fighting so hard for. I'm adding a new category for tracking this issue (here or at right).

While I don't begrudge teachers fair health insurance - the highlighted benefits MEA uniserve director Barb Cameron considered important enough to fight for are unfair to taxpayers, and are luxury costs that even in the private health care sector generally should be paid for by individuals as they use them. Some of these items - like AIDS treatment & Colonoscopy are obviously valid coverages. But others ... I let you decide.

For those of you who think the contraceptives are either some kind of religious issue (on the right) or some kind of feminist right (on the left), I vigorously oppose the erectile dysfunction drug benefit equally (actually, moreso), as well, as well as the fertilization drugs. I only care about the tax burden of either luxury (Viagra) or non-health-necessary medical procedures or services. Acupunture and Rogaine are similarly offensive. Whatever your moral belief system, pay for your own hair and other personal items - its unfair to demand that of taxpayers.

NOTE: Read from the bottom up for time sequencing.

From:Cameron, Barbara
[ZR note: same list as below; in reply all to below message - headers and footers may sometimes be edited for reposting or brevity]

Add contraceptive devices.

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From: Cameron, Barbara
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 9:53 AM
To: 'Parrish, Lynn'
Cc: 'Hughey, Jeff'; Norton, Doug; Langer, Karen; Bessert, Dianne; Tatman, Dallas; Autrey, Lynette; Elliott, Carol
Subject: RE: Post-Mediation Thoughts

I will share the list of items that I prepared for our mediation session this week. However, as you discerned, I cannot assure you the list is complete. When I have a complete list, I will share that also.

No deductible in-network
Colonoscopy
38 chiropractic visits
Massage (related to treatment)
50 visits for outpatient substance abuse [note: there may be limited circumstances where this is appropriate, but not at this level]
Unlimited dollar maximum on preventive services [note: while preventive services should be typically increased, there must be incentives not to over use any service]
Unlimited lifetime maximum per person
These services are excluded:
Weight reduction by diet control
Hospitalization principally for observation or diagnostic evaluation, PT, x-ray or laboratory tests
Artificial insemination, any other fertilization procedure to ensure pregnancy (except in-vitro)
Acupuncture
Hearing aids/routine testing
These drugs are excluded:
fertility agents
erectile dysfunction medications
toenail fungus medications such as Lamisil and Sporanox
All cosmetic drugs such as Retin-A, Rogaine, Propecia when prescribed as medication
diet medication
AIDS medication
Dependent children coverage without extra charge for those 19-25 if the member is responsible for a majority of their support
Waiver of health insurance premium for disabled members covered by MESSA and LTD
Referral process for out-of-network doctors in order to eliminate deductible costs

All of the above are covered under MESSA Choices II.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Parrish, Lynn [mailto:parrishl@howellschools.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 7:20 PM
To: Cameron, Barbara
Cc: Norton, Doug; Hughey, Jeff; Breiner, Chuck; Terres, Rick
Subject: Post-Mediation Thoughts

Barb,

Would you be so kind as to send me the specific coverages that you believe are lacking between the HEA' current MESSA plan and our proposed Howell Public Schools plan (BC/BS with MEBS Wrap). Once we have those specific concerns (recognizing that you might conceivably find others), then Rick can work with our insurance representative to get answers, which I will communicate back to you just as soon as I have them. As you noticed, I'm sure, the only one I was able to identify off the top of my head tonight that was on your list was routine colonoscopy, which I know we've already added into our Wrap.

Thanks,

Lynn

The Michigan Education Association (MEA) has filed a so-called "reverse FOIA" lawsuit in Livingston County Circuity Court, Case # 07-22850-CK, against Howell Public Schools in an effort to keep e-mails requests by Zarko Research secret.

A limited selection of these e-mails were published on Friday days after we received a partial response from Howell schools complying with the FOIA request. The court has issued a temporary restraining order while it considers arguments, and the first hearing is expected on Thursday.

ZR opines that the MEA has no basis in FOIA for such a move and that this is a transparent attempt to keep secret public records that are embarrassing to local MEA officials. MEA's very action here - coupled with the incriminating e-mails already released - proves it has much to hide.

Press may contact ZR at 248-930-7766 or by email firstname at first-lastname.com

Links to ZR Howell FOIA work

Howell School FOIA Exposes Union Leaders Use of Taxpayer Resources for Lobbying.

FOIA of E-mails Expose Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
http://chetlyzarko.com/b2evolution/index.php?p=677&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
More Howell Emails
http://chetlyzarko.com/b2evolution/index.php?p=680&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

The Livingston Daily Press & Argus reports this morning on the ZR FOIA, although it went to press before anyone (other than MEA and a judge) were aware of yesterday's "reverse FOIA" lawsuit.

The lack of substance in response is proven by union-leader Doug Norton's labelling:

"We have taken the high road throughout the process to the obvious frustration of people like Mr. Zarko, who would like to charge us with facetious claims," Norton said. "I think it's unfortunate that an outside agitator like this would try to disrupt the relationship that has been built over many years."

Norton's probably not an English teacher, but I don't think he meant "facetious" here. For ZR, there is considerable irony in such a label (Ward Connerly), but as a Michigander I still help fund all Michigan schools and Norton's quote disrespects taxpayers from across the state, all of whom have an interest in seeing EVERY school operated efficiently. When ad hominems fly, you know your substance is right.

(Time adjusted 12 minutes to drop headline).

Links to ZR Howell FOIA work

Howell School FOIA Exposes Union Leaders Use of Taxpayer Resources for Lobbying.

FOIA of E-mails Expose Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
http://chetlyzarko.com/b2evolution/index.php?p=677&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
More Howell Emails
http://chetlyzarko.com/b2evolution/index.php?p=680&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1