The Ann Arbor Public Schools community gathered Wednesday night at Pioneer High School to bid farewell to two long-standing members of the Board of Education.
Glenn Nelson and Irene Patalan were lauded for their outstanding service and commitment to students during a reception Wednesday at Pioneer High School.
Nelson was also applauded for attending so many school events, while several noted Patalan’s warmth and encouragement.
Patalan’s husband, Rich Thompson, told the AAPS District News that people have no idea how many hours a caring trustee devotes to the job in the form of phone calls, e-mails, meetings, school events, etc.
“I would have had no idea, either,” he said. “Now I do.”
Still, he said, neither he nor his wife would have any regrets.
“We wouldn’t have traded those years for the world,” he said.
Amy Osinski, executive assistant to the board, presented the trustees with books full of notes expressing thanks and reflections.
Neither Nelson nor Patalan ran for re-election to the board. They will be replaced in January by Donna Lasinski and Patricia Ashford Manley, both of whom attended the reception.
The AAPS District News asked Nelson and Patalan to reflect on their years on the board:
Glenn Nelson
Glenn Nelson has been a member of the Ann Arbor Board of Education since 2002.
Born in 1944, he and his three siblings were raised on a family farm in western Minnesota. His high school graduating class—the largest in that county—included 42 students. After high school, Nelson studied agricultural economics at the University of Minnesota (B.S.), Stanford University (M.A.), and Michigan State University (Ph.D.).
His involvement in the anti-war movement and the political campaigns of 1968 was an important turning point. Prior to this, his interests and studies tended towards mathematical and statistical approaches to understanding markets. They then shifted strongly towards governmental policy issues.
Nelson worked in a variety of academic and governmental positions from 1969 through 1988. He was a professor at the University of Minnesota, chief economic adviser to the Minnesota governor, and senior staff economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers.
In 1988, he moved to Ann Arbor as a “trailing spouse” because he and his wife, Margaret Dewar, decided she should take advantage of an offer to join the University of Michigan faculty. At this time, Nelson became an economic consultant.
The couple have two children in their mid 20’s, both of whom live in the Ann Arbor area and help create many fun family gatherings.
In those early days on the board, what surprised you most about being a trustee?
In my first year on the board, I was most surprised by the controlling majority’s lack of interest in my ideas and suggestions. This situation changed in the second year and beyond.
What would surprise the public most about it? About AAPS in general?
I expect there is not one correct answer. Different people bring different life experiences to the board, and this leads to different expectations and surprises.
With respect to AAPS, I think the biggest surprise may be the complexity of a modern, large, urban school district. The array of needs and programs is massive. Those who aspire to “know all about AAPS” will inevitably fail in this objective. I marvel at the amount and quality of work our administrators accomplish in the face of too few staff due to financial pressure.
How many times did you ask yourself: Why am I doing this?
I do not think I ever asked this question. I knew I cared intensely about education.
I did ask, “Why does this have to be so hard?” I was often upset and even angry. I always walked home from board meetings, rather than drove, because I often needed a “cool down” period. On many occasions the 25-minute walk was not enough, and I would work rather than go directly to bed. I would then find it hard to work effectively the next day due to being physically and emotionally worn out.
What was the most rewarding part about being a trustee?
Three things:
1) The passage of a major bond in June 2004 that enabled a new preschool center, a new high school, and numerous improvements throughout the district – followed by passage of a countywide special education millage in September 2004. We leaders of AAPS and the voters had the courage to ask a lot of ourselves and the dedication to give a positive answer.
2) The building of a countywide coalition of school board members and administrators during 2006-2008 that led to their almost unanimous support for the enhancement millage placed on the ballot in 2009. This effort brought us to the brink of an effective regional, cooperative effort to sustain excellent education in Washtenaw County.
3) Maintaining excellent education in AAPS since 2009 despite declining state funding and pervasive turnover in top administrative positions.
What was the most difficult part?
Three things:
1) The forced resignation of Superintendent Ray-Taylor in 2002. I adamantly opposed this.
2) The defeat of the countywide enhancement millage in 2009.
3) The defeat of the annexation of Whitmore Lake in 2014.
Would you do it all over again?
Yes, without a doubt. Many of us want to do work that makes a positive difference in the lives of other people. Excellent schools are very important to the students of AAPS and to the quality and success of the entire community. My work as a trustee was almost always rewarding even as it was sometimes stressful.
Why did you want the position in the first place, and why didn’t you run for re-election?
I first ran because I was unhappy with the manner in which the trustees were treating Superintendent Ray-Taylor and with their financial management. My efforts to change these in the first year failed completely.
I ran for re-election twice (2005 and 2009) because I felt strongly about the issues I was supporting and because I had the energy and mind-set to keep working hard in a positive manner.
I did not run for re-election in 2014 because a) I was not sure I could maintain my energy and positive mind-set for another four years, that is, I am somewhat worn down; and b) I want a change after 12.5 years as a trustee.
What will you remember most about your years on the board?
In addition to the items I note above in the “most rewarding” question, I will remember the many wonderful people I have met and worked with. Trustees meet many people—citizens, AAPS staff, students, other trustees, etc.—and get to know some quite well. These relationships have brought me a feeling of accomplishment through partnerships and a great deal of joy as we shared our thoughts. My work as a trustee gave me “community” in a richer sense than I expect most people get to experience.
So now what are you going to do on Wednesday nights?
I do not know. But it will not include watching the board meetings! I will want to know what decisions were made, but will find a way to learn about this that takes a few minutes rather than hours.
Any parting thoughts?
I give my best wishes to the new and continuing trustees.
Irene Patalan
Irene Patalan grew up in Detroit and graduated from Mercy High School before attending the University of Michigan. She was an R.A. at the Stockwell dormitory for three years before graduating with a teaching certificate. She lived on a communal farm for a year, taught school for five years in Dearborn Heights and then one year at St. Francis in Ann Arbor.
Patalan married Rich Thompson in 1976 and a year later, started the family business, Collected Works, an Ann Arbor’s women’s clothing boutique.
The couple welcomed their three children in 1979, 1980 and 1985 and Patalan says she felt blessed to become part of the AAPS family in 1984.
Patalan was fully engaged at her chidren’s schools while they were there. She ran the Coordinating Council at Bach Open and the MYA and the PTSO at Community High School for years, after waiting in line and sleeping outside to enroll her two oldest children at CHS. She sat in on school improvement teams, chaired ice cream socials, and went on the “school-ship” field trip to the Leelanau Peninsula. She loved feeding 100 kids a day as the Waterloo Camp cook for several years, was involved with young people’s theater when her daughter was performing, and co-chaired the Citizens’ Millage Committee in 2004, the year her youngest graduated from CHS.
Patalan’s children are Nik Thompson, who hosts the Sunday Best on WEMU, Michael Thompson, Emmy-winning senior producer for Nascar, and Kristina, an actress in New York City.
Since her last re-election, she has become the grandmother of five, and says that Hunter, 6; Miles, 4; Sophie, 4; Dylan, 1; and Zoey, 1; are the sunshine in her life.
“It is crazy, exhausting, exhilarating and so much fun when I am with them,” she says.
In those early days on the board, what surprised you most about being a trustee?
When I was first on the board, I realized that it was the big picture that had to be the focus of a school board member even though there are so many smaller, very local pictures presented to us.
What would surprise the public most about it? About AAPS in general?
The public would be surprised about many things, I am thinking. It is wonderful and appropriate that most folks, who are so attentive to AAPS, are involved at their local level. There is an entire bigger picture out there, with so many stories and episodes. Going right up the ladder and chain of command, people are listened to and problems are looked at. And this never seems to end.
I think the public would also find the body of the work, that the superintendent, and administrators and principals and staff accomplish and/or are working on, staggering. There are 1000 (or maybe 16,500) issues each day. If we think about it, however, the main issue is that it is our children, and what is more up-close and personal, and precious, than that!
I also think that the public believes that the board does all of this too. We advise, direct and evaluate the superintendent. We make policy. The great work is done by the remarkable administrators and staff.
How many times did you ask yourself: Why am I doing this?
I always knew that I would be on the Board of Education, and I knew that I would wait until my kids had graduated, because I could not be an active parent in their schools and on the board at the same time.
Being fully engaged as a parent of AAPS, the board seemed like the nature next step. I had no ax to grind. Primarily, I wanted to be of service. It doesn’t take long to realize that you want the best for your own student and then you realize that you really want the best for all students.
What was the most rewarding part about being a trustee?
The most rewarding are the victories of things you hold dear. For me, these were the laser focus on literacy, the support of the arts even with less money, and the affirmation to courageous conversations. I was able to sit with Quad A in my early years as a Board member, and be profoundly moved at these conversations centering around race.
What was the most difficult part?
The most difficult is not being able to get everyone exactly what they need to succeed. But we certainly try! I was a parent before Proposal A. If Ann Arbor wanted something for our kids, we would put it on the ballot and it would invariably pass.
We cannot do that anymore. The difficult first cuts, way back in 2007, and still the lack of funding today, make it challenging. We have a great school district. It is good to be retiring when we are in a positive, growth trajectory. The way we do business has changed. Education of our young people is our mission, of course, but politics and media and technology have changed the stage we are on.
Would you do it all over again?
Of course I would do it all over again. It was a labor of love of my Ann Arbor Public Schools. This is my community and family. This is the district that helped me raise my children.
Why did you want the position in the first place, and why didn’t you run for re-election?
I ran in the first place because I always thought that I would. I had been involved with Tony Barker’s campaigns in the 90’s, and Cheryl Garnett, and Ann Lyzenga, and Nick Roumel, etc. I cut my teeth as a new parent handing out palm cards at ice cream socials. I served on Blue Ribbon panels with John Simpson, and High School reviews. As I broadened my experience with district committees, it made more and more sense. Serving as a co-chair on the Citizens Millage Committee for the comprehensive school improvement millage took me to all schools, connected me with the whole district.
When I ran in 2005, my business had downsized and moved to the Marketplace Building by the Farmers Market a few years before. After running for a second term, I expanded the business, more than doubling the space. I love what I do to make a living. I have wonderful, supportive customers; I am devoted to small business; I deal with small, creative vendors. I am blessed with a beautiful store and customers who get me.
I am not retiring from the business. I expanded my store almost three years ago and could be working there 24/7. There is much to do when you run a small retail business. I have five lovely grandchildren that I want to enjoy to the maximum. I am older today than I was yesterday, darn it! So I must be realistic. My life has changed. I will be at my kindergarten-grandson’s class in the AAPS next year helping out. Can’t wait.
What will you remember most about your years on the board?
I will remember most the incredible talent and dedication in our lovely district. From our students, who amuse and delight me, to our teachers who are dear to me, to our beloved principals that I have worked beside, to the never-resting brilliant administrators that always help the Board do our jobs well. I have known 10 superintendents. Each one has contributed to our journey here: Richard Benjamin, Bill Wade, John Simpson, David Flowers, Rossi Ray Taylor, George Fornero, Todd Roberts, Robert Allen, Pat Green, Dave Comsa, and Jeanice Swift.
So now what are you going to do on Wednesday nights?
On Wednesday evenings, I will be at Collected Works, at my Miles’s school, or spending time with my A+ husband, Rich.
Any parting thoughts?
It’s always a pleasure to serve my community, my beloved Ann Arbor. All the best to the AAPS!
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