TRUSTEE QUITS AFTER DRUG BUST

Ex-Clarenceville Board Member Issues Apology

A Clarenceville school board member resigned Sunday after being
arrested on a charge of cocaine possession.

Bryan Bentley, an alumnus and lifelong resident of the district, was
arrested shortly after midnight at his Livonia home. Officers
responded to a disturbance at the home in the 19000 block of
Brentwood, police said.

The sales development associate for Variety Foods was in the middle
of his third term on the school board, which would have ended in
2008, according to the district.

"I apologize to my family, to my district, the administration,
everyone in the district whom I've worked with," Bentley said
Tuesday. "It was a moment of weakness and stupidity that brought me
to this point. I apologize for letting people down."

The 44-year-old, who posted $500 bond on the misdemeanor, declined to
say how he would plead in court. If convicted, he could get 93 days
in jail, a $500 fine or both.

He's expected to appear in 16th District Court within the next three
weeks.

"Mr. Bentley's personal issues have no bearing on the operation of
the Clarenceville School District," Superintendent Cheryl Leach said
Wednesday. "It's a personal issue for him and he has resigned his
position, and we regret he has to step down from his position under
these circumstances."

Clarenceville is accepting applications for his replacement until
Tuesday and all of them will be reviewed at the regular board meeting
Sept. 28, Leach said.

School officials are to hold open interviews Oct. 6, if necessary,
and a candidate will be seated at the Oct. 12 board meeting.

The district includes parts of Livonia, Farmington Hills and Redford
Township. The district isn't planning to use this opportunity to
reinforce the no-drugs message to its students.

"Our kids received their drug education through life skills and
health classes," Leach said. "We're not doing anything to deviate
from the normal curriculum regarding this issue."