Ypsilanti Citizen Education Sidetrack

Ypsilanti Schools accept transportation consolidation
By Adrienne Ziegler
Jun. 8, 2010   ·   3:07 p.m.

Connie Shelton, an East Middle School Teacher, speaks against the WISD transportation consolidation plan at Monday's special meeting of the Ypsilanti Board of Education. The board approved the motion to join the consolidation by a vote of 5 to 2.

"Shame on you" echoed through the audience Monday night after the Ypsilanti Public Schools Board of Education approved a plan to join a countywide consolidated...read more

Willow Run appoints new board member
By Adrienne Ziegler
Jun. 5, 2010   ·   8:16 a.m.

The Willow Run School Board looks on as Kristine Thomas, a district parent and previous board member, is sworn in as trustee on Thursday night. Thomas will take the position of Joi Jenson who resigned in early May.

The Willow Run School Board appointed a new, yet familiar trustee to the board of education during their regular meeting Thursday night.

Kristine Thomas, a Willow...read more

Willow Run approves county-wide transportation plan
By Adrienne Ziegler
May. 27, 2010   ·   2:09 p.m.

The Willow Run School District signed on to a countywide consolidated transportation plan at their regular board meeting last week.

The plan aims to save transportation...read more

Lincoln offers summer courses to area high-schoolers
By Mark Tower
May. 26, 2010   ·   7:49 p.m.

Students from Lincoln and other nearby districts are being invited to participate in Lincoln High School's Summer Academy this year, registration for which opened...read more

Willow Run terminates student services administrator
By Adrienne Ziegler
May. 26, 2010   ·   12:26 a.m.

Willow Run School Board President Sheri Washington said she didn't know if the district was going to press charges against former Student Services Administrator Laconda Hicks after the board fired Hicks during a special meeting Tuesday night.

The Willow Run Board of Education unanimously voted to terminate its contract with former Student Services Administrator Laconda Hicks Tuesday night during a special...read more

Hearings begin against Willow Run administrator

Haabs

Board alleges student services administrator took extra pay, mistreated staff

By Adrienne Ziegler
Apr. 16, 2010    ·    2:29 p.m.


Willow Run Community Schools began closed hearings Tuesday for former district Student Services Administrator Laconda Hicks.

Hicks is accused of taking thousands more in pay and benefits than she was entitled to, and abusing paid sick leave. She is also accused of acting unprofessionally with parents and staff, doing unauthorized research for her doctorate using Willow Run students and staff and fraudulently obtaining a new contract with the board that included additional pay and benefits.

During the hearings, witnesses are speaking to more than 15 specific charges presented against Hicks. If the board finds the charges to be accurate, the district will immediately terminate its contract with Hicks.

Board President Sheri Washington would not comment on the hearings because they were closed.

"We got started, and we're just going to get through the process," she said.

Former district Superintendent Doris Hope-Jackson will also face hearings in the coming weeks. According to a 46-page memo submitted to the district by Washington, Hope-Jackson knowingly allowed Hicks to receive extra pay and benefits, duped the board into signing a new contract for Hicks with additional pay and benefits that were not board-approved, and knowingly allowed Hicks to use weeks of sick leave while she was actually working on her doctorate in Massachusetts.

The memo also includes pages of first-hand accounts of Hope-Jackson mistreating teachers and staff.

"In terms of the charges, we want to treat them both individually," Washington said.

Washington was unsure how long the hearings would take, but they are scheduled to continue next week.

Related article:
Board releases details of charges against Hope-Jackson

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