Community Corner

Incumbent School Board Trustee Looking for Ninth Term

Richard Lundy is one of four Dexter candidates running in the May 3 general election.

Editor's note: This week Dexter Patch will profile each of the four candidates running for school board May 3. Today we will feature Richard Lundy.

With the May 3 general election a month away, Dexter Patch met up with the four candidates running for the two open seats on the Dexter Community Schools Board of Education. Incumbents Richard Lundy and Julie Schumaker will face opposition from challengers Shawn Letwin and Amy Luczak.

Candidate: Richard "Dick" Lundy

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Office sought: Dexter Board of Education trustee

Residence: Lima Township

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Occupation: Founder, president and CEO of Control-o-mation Inc. (retired).

Education: Graduate of the University of Michigan (1964)

Previous elected office: Eight terms on Dexter Board of Education

Public service:

  • Board member: Dexter Community Schools (1979 to present)
  • Board member: United Methodist Retirement Communities (1983 to present)
  • Board member: Silver Maples of Chelsea (2008 to present)
  • Board member: Huron Valley Ambulance (1987 to present)
  • Board member: Dexter Downtown Development Authority (1993 to present)
  • Board member: From The Heart, Inc. (2001 to present)
  • Financial secretary: Dexter United Methodist Church (1976 to present)

Key issues: School finances and educational excellence

The greatest issues facing the Dexter Community school district are intertwined. One issue is working through the financial difficulties, which are largely controlled by the state of Michigan, and another is maintaining and continuing to improve the teaching/learning opportunities for our students.  

For years the district has worked very hard to maintain both program and financial stability while facing real and potential reductions in state support. While the state requires us to approve a budget in June for the following school year, information regarding the foundation grant is a varying estimate from now until next October, when the state budget is finally approved.

Until the following October the state can (and has) reduced the grant (as late as April) for the school year ending in June. Estimates have varied by plus or minus $500 per student between now and the time the state budget is approved. With more than 3,600 students, a variation of $500 gives a range of almost $2 million in estimated revenue for the school year.  

This coming budget year will also include a reduction in funding for special education from the Washtenaw Intermediate School District of either $157,000 if the May millage passes or a reduction of $786,000 if it fails. Based on this variation in estimated revenue, I will work with our staff to generate a realistic budget which continues to minimize any negative impact on classroom teaching/learning.

While facing these reductions is a significant challenge, the greatest challenge in creating a budget is the ongoing uncertainty of what the actual numbers will be. As a footnote I think most people would be amazed to learn that based on current salaries, which total over $20 million (without fringe benefits) in a $35 million to $36 million budget, our pension expense for 2011-2012 will be more than $5 million for 12 months, and that this pension program and our costs are dictated entirely by the state. 

Another key issue is to complete the current school bond project successfully—including budget, quality and schedule.

How do you plan to address these issues?

As a longtime member of the Finance Committee and negotiating team, I expect to be heavily involved in the budgeting process and the development of criteria and options which will lead the board in the adoption of the 2011-2012 budget and future budgets.

As in past years, we will continue to do everything possible to protect the students and classrooms. I will also continue to be heavily involved in overseeing the bond project financially, contractually and programmatically, just as I have on the four previous major bond projects.

I believe that my long-term positive relationships with fellow board members, administrators, professional staff and support staff will be an asset in addressing current and future challenges to maintain and improve the quality of education in our community.

I believe that during my 32 years of service as a board member, I have earned the respect of most of the people who I have worked with—both school staff and in the larger community. Many people have encouraged me to continue serving on the board to take advantage of my years of experience and to provide continuity and understanding based on my long-term involvement in the district and community.


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