VOL. 19, NO. 12 THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

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By Amy BellHeritage Media

Willow Run Community Schools recently began its first round of layoffs as a result of its consolidation with the Ypsilanti Public School District.

During its March 18 meeting, the board of education unanimously approved layoffs effective June 30 for members of bargaining unit AFSCME Local 3451, who are members of the custodial staff and the Willow Run Support Unit. A separate resolution also passed unanimously and approved the layoff of the district's administration.

"I am just going to say it again, I want to thank the staff for always put-ting the kids first," said Willow Run Superintendent Laura Lisiscki. "All of these non-renewals and layoffs, they're not easy even though it is an artifact of the consolidation. "

The layoffs involve 40 employees, 34 from AFSCME and 6 from the sup-port unit, respectively.

Lisiscki said the board will have to vote on layoffs of three more employee groups. According to contract, para-educators and teachers

must receive 20 work days notice from the board of layoff and non-union employees must receive 30.

Board President David Bates said the layoffs are a part of closing down the district and hopes all employees consider applying to Ypsilanti Community Schools.

"I want to make it clear that this is an artifact of closing down the dis-trict and is absolutely in no way a reflection on the value of these employ-ees," he said.

During the unified board of education meeting, which is held on the same night, the board voted to establish Ypsilanti Community Schools as a School of Choice. As a School of Choice, YCS would be able to have students from other dis-tricts attend school within the district without being released from their home district.

Sections 105 and 105c of the State School Aid Act allow schools to enroll non-resident students without having to obtain approval from the resident where the district lives. The act allows districts to enroll students who reside inside or outside of the intermediate school district.

Willow Run approves June 30 layoff notices for maintenance, support staff

By Amy BellHeritage Media

Some people face life's challenges head on. Others may cower in fear. However, one Ypsilanti woman never let life's circumstances get in her way and that's how the community and the Willow Run Community School District is choosing to remember her.

Long-time Willow Run teacher Janalyn "Jan" Hale of Ypsilanti died Feb. 26 at age 67 from com-plications due to an infection. She was also battling cancer.

Hale was a teacher in the Willow Run Community School District for 31 years and was also extremely active in her church and community.

“The kids loved her, everyone loved her," said long-time friend, Toni Capps. "She was just the kind of person everyone was drawn to."

On Feb. 25, the Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees unanimously voted to name a 10,000-square foot handicap accessible play structure at Ford Heritage Park "Jan Hale Playground Adventures.”

Hale, along with Sandy Andresen, helped spearhead a nearly $380,000 fundraising proj-ect in the early 2000s, which paid for the equipment. In 2006, more

than 300 community members came out to help with the instal-lation of the structure.

Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo said the board will work with the township's parks com-mission to design a memorial with hopes of having it in place by the time the park opens on May 31.

Hale was born in the small town of Betsy Layne, KY in 1945 and married her high school sweetheart, Larry. The couple recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

For 26 years, Hale taught at Holmes Elementary School in Ypsilanti. In the beginning, she worked as a music teacher but began teaching first grade when the district cut the music pro-gram for a short time.

Capps, a fellow first-grade teacher, met Hale in 1973 at Holmes. The two hit it off and formed a tight bond that lasted through various transitions dur-ing their respective careers.

Capps had several fond memo-ries of her time teaching with Hale. They especially enjoyed playing pranks on their fellow teachers, including second-grade teacher, Linda Streetman. One year, while the students were in another classroom and Streetman was making lesson plans in another room, the two took all of the chairs out of

Streetman's classroom and put them on the merry-go-round on the playground.

On Aug. 15, 1988, Hale was involved in a serious car accident that resulted in her becoming disabled from the mid-chest down. Even though she was wheelchair-bound, she didn't let that stop her from teaching. After a 99 day-hospitalization and extensive rehabilitation, she returned back to the classroom in the spring where she taught until 2000, when she retired.

After the accident occurred, Capps spent a lot of time with Hale at the hospital. Even then, Hale was optimistic about the future, Capps said.

"She was determined she was going to make this work and go back to teaching. I have some good memories (of being at the hospital) even though it was a hard time," Capps said.

With the help of a paraprofes-sional, Hale was able to return to the school and even though she had some limitations, she made it work.

Capps said the students were very good with Hale when she returned.

"With just her voice and a look, she could command their atten-tion," Capps said.

Other teachers from through-

Communityrememberslong-time educator Jan Hale

AugustaTownshipcrash results in one death

By Ben BairdHeritage Media

Michigan State Police identified the man killed in a fatal crash late Friday afternoon in Augusta Township as 63-year-old Michael Toth of Willis.

State Trooper Nolan Przybylo from the Brighton post, Salem Township detachment was dispatched at about 5:30 p.m. to a crash at Bunton and Talladay roads, according to the state police.

State police say that based on the preliminary investigation, a white 2010 Ford Focus driven by Halee Campbell, an 18-year-old Ypsilanti resident, was traveling westbound on Talladay.

She failed to stop at the stop sign at the Bunton intersection.

Campbell drove into the intersec-tion and struck a silver 2010 Ford Explorer driven by Toth.

Toth was pronounced dead at the scene.

Campbell was transported by Huron Valley Ambulance to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor for treatment of injuries.

Both drivers had been wearing their seatbelts and were the sole occupants of their vehicles.

Michigan State Police are continu-ing to investigate the crash.

State troopers were assisted at the scene of the crash by a state police accident reconstruction specialist as well as assistance from the Augusta Township Fire Department.

Staff Writer Ben Baird can be reached at 734-429-7380, bbaird@heritage.com or via Twitter @BenBaird1. PLEASE SEE HALE/3-A

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