UPDATE: Bloomfield Hills Schools Recall Passes First Test

The Oakland County Election Commission unanimously approved recall petition language for the majority of the Bloomfield Hill Schools Board of Education today.

All four petitions to unseat School Board President Ingrid Day, Vice President Ed Ford, Secretary Kate Pettersen and Treasurer Cynthia von Oeyen were clear and would not confuse potential signers or voters if the measures make it to the ballot, the three-member panel found.

Specifically, the petitions accuse each member of not acting in the best interests of the students and taxpayers when they supported consolidation of Andover and Lahser high schools despite a $74 million bond proposal failure in the November 2010 election.

Earlier this month, the board unanimously passed a recommendation from Superintendent Rob Glass on the timeline to merge and high schools. The district will create a Bloomfield Hills High School on two separate campuses beginning in 2013.

“They did what they did and we believe the public wants them out of office,” said Chris Fellin, a representative of Bloomfield 20/20, which organized the recall effort.

The group also filed petitions to remove Trustees Mark Bank, Jacqueline El-Sayed and Robert Herner and will a clarity hearing is scheduled for July 14 in Oakland County Probate Court.

Officials said the group has 90 days to collect signatures once the recall is formally declared. Fellin said that date could be delayed until the election commission rules on the clarity of the remaining petitions.

That may be just a formality now, as Fellin and Dan McClorey noted the petition language for those is virtually identical to the petition submitted for van Oeyen's seat.

The commission, composed of County Clerk Bill Bullard, County Treasurer Andy Meisner and Chief Oakland County Probate Judge Linda Hallmark, is charged with determining only if the petition in clear. They do not weigh in on the truthfulness or veracity of the claims.

Bullard said that at first glance, the assertion that the board members didn't act in the best interest of students is unclear. However, citing the specific vote does it make it clear to a potential signee or voter, he said. Hallmark also took issue with the wording of a clause in the petition, but also found it clear.

Both von Oeyen and Pettersen addressed the commission, but neither challenged the petition language.  Von Oeyen said she spoke on behalf of Ford and Day at Wednesday’s proceedings.

Pettersen said she was frustrated by the law doesn’t allow the commissioners to weigh the merits of the petitioner’s arguments.

“It’s a shame that the Legislature doesn’t  let you decide the merits. There’s very little we can do,” she said.

Superintendent Rob Glass said planning sessions for the consolidation will continue as planned this month, and a millage vote is scheduled for November 2012.

"We'll just have to see how this plays out," said Glass, who attended Wednesday's hearing.