Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Charlotte Public Schools recall, Michigan (2016)
| Charlotte Public Schools Board of Education recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Gary King Julie Kimmer Ron Schultheiss Lee Wheaton |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2016 Recalls in Michigan Michigan recall laws School board recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall five members from their seats on the Charlotte Public Schools Board of Education in Michigan was discussed in January 2016, but paperwork was never filed. Supporters of the possible recall effort spoke of targeting Board President Mike Bruce and members Gary King, Julie Kimmer, Ron Schultheiss and Lee Wheaton.[1][2]
The recall effort was discussed after the board of education voted to not rehire Steve Ernst, the former coach for Charlotte High School’s varsity boys basketball team, after he resigned from his position on January 11, 2016. Before he resigned, Ernst had been placed on his second individual development plan aimed at addressing the number of technical fouls he had received during games. The community rallied in support of Ernst, demanding the board rehire him. After a three-hour closed session on January 14, 2016, however, members voted 5-1 in favor of a statement that said the decision to leave was Ernst's and that the board would not offer him his job back.[1]
Recall supporters said they would not target member Eric Emery, as he cast the lone dissenting vote against the motion to not rehire Ernst. The board's seventh member, former board president Shane Gonser, resigned from the board on January 13, 2016, after he said threats were made against the members of the board.[1] Dan Vanderstelt, a former school board member who served from 1996 to 2006, was appointed to fill Gonser's seat. The board voted 5-1 to approve the appointment with Emery voting against.[3]
Recall supporters
“Friends of the Dome,” a community organization that supported athletic programs in Charlotte Public Schools, helped to organize the initial stages of the recall effort against the five board members. “The board did not listen to the community. The community wanted to keep Coach Ernst and they totally rejected what the community had to say,” said Ryan Garn, a co-founder of Friends of the Dome and supporter of the recall.[4]
Alex Coy, a graduate of Charlotte Public Schools, was another supporter of the recall effort. He set up a Facebook page in support of Ernst after he resigned.[1]
Though those in favor of recalling the board members researched the recall process, they ultimately did not pursue it.[4]
Recall opponents
After the board voted not to rehire Ernst, Bruce read a statement that explained district administration had placed Ernst on an individual development plan after he had received numerous technical fouls. He had received six technical fouls in 30 games. The statement said the board supported the administration's decision to put Ernst on a plan to work on his behavior because he was supposed to be a role model for students. The statement then included Ernst's entire resignation letter, which said he was resigning due to health reasons related to migraines. The statement emphasized that the board believed no one had done anything wrong, and that it had been Ernst's choice to leave. The statement further said that the board found it "deeply troubling and disturbing when expressions of support quickly turn into threats against the school district and our employees and their families."[1] The board's full statement can be read here.
Bruce acknowledged there was a rift between the board and some community members. He said that if a recall election is “what they feel they need to do then that’s their decision.”[4]
"We were caught between the devil and the deep blue sea," said Schultheiss. "You have got to back your administration. They worked with him. We didn't."[5]
Documents from the district show that Ernst had been urged to avoid getting technical fouls for a year before he was put on an individual development plan.[3]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan
In order to start the recall process, supporters would have had to submit petition language to the Eaton County Clerk's Office. The soonest a recall election could have been held would have been November 2016.[4]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Charlotte Public Schools' recall. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Charlotte Public Schools, Michigan
- Recall campaigns in Michigan
- Political recall efforts, 2016
- School board recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 USA Today High School Sports, "Charlotte school board votes not to rehire Ernst," January 14, 2016
- ↑ The Recall Elections Blog, "Michigan: Charlotte School Board member facing petitions over resignation of technical foul-plagued coach," January 26, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lansing State Journal, "Vanderstelt appointed to fill Charlotte school board vacancy," February 9, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 USA Today High School Sports, "In the wake of coach controversy, residents talk recall," January 19, 2016
- ↑ Mlive.com, "Building a better school board," May 19, 2016
 |
State of Michigan Lansing (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
