Rockin’ and rollin’ in Redding Township

Last night I made my first campaign trip to Clare County when I traveled about 115 miles round trip (about 7 of that was driving in circles, since my GPS led me to the OLD Hall!) out to Redding Township.
Clerk Jim Zarembo added my public address to the agenda, and I was able to talk to the approximately 30 people in attendance about some issues specific to the township — jobs and public school. I told them how I, if elected, look forward to working with county economic development corporations and city downtown development authorities to attract manufacturing jobs to the state. This, we talked about, would help spur two major occupations in Redding Township, construction (and construction trades) and trucking. These are two of the most popular occupations in the township.
Also, while we were talking about manufacturing and the opportunities it could open up, I talked with the township residents about poverty. The household median income in the township is roughly $20,000 under the federal poverty level for households. We discussed opening up the doors of shuttered buildings in industrial parks to provide jobs, which in turn would lead to more work for the truck drivers in the township and more work for the many builders in the township (more people working equals more people building, buying and renovating homes).
But much of the night’s conversations dealt with education. In fact, three friendly women at the meeting stayed afterwards to talk with me about the many problems facing public schools today. We went on and on until a little after 9:30 p.m. We talked about ways to better fund our schools to ensure quality educations, and to also retain after-school programs, extracurricular activities and sports, to allow single parents, which are common in Redding Township, to work longer hours or to get a job if they don’t have one.
Not only funding education was discussed after hours, however. I told a few people who were talking to me that evening about Rep. Joel Sheltrown’s (D – West Branch) proposal to allow parents and students to sign off on a student receiving a form of high school diploma that focuses on vocational work. We agreed that some of the current education requirements are putting the screws to students and ideas were offered to me on what changes I should consider if elected.
School consolidation and inequities in per pupil funding were also discussed. I do believe some schools could feasibly consolidate and the students in them, more than anyone else, would benefit greatly. If elected, I, and I’m sure others would join me, would not be afraid to work with failing schools and the schools surrounding them to assist in the process of consolidation. In Detroit and other large cities, consolidation, I believe could help out many kids who are distracted by their surroundings and seemingly hopeless school environments.
And as current 97th District State Rep. Tim Moore (R – Farwell) has said many times, I believe that all schools should receive the same amount of per pupil allowance and that by making sure that happens, we can stop some of the bleeding at our schools here in the district.
So you’re probably wondering, “Tim, what did you learn about Redding Township?”
Here’s what I know, it’s a township with a board and people that are working to take care of each other and improve one another’s quality of life. The hall is in the process of being approved as an emergency shelter. An activities committee throws Halloween and Christmas parties annually at the hall. And this year will be the second year that the community of Temple, an unincorporated community that was once named Campbell City, after Mary Campbell, throws a fireworks show for its people. Brad Armstrong is looking for $1,500 in donations for the show, so help him out! Also the township has a Web site that allows for transparency, as the minutes of meetings are posted online.
As I left, Supervisor Michael Trzcienski told me I was welcome back any time. I plan on taking him up on that offer. I had fun and most importantly, was able to put faces on the problems that are currently rampant in the district.
Let’s work together to overcome those struggles.