Letter to the Editor: Local Mom Asks State Lawmakers 'Are You Serious?' About Education Bills

This letter was received by Birmingham Patch Editor Laura Houser. The author sent it to all legislators representing the Birmingham Public Schools (BPS) district in the State House and State Senate. It is reprinted here with permission from the author.

Good Afternoon Everyone!

I thought about making this a BCC, but that would be rude and make it look like the normal, form letter. I am nowhere near boring and the words “form letter” don’t fit me.

So, this is why I am taking MY time to write to you. I am a mother of two who has fought her husband CONTINUOUSLY to stay in BPS Schools. My husband has tried for years to get me to move closer to his work (he works in Walled Lake) and move our kids. In the last year, I have had three different offers from people wanting to buy my shack (trust me, it is) and I have turned them down FLAT!  I have a son who is a freshman at Seaholm High School and was recently diagnosed with a learning disability. I have a daughter is able to hold her own at Derby Middle School (this is quite the feat given Derby’s reputation). 

I spend quite a bit of time in various schools and local homes as I am professionally known as “The Lice Lady.” Yes, that’s right folks, I spend my time picking bugs out of people’s hair. Believe it or not, it can be fun. OK, enough of the Itchy and Scratchy show.

Now apparently the Legislature in Lansing (I am guessing this includes all of you) is trying to muck around with the school system and turn Birmingham Schools into what will amount to Detroit Schools. Seriously? Are you joking?  Have you seen what those folks have done to their school system? I mean, Proposal A screwed BPS royally and taking away of the 420 fund (at least I think it was that one) sealed the deal. We have been fighting to stay afloat and our school board is the best in the nation and has done it successfully. 

Now you want to be able to let people attend BPS who don’t pay our taxes or live in our city? That’s called freeloading! This means I will have to fight EVERY year to get my kid into a proper classroom with the proper amount of students and hope to the heavens that they won’t get lost in the shuffle. I mean, come on. I don’t just hand the city $10,000 a year in property taxes for my TINY ranch house just for my health. And please don’t sit there and say my taxes will go down. We all know when you live in Birmingham and attend BPS schools, you have to pay for the privilege to be there.

I grew up in television news. My family was highly respected in the state of Connecticut. One thing my father taught me, only speak up when needed. So now, I am speaking up. Now I am telling you find another way to “fix our schools.” I promise you this — I will take another HARD look at the ballot come election time if things continue to slide. Yes, that’s right, I am holding YOU ALL accountable via vote should these bills pass.

Best Always,
Courteney Gettel

P.S.:  In case you forgot, I am talking about HB5923, HB6004, & SB358.  Sorry I didn’t mention it sooner, but I thought you might get the gist when you read what I wrote.

P.P.P.S.:  See?  Told you I am definitely NOT a form letter kind of mom!

For more on this topic in Birmingham

• Letter to the Editor: State Education Legislation is 'Bad for Birmingham'
• BLOG: Hey Teacher! (and Mom and Dad) Leave Those Kids Alone!
• Learn About the Education Reform Plan the School Board Calls 'Bad for Birmingham'
• Letter to the Editor: Birmingham Parent Wary of Education Legislation
• Birmingham School Board Formally Opposes State Education Overhaul

The viewpoints in this letter are those of the writers, and Patch is not responsible for any ideas portrayed as facts. For questions and clarifications, please leave a comment below or contact editor Laura Houser at laura.houser@patch.com or 248-534-9780.