Godfrey Cites Pocketbook Strain

Approximatf 40 citizens 'attended an "earlybird" discussion this morning on the June school millage proposal sponsored by the Community Confrontation Committee of the Ann Arbor Area Chamber bf Commerce. The 90-minute breakfast session was held at the Michigan Union from 7:30 to 9 a.m. The Confrontation Committee sponsored a similar meeting for the Ann Arbor City Council and mayoral candidates prior to the April 7 city elections. The discussion did not reveal any startling new arguments from either side. School Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. and School Board President Joseph R. Julin spoke in favor of the 6.88-mill package, as . they have in the past. Trustee WiUiam C. Godfrey reiterated his contention that the "tradition of excellence" of the school system can be maintained ("through not to as f uil an extent as with the 6.88 milis") with only a 3.37-mill renewal. The June 9 millage proposal will include the renewal plus 3.51 additional milis. Westerman told the audience the two millages must appear as one package on the ballot because the renewal millage has already expired. If the election had been held prior to December- the expiration date- he said, the renewal and additional millage could have appeared separately. Godfrey said because of "the strain on our pocketbooks today" and "the mood of the taxpayers" - and because he is convinced the excellence of the system would not unduly suffer with only the renewal millage- he supported putting only the 3.37mill renewal on the ballot. Godfrey added, however, that defeat of the 6.88 milis would créate "great difficulties" for the school system, and because of this, he has not yet decided how he will vote on the proposal June 9. Julin cited the collective bargaining rights of the teachers and the "significant" reduction in pupil-teacher ratios over the past several years as reasons for much of the increased cost of running the school system. He said he is "not optimistic" the millage proposal . will be approved June 9, but declared the board "has an obligation to define the needs of the school system as it sees them." "We can go back to reading, writing and arithmetic. Indeed we will do just that if the electorate says that is what it wants. But I believe we should teach reading, writing and reason," Julin declared. "And gentlemen, I see no way that process will become cheaper." There were several questions and comments j from the audience. One man questioned whether the school system is truly excellent when the students today are faced with so many "interruptions" because of protests and other "confrontations" today in the schools. Westerman agreed there are "new styles of confrontation" today between students and administra - tors, but he said most of these demands and I frontations are being strictly dealt with by the administration, by means of suspensions and other I penalties.