At the APS Board meeting this past Monday the board was given a summary of the 2025 financial audit conducted by Straley, Lamp and Kraenzlein, a trusted, highly-regarded local accounting firm. The Alpena Public School system was given the designation of “Unmodified Opinion”, the highest rating possible in an audit. This is extremely good news and due to the hard work and due diligence of the Associate Superintendent for Business and Operations, Mary Lyon.

Barely had this good news settled in when board member Monica Dziesinski asked if it would be a good idea to have “a second set of eyes” on the financial “stuff.” Although Dziesinski couldn’t identify anything wrong with the financial management of APS she was suggesting Mary needed assistance in governance despite a stellar audit and a school system in good financial standing. Managing the finances is Mary’s job and the audit is the second set of eyes.

How ironic coming from a school board member who has cost our school system thousands in wasted tax-dollars when she:

– Voted to award a contract to a higher bidder. This broke precedent, wasted thousands and discourages competitive bidding…which will drive up costs in future years

– Voted down a $150,000 grant for a rain garden project which also would have replaced aging infrastructure in the parking areas

– Voted to add an additional law firm to the payroll incurring extra legal fees

– Has pushed to institute a bathroom policy that will incite a lawsuit. Similar actions have cost hundreds of thousands in legal fees for other school districts

– Voted to change wording in the APS Social Media Policy which incurred unnecessary legal fees and does not clarify how to interpret the policy.

It was a stunning and ironic moment. I believe Mary Lyon is owed an apology.

Diane O’Connor

Alpena