Page 4 — Thursday, September 16, 2021 — The Hastings Banner
Do you remember?
Did you see?
Loss of BISD would
diminish a local
voice in education
Talk of dissolving the Barry Intermediate
School District leaves me as cold as the
hearts of the politicians who maneuvered
taxpayers into taking the blame for our
poor-performing public schools.
With the passage of Proposal A in 1994,
state legislators convinced voters that fund-
ing for local schools should come from the
state and not from local taxpayers. That
sounded good to taxpayers who had been
screaming for property tax relief. The rub,
as we’ve now learned, is the high cost of
programs that the state is mandating every
school district to offer, but for which our
legislators are not providing the needed
funding.
Take a look at special education, the high-
est-cost programs in any school district. It’s
a noble effort, ensuring care and learning for
the most challenged children in our commu-
nity. For state and federal leaders to hold
districts legally responsible for offering
these resources – without providing ade-
quate funding for them – is absolute political
chicanery.
Ever since 1994, local school district lead-
ers have struggled to balance their budgets,
paying for special education programs with
funds from general education program bud-
gets. So it’s no surprise when districts come
to their constituents, empty pockets turned
inside out, pleading for understanding.
That’s why, last week, the three boards of
the BISD – Hastings, Delton, and the ISD
-- got together for the first time in years to
discuss the future of public education in our
community. Under the dictates of Proposal
A, only ISDs are able to levy voter-approved
millages for the operational expenses of
high-cost programs on behalf of their mem-
ber districts. Local districts are limited to
asking voters only for buildings and capital
improvement projects.
For local districts hanging by threads to
meet program demands, ISDs and their abil-
ity to raise needed funds through millage
votes is a gift. The meeting of the Hastings,
Delton, and BISD boards, reported in last
Thursday’s Banner, was called to discuss the
potential for a special millage to be used for
special education and career technical edu-
cation programs. A proposal, first discussed
in August, would have asked ISD taxpayers
for 2 mills for nine years. That would have
raised about $1.5 million for Hastings,
$750,000 for Delton and $20,000 for the
ISD in each of the coming nine years. The
money would pay for all of Hastings’ special
education costs, which are not specifically
reimbursed by the federal government, and
much of Delton’s unreimbursed expenses,
ISD Superintendent Richard Franklin said.
During last week’s meeting of the three
local district boards, the discussion centered
on two issues: The potential for a special
millage to support the costs of special educa-
tion and Career and Technical Education or
just dissolving the BISD. Not mentioned
was the fact that, if the BISD is dissolved,
taxpayers would have to pay a higher mill-
age rate anyway because the Hastings and
Delton districts would be required to join a
neighboring ISD and pay that ISD’s current
millage rate. That would immediately
increase property taxes for all Hastings and
Delton taxpayers.
“Some residents may feel they are facing
taxation without representation (if forced to
join a neighboring ISD with a higher tax
rate),” said BISD Superintendent Richard
Franklin.
“It’s not, though, if you think about it,”
replied Delton school board member Craig
Jenkins, who appeared to favor dissolution
of the BISD. “When people make that argu-
ment – (that) it’s taxation without represen-
tation – I reply, ‘We are your representa-
tives.’ I get that it’s an un-voted tax (by
joining another ISD), but I’m trying to do
what’s best.”
Delton was proposing to join the Allegan
ISD, which currently levies 2.6609 mills,
while Hastings school officials didn’t dis-
close which of the area ISDs they would
join. But, if they joined the Calhoun ISD, the
current millage rate there is 6.2057; or Kent,
which is 5.6465; Ionia at 5.8723; and Eaton
RESA at 3.8778 – all much more than they
presently pay the Barry ISD, which is at
2.2978 mills.Local taxpayers should be aware and con-
cerned about what’s going on because, if
either board leaves the BISD, the lone,
remaining district would be compelled to
join another intermediate district due to the
fact there are only two K-12 districts in the
BISD. When Jeff Jennette was the BISD
superintendent in 2013, the state threatened
to dissolve the intermediate school district
and force each of the two K-12 districts to
join a neighboring ISD because it would
have saved the state some money.
But a group of local leaders joined with
Jennette to save the BISD and, as a result,
maintain a stronger voice than we would
have had by joining a larger ISD. At that
time, too, a larger intermediate district would
have provided additional benefits – but at a
much higher cost to taxpayers.
We also had discussions then about pro-
posing a special millage for Career and
Technical Education training, but, because
the two K-12 districts have run their own
millages for buildings and maintenance,
some felt local voters wouldn’t support the
additional taxes.
Complicating matters now is that, if the
BISD is dissolved and each district joins a
neighboring intermediate district, millage
rates will go up – and that could affect the
ability of these school districts to pass local
millage for anything in the future.
At last week’s meeting, Franklin told
school board members that it’s easy to look
at other ISDs and what they’re able to offer,
but, in joining them, they would end up
being a smaller fish in a bigger pond.
The problem as I see it is that, for far too
long, these three boards – Hastings, Delton,
and the ISD – have done a poor job of col-
laboration. To be effective, the three boards
should meet at least twice during a school
year – plans are for another meeting in
October – to look over options and discuss
the needs of the two districts. The ISD also
has a responsibility to consider its overall
administrative costs to identify where cuts
could be made to free up some funds for
programs.
Much of last week’s discussion centered
on Career and Technical Education training,
which has been a huge concern for years for
business and industry throughout the state.
Michigan employers have cited access to
talent as one of the most important factors
for businesses in the state. They expect high
school graduates to be work-force ready to
compete in the new global marketplace.
Yet, so many high school graduates and
dropouts are unprepared for the world of
work. A survey conducted by the Association
of American Colleges and Universities
found that only 55 percent of students
attending high school feel prepared to enter
the world of work.
For more than 30 years, local citizens and
education officials have discussed the lack
of CTE programs. We’ve been able to put
together a few programs, but it’s taken way
too long to get these programs up and oper-
ational. Plus, due to COVID and online
programming, it has impacted participation.
Both Hastings and Delton have a number
of CTE programs. Plus, Kellogg Community
College, the Michigan Career and Technical
Institute at Pine Lake, and the Gilmore Car
Museum offer programs that are available
for students from both districts. The schools
just need to work together and invite stu-
dents from both districts to participate in the
programs that interest them.
Do we need to dissolve the BISD? NO.
But all the boards must work cooperatively
together to set a higher standard for this
intermediate school district – and then see
that those goals are met.
Do we need a millage to cover shortages?
Probably, but the three boards need to col-
laborate and put together a request that is
clearly defined so voters can support it.
Let’s not allow politicians to blame us for
failing our children.Fred Jacobs, CEO
J-Ad Graphics, Inc.Seven years ago, Chris Stafford’s eldest
son, Benjamin, came home with a volunteer
form for the marching band.
Chris, 46, had played the tuba throughout
high school. He’d encouraged his own kids
to try an instrument in sixth grade. But he’d
never signed up as a volunteer.
With Benjamin entering his first year in
marching band, Stafford decided to give it a
try. He spent one day as a traffic-control
volunteer at the school’s big marching band
invitational, but that was it. Two years later,
in 2016, his youngest son, Nicholas, entered
high school and was in the marching band as
well. Stafford didn’t need another sign-up
form to motivate him to get more involved.
With both kids in band, Stafford promoted
himself from traffic control and “jump in up
to my neck” in volunteering.
Since then, he’s been designing props for
the band, running around the sidelines at
football games and organizing community
service projects.
Growing up in Dowling and attending
Hastings High School in the early 1990s,
Stafford said he’d found a sense of community
in band.
“You go to concerts, you go to festivals,
you go on trips,” he said. “It’s just a fun
group of kids together. You have an end
outcome, you’re going to perform for
somebody, you’re going to have a show or
something like that. It clicked with me.”
As a kid, Stafford spent his weekends
engineering with his dad, Dan. Sometimes
they fixed a car. Sometimes they constructed
decks. One time, when Stafford was 11 or 12,
they helped an uncle build a pole barn.
“That was kind of our thing,” Stafford said
of weekend projects with his dad.
From a young age, Stafford knew he
wanted to be an engineer. By the time he
graduated, he had his plan laid out: He would
attend Kellogg Community College and
study pre-engineering, before finishing his
degree in mechanical engineering at General
Motors Institute, now called Kettering
University.
But a job at Hudson’s department store
introduced him to security guard work, which
led him to change his major to law
enforcement with plans to become a state
trooper. While attending college, Stafford
worked on the side as a plainclothes security
officer for a year and a half before switching
to customer service and then to receiving
dock manager. When he graduated from
KCC in 1997 with an associate of applied
science degree in law enforcement, Hudson’s
offered him a management job in Columbus,
Ohio.
He spent seven months in the big city,
working 40 to 60 hours a week at the office.
But that was enough of the retail lifestyle for
him. He returned to Dowling, took a job at
Bradford White Corp. on the assembly line
and prepared for a state trooper test.
The only problem, Stafford has tinnitus,
causing him to hear high-pitched ringing in
his ear, which prevented him from passing
the state trooper hearing test.But that was OK with Stafford. At Bradford
White, “the engineering thing kind of started
kicking in,” he said. He enrolled in Auto
CAD and computer programming classes
and in July 1999, he received a job as an
engineering technician at the company.
To become an engineer, the vice president
said, Stafford needed to get a bachelor’s
degree. He mulled it over, but decided he was
content with the title of engineering
technician.
“I don’t know how I could have a family
and go to school,” he said. “So it was one of
those dilemmas in life, like, what do you do?
I really like my family. I enjoy [spending]
time with them. ... I will just be a technician
for now.”
But 10 years later, the vice president came
back. He wanted to know if Stafford would
take a job as a design engineer. He didn’t
need to go back to school after all, the vice
president said. Stafford had proved he could
handle the job.
Stafford spent more than nine years in the
role. He started by designing residential gas
water heaters before moving into commercial
gas water heaters for hotels, schools and
hospitals. He served as the primary or
secondary inventor on four to five different
patents before leaving in 2019 to open his
own engineering consulting business,
Creative & Practical Solutions.
The new job has allowed him to pick his
projects and set his own hours. Now he can
spend more energy on other things he cares
about. He can carve out additional time for
his wife, Jennifer, and their sons, who both
are currently students at Western Michigan.
He can commit himself more to the school
band, where he is currently in his secondyear as band boosters president. He still
helps at performances, organizing the
equipment going on and off the field –
equipment he may have built himself.
And, finally, he can dedicate more time to
the barn in his Carlton Township yard, which
he will use to create a fabrication prototype
shop. It’s been a two-year project, and he’s
still putting together the final pieces. He
most recently installed a 14.5-foot tall, 1,000-
pound spiral metal staircase to access the
second floor.
When his kids are home, Stafford takes
them out with him, reminding him of his
childhood days with his dad, who died in
2013.
“It brings back memories,” he said, “good
memories.”
For his role in the community and with the
high school marching band, Stafford is this
week’s Bright Light.
Favorite movie: “Batman.” I kind of like
the Dark Knight just because it’s a little more
dark than the first Batman. That one was a
little more comedic.
First job: In high school, I worked on a
horse farm because I didn’t want to work in
fast food.
If I could go anywhere in the world:
Australia
Person I most admire: My father. Just
hard-working in supporting his family and
giving us what we need.
Favorite book: Anything by James
Patterson.Biggest accomplishment: My family.
Favorite teacher: Elbert Black, Hastings
High School. He was my math teacher for
three years. He was a very quiet person, but
his understanding and how he could teach
mathematics was just phenomenal. And his
interactions with the kids were just great.
Favorite season: I love fall. Football, cold
weather and, I hate to say it, marching band.
We go to shows, and I love watching that
stuff still.
What motivates me: Helping people.
Favorite vacation destination: Out West.
Yellowstone. I fell in love with Montana. I’m
not a fisherman, but I could stand out there
and fish because it just looked right.
When it’s quiet: I read.
Favorite childhood memory: Riding all
over Barry County on my dirt bike and
seeing and meeting people.
Hobbies: Metal fabrication, anything with
building stuff. I enjoy movies and reading.
If I could change one thing: People to have
more understanding of others. Everybody
has a little different view on life doesn’t
mean they’re right or wrong.
Each week, the Banner profiles a person
who makes the community shine. Do you
know someone who should be featured
because of volunteer work, fun-loving
personality, for the stories he or she has to
tell or any other reason? Send information to
Newsroom, Hastings Banner, 1351 N. M-
Highway, Hastings, MI 49058; or
email [email protected].Chris StaffordHave you met?
Camp Fire Girls
collect papers,
donate proceeds
Helping others – Girls in the Sh-Za-Na-Mi
Camp Fire Group, headed by Mrs. Joyce
Dilworth of 500 Meadow Lane, held a paper
drive and collected enough to earn $50.
Here, they present the money to Rex Frisby
of the Barry County Association for Retarded
Children. The money will go to help these
special youngsters. The Camp Fire Girls are
(from left): Debbie Nelson, Lisa Dilworth,
Lori Armour, Mrs. Dilworth, Cindy Armour
and Terri Nelson. Of course, the girls had
some good help, including assistance from
Jerry “Butch” Young and Bob Nelson.
(Banner photo; publication date unknown)On his way to a
record for ribbons
Jim Gross of Lake Odessa is a veter-
an and a competitor and an artist, too –
and he’s got the ribbons to show for it. “ I
have 43 first-place ribbons, 46 sec-
ond-place ribbons, 28 third-place rib-
bons, for a total of 124 ribbons this year.”
His artwork has made the rounds of the
state and county fairs, where he got a
first-place and best in show ribbons at
the state fair, first-place and outstanding
ribbons at the Barry County fair, first
place and grand champion ribbons at
the Lake Odessa fair, along with first
place ribbons at the fairs in Calhoun,
Allegan, Eaton and Ionia county fairs.
He also got a first place at the Veterans
Administration art show in Battle Creek.“Complicating matters now is that, if
the BISD is dissolved and each dis-
trict joins a neighboring intermedi-
ate district, millage rates will go up- and that could affect the ability of
these school districts to pass local
millage for anything in the future.”