DZIESINSKI

These views are my own and not necessarily those of the board or my colleagues.

As most of the community knows, I am one of the trustees currently facing a recall over three votes. I wanted to talk honestly about why I ran for the board, this experience, and give more detail on reasons for my votes that I fully stand by.

When I decided to run, it came from a place of excitement and care for this community. I work with school aged kids daily and love my job. I’m also a parent of two young children, one of whom will be starting at Thunder Bay this fall. The school board position I hold is very personal for me in many ways. My husband and I are both Wildcat alumni, and having our kids grow up and graduate from Alpena Public Schools means a lot to us. We chose to come back here to raise our family because we love this community. I wanted to be a voice for all, especially those who feel unheard and feel they cannot speak up.

I respect the democratic process, including recalls. People have a right to disagree with elected officials, and as a board, we have the right to disagree with each other and with administration at times. However, the way this recall has been handled is disappointing. Not agreeing with a vote is one thing, I get that. But when it turns into assumptions about politics, religion, or even family, that’s not what this nonpartisan role is supposed to be about. Watching every word you say or question you ask, being twisted by political activists is very disheartening. The attacks have been vile and are not about accountability, but about destroying someone. It’s also hard to ignore that this recall was being organized before the votes in question even happened. That should make anyone stop and realize the motivation behind it.

I take this role seriously. This job is harder than I expected, and a lot of the work happens for us individually behind the scenes listening to the community. I take every email, every phone call, and every public comment into consideration. I don’t make decisions lightly and I weigh them very carefully. I do my best to do what is right for our students and this community. Our board brings a wide range of perspectives and ideas. I truly believe that diversity of thought and opinion is healthy. Disagreement doesn’t have to mean conflict, disrespect, or undermining one another. I would much rather serve on a board united around a shared goal, with different ideas on how to achieve it, than one where seven members and a superintendent all bring the same viewpoint to the table.

Vote 1: Goodrich Asphalt Project

We spent less than half a percent more upfront to ensure better quality work and materials. That matters, because cutting corners now usually means paying more later. I am sure most use this practice in our homes and even our businesses.

Just as important, the project was finished on time. The crew completed the high school parking lot late Friday night so students could walk in Monday morning on the first day of school. Looking back at the weather and the fact that the other company only quoted two mobilizations, while Goodrich required none due to being local, it reinforces that we made the right decision.

There’s been talk that Goodrich provided a lower-quality product. That’s simply not true. Anyone familiar with asphalt specs knows that claim doesn’t hold up. Before voting, I spoke with multiple people about both companies to make sure I understood what we were getting. For

example, the asphalt used at the high school follows the same specifications Goodrich applied at Ella White, Besser, Hinks, Lincoln, Sanborn, and Thunder Bay Junior High. Notably, the asphalt at Lincoln and Thunder Bay Junior High is approximately 30 years old and has demonstrated its durability over time.

There has been misinformation about us violating policy or state law. School boards are not solely required to take the lowest price, but the lowest responsible bidder, allowing consideration of experience, quality, and reliability. Taking the lowest bid without these considerations would be irresponsible of taxpayer’s money.

Vote 2: Legal Services

School districts consult with multiple law firms and attorneys, that is standard practice. With this additional law firm there’s no retainer, and the hourly rate is lower than what we are currently paying. This gives the district more flexibility and can also help save money. We already use different attorneys depending on the situation that is needed.

Kallman Law has experience all the way up to the Supreme Court level. Having access to this kind of expertise when needed is a real benefit. There were times when legal questions went beyond Michigan law and required deeper federal level interpretation, and that’s not something we were always getting through our main law firm on some policies. This doesn’t replace our current main law firm. They’re solid, they’re our primary legal counsel, and they handle the vast majority of issues well. Kallman adds another resource when something comes up that needs a higher level of specialization.

Vote 3: Rain Garden Project

I want to be very clear, I support clean water, green space, students learning, and projects that benefit our environment. That wasn’t the issue with this project. The issue was the lack of a long-term plan and finance.

Even though it was grant-funded, that is still taxpayer money. There was no clear maintenance plan, no committed volunteers, and no budget for ongoing care. We were unaware of any staff or student commitment to maintenance, learning, or upkeep. When questioned in a meeting, the board was told by finance that there were no funds for the yearly upkeep required to maintain the garden. If the garden ever needed to be removed, it would not be simple, like bulldozing the Ella White nature area. It was stated in a meeting that it could cost up to six figures, as it would have been tied to the stormwater system and parking lot.

I also spent hours researching and calling experts. Experts ranged from water treatment professionals to drainage and landscaping specialists. I was in contact with people throughout the entire state of Michigan. I wanted to fully understand what we would be committing to. At the end of the day, I could not support a project where the plan is to figure it out later.

I knew this role would come with tough decisions, and I stand by all three of the ones above. I did my homework, asked questions, and made decisions based on what’s best for our students and this community, not pressure, politics, or noise. Not everyone will agree, but disagreement doesn’t change the facts.