HPS teachers host a school board candidate forum

 

By Charles Sercombe
“Communication” was the word heard most at last week’s candidate forum for the upcoming election for the school district’s school board.
And to the surprise of few, only three of the six candidates showed up to the forum, which was sponsored by the Hamtramck Federation of Teachers and held at the public library.
The candidates who did participate: Linda Woliniec, Joseph Kochut and Philip Garbacz.

The no-shows: HPS Board President Jihan Aiyash (who is seeking re-election), former Boardmember Showkat Choudhury, and newcomer Mohammed Algehaim.
According to the teachers’ union, Algehaim was not only a no-show, he told them that he would not be a part of their endorsement process.
Most of the approximately 50 people attending appeared to be teachers from the school district. The meeting went for a brief 30 minutes, and candidates fielded questions from those attending.
In their opening statements, the candidates who did attend the forum stressed that change is needed.
Wolyniec said that “open communication” is needed to bring the community together “as a team,” and that a commitment is needed “to showing up and doing work.”
That touched on an ongoing issue of at least two current board members, Regan Watson and Sal Hadwan, not showing up for meetings, and the fact that, last year, the board failed to meet at all in three separate months.
Continuing with that theme, Kochut said “We could go in a lot better direction,” and that “we need teamwork.”
Garbacz, who graduated from Hamtramck High School in 1997, added: “The diversity and greatness of these schools are being overshadowed by some of things that are not happening correctly” in the district.

 

The first question came when Madelyn Porter, who has taught drama at the high school, asked about the role of arts in education.
All the candidates agreed that the arts, indeed, play a significant role.
As it turned out, all the candidates at the forum were pretty much in lockstep agreement on the issues.
Wolyniec: “Arts are essential … There is a connection between arts and STEM: when you use both sides of your brain you’re better educated.”
Kochut: the arts “are a super-important part of a child’s development.”
Garbacz, who was in the high school band, said: “A well-rounded education is what’s essential.” He further explained, about the role of an arts education, “it taught you more discipline. It taught you a couple of other things that you don’t necessarily get (in a curriculum without the arts included)…”
One woman wanted to know what the candidates would do about some board members who do not attend board meetings, and a district superintendent who is being paid but has been replaced with an interim superintendent, despite getting a contract extension and salary increase this year.
Garbacz said it’s a matter of “working together and making great choices.”
“I don’t think this board has made a lot of great decisions in the past few years – even for themselves,” he added.
Kochut agreed, saying: “Bringing back and extending her (Jaleelah Ahmed’s) contract was a bad decision.”
As for some board members failing to attend the monthly meetings, Kochut said it comes down to electing people “that actually want to help out, because right now it’s not doing anything – it’s not working.”
A teacher said that, whenever she speaks to the board during board meetings, “I feel like I’m talking to a wall,” and questioned whether the board policy to not respond to questions or comments from the public at board meetings can be changed.
Wolyniec said that one reason she is seeking a seat on the board is “because I can’t understand the lack of responsiveness that this particular board has to the students, to the teachers to administrators.”
As for some board members not attending meetings, Wolyniec said that’s something “I can’t get wrapped around.”
Garbacz further echoed the same sentiment, saying: “If we’re not listening to what you guys are saying, what’s the point of being here?”
Kochut said he would seek to have monthly public reports on district events and happenings.

“If we’re not communicating, then the whole district fails. I don’t understand how they don’t answer questions,” he said.
As for the board having given itself pay increases from $700 to $6000 ($7,000 for the board president) last year, all the candidates at the forum said the board should not receive payment, and that they would donate their monetary stipends back to the district.
The teachers’ union says it will be making endorsements in the election. The election is Nov. 5, and the two top vote-getters will get a seat on the board for a six-year term.
Posted Sept. 6, 2024