the
One Life, One Love ‘11
Dexter High School 2200 N. Parker Road Dexter, MI 48130
May 26, 2011 Volume XVI Issue 9
Seniors invade the Rostrum
Gas prices inflate
Rising gas prices take a bigger bite out of students', teachers' incomes
Collin Northrup
Tips to save gas
staff writer
Gas prices have risen dramatically in the last several month. In fact, according to MichiganGasPrices.com, The statewide average for regular gas as of May 16 is $4.06 a gallon. As a result, students and teachers who have long commutes are feeling strain at the pump, including junior McKenzie Goff. Goff works at Outback Steakhouse in Ann Arbor. “A round trip (to work) is 25-26 miles,” she said. “I drive a 2005 Hyundai Sonata that gets only about 20 or 21 miles per gallon because the car needs a service. On the weekends, if anyone rides with me anywhere, I ask them for gas money. Gas prices are ridiculous. Whoever’s in charge should be prosecuted. I wish I lived in a big city, so I could walk everywhere.” Math teacher Al Snider, who drives to work from Brighton, is feeling the pinch as well. “We are paying about a third more for gas now,” he said. “We went from $300 a month to $400 a month.” Snider said he fills up once every 10 days. He has a 2002 Ford Focus that gets 28.5 miles per gallon. “My car holds 12 gallons, so at $4 a gallon, it would be $48,” he said. “My commute is 17 miles one way.” Snider’s wallet isn’t the only item affected by the gas prices. “We just bought a Ford F-150 when gas prices were lower, and we thought they would stay lower for a while,” he said. “We
• Use a feather foot instead of a lead foot. • Avoid rapid starts and stops, also known as “jack rabbit” driving. Tailgating also burns a lot of fuel. • Use cruise control on freeways (except hilly areas). Cruise control can save 7 percent on fuel. • Drive the speed limit. • Use the air conditioning sparingly. Not using the AC is 20 percent more economical. • Avoid idling when possible Source: High Prices Got You Down? 22 March 2011 www. teendriver.com
aren’t driving it as much these days. We’re just not doing as much outside the home because of gas prices.” While everybody’s bottom line is a casualty of the high gas prices, drivers education instructor Dee Braden says there are ways students and teachers can save gas money. “When starting from a stop sign, start slowly, increase speed slowly,” Braden said. “When you see a red light, slow down, and combine errands as much as possible.” Braden teaches these and other strategies to students in segment one of Drivers Ed. Math teacher Kathy Day, who drives from Livonia every day, is also seeing her pennies get pinched when she fills up. “I fill up twice a week, and at $4.25 a gallon, it’s very expensive,” she said. “My drive is 65 miles round trip.” Day drives a 2007 Jeep Compass, which gets about 26 miles per gallon. “I’m still paying off my Jeep,” she said. “It will be nice not to have a car payment. I’m trying to save money for my wedding, but it’s harder to do that now. I’m glad I don’t drive a truck. I hope gas prices come down soon.” There isn’t much that teachers and students can do about the price of gas, but you can save on gas by making simple changes in the way you drive. According to TeenDriver.com, studies show that you can save 10 percent on gas by doing what’s called eco driving which includes such things as using cruise control, avoiding jack rabbit stops, driving the speed limit and not using the air conditioning.
Photo and photo illustration by Claire Berger
School board incumbents triumph in election
Charlotte Morrill
staff writer
The school board election that took place on May 3 yielded positive results for incumbent candidates Richard Lundy and Julie Schumaker. Lundy, 69, has served on the board for 32 years, and Schumaker, 54, has served for eight years. Lundy has held the positions of treasurer and vice president in the past, and Schumaker has served as a trustee. According to Superintendent Mary Marshall, these two, along with the rest of the board, have an important responsibility. “The School Board members are representatives of the community, and so the more people vote, the more we know where the community is coming from,” Superintendent Mary Marshall said. “Two incumbents were elected, so we will likely continue the way we have been going. But when we have discussions with school board members, we hear new points that we agree or disagree on and are wiser when we know multiple points of view.”
And Marshall said her job is greatly impacted by the school board, and, subsequently, the board elections. “(The relationship between the two) is extremely important because the school board sets the general direction, and then it is my job to implement the direction of the School Board,” she said. “I report to them, so it is important for me to know their desires and bring the educational background to the experience. By sharing thoughts, we come up with a good idea of the direction to take.” Lundy is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is a resident of Lima Township and cited his lengthy tenure on the board as part of the reason for his re-election. “I believe that my long-term positive relationships with fellow Board members, administrators, professional staff and support staff are an asset in addressing current and future challenges to maintain and improve the quality of education in our community,” Lundy said. “While facing these budget reductions is a significant
challenge, the greatest challenge in creating a budget is the ongoing uncertainty of what the actual numbers will be.” Schumaker received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, as well as a Master of Arts degree from Eastern Michigan University. She said her positive initial impressions of Dexter lead her and her family here. “(My family) looked at many communities in Washtenaw County, and felt that Dexter combined the best of both worlds – a small town with excellent schools and easy access to recreational opportunities, in close proximity to a world-class university in Ann Arbor,” she said. Schumaker is a resident of Webster Township, and feels encouraged by the results of the board election. “I appreciate the support of the community in re-electing Dick Lundy and I to the board,” she said. “We are fortunate to live in a community with such strong support for our schools. I believe that residents feel that Dexter Community Schools
are financially well-managed and provide a high quality education to our students.” Both board members say that state budget cuts are some of the biggest challenges the board faces. “We are closely watching what is happening in Lansing and have been active in contacting our state legislators to let them know that the proposed cuts to public education will severely impact our district,” Schumaker said. “Our goal is to try to keep the reductions away from the classroom and to preserve the quality of students’ education in Dexter.” School Board meetings are open to the public, so citizens can observe the board in action, which Lundy said is ultimately what his job is about. “Final decisions are the result of listening to and learning from others,” he said. “The decisions are the result of the teamwork and collaboration of many individuals and reflect the collective wisdom of people who care about doing the best possible job to create a successful learning environment for every student.”
Photo and photo illustration by Claire Berger
What seniors will miss most about DHS:
Rejected ideas for senior pranks:
What to do now that you’ve graduated:
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Connie Hobbit Day The Squall Stromboli Day
Actually doing homework Senior scavenger hunt Hobbit Day Riding pogo sticks to school Paint the rock gray
Go on Facebook during school hours Break the dress code Wake up after the sun rises Eat lunch over 100 feet away from DHS