Brighton School Board President Clears Up Community Education, Pool Rumors

Brighton School Board President Miles Vieau said Monday nightthere was no truth to the rumors circulating the community that the district was going to eliminate the community education program or turn the pool over to the Southeastern Livingston County Recreation Authority (SELCRA) to run. 

He said he wanted to set the record straight because the issue was taken out of context.

"...the pool is not going to be moved to SELCRA, community education is not going to be eliminated," Vieau said. "Those things that you heard were untrue. They were never talked about."

While discussing budget cuts during the Feb. 25 meeting, Board Secretary Nick Fiani brought up the possibility of having SELCRA take over running the aquatics center and community education program. 

Vieau went on to say that for the last several months, the district has worked on a joint user agreement with SELCRA, and never at any time were those two things discussed. 

"It was false information and we're sorry that it happened," he said.

However many people disagreed, saying that the topic was definitely discussed. 

Brighton High School Teacher Arnella Park sarcastically said she recalls hearing both topics discussed at the previous meeting. 

"I'm so glad to know I was having a nightmare," she said to applause from many in the audience. 

[Watch Park's complete comments to the board to the right.]

Derek Smith, director of SELCRA, said that the recreation authority was unfortunately brought into the issue unknowingly, but wanted to ensure his voice was heard on the subject.

"I think the general public is confused in our relationship with the schools, and that is that we are here to serve the residents of this community just like the school is," he said. "We work for the municipalities and receive tax contributions just like the school does to work in the best interest in the residents of this community."

Smith said that the only way everybody will succeed is to learn to manage resources more effectively by partnering and collaborating with each other.