community
By Dr. John Telford As I mentioned in my July
7 column, despite my having lent my name to a flyer oppos- ing Mayor Kilpatrick’s wish to take control of the DPS board in 2004, I told Wendell An- thony on his TV show when he touted my book this past Jan- uary that I was leaning toward favoring mayoral control out of desperation because the current board was so bad. In that July 7 column, I said I’ve changed my mind back again — that now with new and better board leadership, we should give our elected board another chance.
the mayor or appoint another EFM. While now I again favor a re-empowered board, I pray that all the disputants will get things resolved soon and come together to work cooperatively for the sake of our suffering children.
I served on Mayor Archer’s
similar team in 1999 and on Gov. Granholm’s team chaired by Rev. Anthony in 2005. Those teams wrote excellent transition plans, which incom- ing boards and administra- tions then generally ignored. I wrote much of the 2005 plan for reforming Human Resourc-
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
August 25-31, 2010 Tug of war over DPS control isn’t over
es specifically, but not one of those reforms was ever hon- estly enacted. They included annual evaluations for all ad- ministrators and written and oral tests that administrators be required to pass and then be placed on an unrigged eligibility list with the high- est-scoring candidates at the top — to be appointed first, with no tampering — when a vacancy occurred. This was the fair and efficient process when I first became a DPS ad- ministrator in 1967. No more promoting central-office and on-site administrators de-
spite inferior credentials just because they happen to be some honcho’s friend or rela- tive (which in some instances is still happening). Also, no more contracting with “con- nected” firms — sometimes in exchange for a “gratuity” — for services that should have been awarded to the lowest bidder.
Now this administration
has terminated our security officers, including one of the best, Anthony Merritt, who faced down dangerous outsid- ers with me at Finney between 2003 and 2008. These offi- cers, whom the district hasn’t
let bid on their old jobs, know the gangs and the other prob- lem kids they have helped and mentored. Non-union replace- ments won’t have that knowl- edge. Also, one of our most caring teachers, Baxter Jones, has been terminated while on medical leave. Jones served DPS selflessly for decades and has sponsored age-group track kids on his own time.
I trust that our leadership
committee will come up with a good blueprint for better- ment with regard to all these issues, and I hope the board is enabled to enact our plan.
We need for them to find us a caring, committed, capable, courageous, incorruptible su- perintendent (preferably with local experience and definitely with both academic and fiscal expertise). Then we need for them to back him (or her) en- tirely without any self-serving politicking. Get the h--- out of his way and let him do the job.
Dr. Telford’s tell-all memoir
on DPS is available at Barnes & Noble stores, at www.Alife-
ontheRUN.com, and at Har- monie Park Press, (586) 979- 2077.
Page C-3
Telford’s
Telescope By John Telford
Accordingly, I’ve accepted
an invitation from new board president Anthony Adams to serve on a leadership commit- tee with Helen Moore, former president Bill Brooks and others. Our charge is to de- termine the qualifications for the next superintendent and board and to plan the adminis- trative configuration for when Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb is duly thanked for his service and departs in March. However, his job is significantly unfinished, and Lansing could therefore still hand the DPS reins to
St. Joseph
Mercy to open specialized care program for seniors
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland
(SJMO), a member of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS), will open its Senior Emergency Department (ED) in September to meet the unique care needs for a grow- ing population of seniors.
During a patient’s stay at
St. Joe’s Senior ED, a multi- disciplinary team will assess physical function, cognitive status and level of risk.
All emergency staff at SJMO
has been educated about the special needs of seniors, de- signed to do away with ste- reotypes and increase under- standing of their medical and preferential needs.
Medical staff will have ad-
ditional geriatric emergency medicine training, and nurs- ing staff will complete Geriat- ric Emergency Nursing Educa- tion through the Emergency Nurses Association.
These courses allow physi-
cians and nurses to sensitive- ly and appropriately identify and treat patients with pre- existing conditions, multiple medications, dementia, living condition concerns, nutrition and depression.
Additionally, SJMO phar-
macists will perform multiple medication reviews to identify and address adverse drug re- actions and other concerns.
A geriatric case manager
will provide outpatient assis- tance to help patients main- tain their independence and remain at home or develop an alternative care plan.
By Jan. 1, 2011, emergen-
cy departments at all eight SJMHS hospitals will each have a senior ED staffed by caregivers who are specially skilled in geriatric emergency care.
In addition to SJMO, other
SJMHS hospitals include: Chelsea Community Hospital, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, St. Joseph Mercy Brighton, St. Joseph Mercy Livingston, St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron, St. Joseph Mercy Saline and St. Mary Mercy Livonia, which opened the doors to the health system’s first senior ED on July 14.
For more information on
health services offered at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, please visit
www.sjmercy-
health.org.
SAVEON FAVESFAVORITES NOW THROUGH SUNDAY, AUG. 29 OUR CUSTOMERS’ 5-STAR
25% - 5O% OFF STOREWIDE PLUS, TAKE AN EXTRA 15% OR 1O% OFF†
WHEN YOU USE YOUR MACY’S CARD OR PASS †EXCLUSIONS APPLY; SEE PASS.
WOW!PASS SALE & CLEARANCE APPAREL! EXTRA15%OFF
EXTRA SAVINGS ON ALL (EXCEPT SPECIALS & SUPER BUYS)
SELECT SALE & CLEARANCE APPAREL FOR HIM, HER & KIDS
EXTRA 1O% OFF ALL SALE & CLEARANCE SHOES, COATS, SUITS, DRESSES, INTIMATES; MEN’S SUIT SEPARATES & SPORTCOATS AND SELECT HOME ITEMS
Excludes: specials, super buys, fine and fashion jewelry, watches, furniture, mattresses, floor coverings, rugs, electrics/electronics, cosmetics/fragrances, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, previous purchases, special orders, selected licensed depts., special purchases, services,
macys.com. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer except opening a new Macy’s account. EXTRA SAVINGS % APPLIED TO REDUCED PRICES.
VALID NOW-8/29/2010
For store locations & hours, log on to
macys.com
Macy’s credit card is available subject to credit approval; new account savings valid the day your account is opened and the next day; excludes services, select licensed departments, gift cards, restaurants, gourmet food and wine. On furniture, mattresses and rugs/fl oor coverings, the new account savings is limited to $100; application must qualify for immediate approval to receive extra savings; employees not eligible.
Open a Macy’s Account for
extra 15% savings the fi rst 2 days with more rewards to come. Exclusions and limitations apply; see left.
6070053A.indd 1 8/16/10 12:46:51 PM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32