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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
April 29, 2008

Contents of this issue:
  • More Michigan schools plan to restructure
  • MESSA targets Lawton schools for attaining claims data
  • Changes to No Child Left Behind announced
  • Brighton agrees to teacher contract it can't afford
  • Belding gives teachers raises, saves at least $140,000
  • Comment and win an iPod
MORE MICHIGAN SCHOOLS PLAN TO RESTRUCTURE
LANSING, Mich. — A report from the Washington-based Center on Education Policy stated that 63 Michigan schools are planning restructuring as specified by the No Child Left Behind Act, according to The Grand Rapids Press.

That number is an increase from 46 schools in 2006-2007, but still lower than 2004-2005, when 109 schools were mandated to restructure. The increased number of schools in the restructuring phase of the NCLB is largely due to the number of high schools failing to meet standards on the new Michigan Merit Exam. The report states that the majority of restructuring is taking place in Detroit and other urban areas, according to The Press.

Schools are required to start planning to restructure if they fail to meet federal standards for five consecutive years. After six years of sub-par performance, a district must implement its plans, The Press reported.

SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Report: More Michigan schools plan restructuring under No Child Left Behind," April 23, 2008
http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/04/report_more_michigan_schools_p.html

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "No Child Left Behind law demands 'adequate yearly progress' and offers school choice options for parents," Nov. 7, 2002
http://www.educationreport.org/4846

MESSA TARGETS LAWTON SCHOOLS FOR ATTAINING CLAIMS DATA
LAWTON, Mich. — The Michigan Education Special Services Association has filed a grievance against the Lawton Community Schools for hiring an independent agent to attain the district's insurance claims information, according to The Paw Paw Courier-Leader.

Legislation passed last year requires MESSA, a third-party administrator affiliated with the Michigan Education Association school employees union, to provide aggregate claims data so districts can seek competitive bids for insurance benefits. The requirement, however, only applies to districts with 250 or more employees receiving health benefits. In response, Lawton Superintendent Joseph Trimboli hired an independent agent to collect claims information from support staff. The agent provided envelopes and forms for the health care information and it was sent directly to the insurance bidders, The Courier-Leader reported.

In response, MESSA filed a grievance against the district, arguing that the collection of health care information violated the civil rights of employees.

"As a result of me asking the support staff to cooperate with the independent provider, MESSA felt threatened and made an accusation that the district says is incorrect," Trimboli told The Courier-Leader. "MESSA has filed a grievance that will be denied by the district — a grievance that was filed for the sole purpose of trying to intimidate the district into complying with their wishes of not seeking health care from any other provider but MESSA."

SOURCE:
The Paw Paw Courier-Leader, "Lawton School officials at odds with MESSA," April 28, 2008
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19524159&BRD=2188&PAG=461&dept_id=414962&rfi=6

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "MESSA says no to requests for insurance data," Feb. 29, 2008
http://www.educationreport.org/9288

CHANGES TO NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ANNOUNCED
LANSING, Mich. — U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings has announced a number of policy changes to the No Child Left Behind Act, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The first major change is the mandate that all states adopt the same graduation rate formula by 2012-2013. Michigan will release data for the class of 2007 with the new formula in August, the Free Press reported.

"It's a more honest way of getting the information about the success rate of students in our schools," David Maile, director of instructional services for Huron Valley Schools, told the Free Press.

In addition to standardizing graduation rates, Spellings also announced that schools that fail to meet graduation targets will face different sanctions under the law. For the first time, the graduation rates of specific subgroups of students, whether it is minorities or special education students, will factor into determining whether or not a school meets federal standards, according to the Free Press.

Spellings also wants schools to be more accountable for communicating the right for parents to receive free tutoring or to transfer to another school if their child attends a failing school. This means requiring schools to use more federal funds for parental outreach, the Free Press reported.

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Changes to No Child unveiled," April 23, 2008
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/NEWS01/804230346

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "NCLB Falls Short of Helping Parents," Aug. 24, 2007
http://www.mackinac.org/8960

BRIGHTON AGREES TO TEACHER CONTRACT IT CAN'T AFFORD
BRIGHTON, Mich. — The Brighton schools and its teachers union agreed to a new three-year contract that district officials say they might not be able to afford, according to the Livingston Daily Press & Argus.

"The challenge now is figuring out a way to pay for it," school board member Bill Anderson told the Press & Argus.

Superintendent Jim Craig noted that the district didn't receive about $1 million in concessions from the union that it needed to remain financially sound. The district will save about $337,000 because of a switch to a less expensive health benefits package, but it will still be paying out more than expected. Teachers will receive a 1.13 percent pay increase this school year and 2.26 percent increases in the second and third year of the contract deal. In addition to raises, the district has also agreed to a tuition reimbursement program for continuing education and longevity payment, the Press & Argus reported.

SOURCE:
Livingston Daily Press & Argus, "Teacher pact stirs concerns," April 27, 2008
http://www.dailypressandargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080427/NEWS01/804270301

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "School Budgets: A Crisis of Management, Not Finance," Feb. 11, 2005
http://www.mackinac.org/6980

BELDING GIVES TEACHERS RAISES, SAVES AT LEAST $140,000
BELDING, Mich. — The Belding school district has approved a contract with the Belding Education Association union that will provide yearly raises for teachers and save the district between $140,000 and $150,000 in insurance costs, according to The Grand Rapids Press.

The three-year contract gives the district's teachers a 2 percent salary increase each year, while also seeing an increase in prescription co-pays. Teachers who receive their health benefits through the Michigan Education Special Services Association will now contribute $10 to the cost of their generic prescriptions, and $20 for name-brand drugs. This is estimated to save the district at least $140,000, The Press reported. MESSA is a third-party administrator affiliated with the Michigan Education Association school employees union that outsources insurance underwriting to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and then resells the policies to school districts.

The district has also decided to set aside $25,000 in a "prescription pool" to reimburse single teachers who spend more than $125 per year on co-pays or families that spend more than $250 each year, according to The Press.

"I'm extremely pleased we were able to negotiate a contract that will be in effect for more than a year, so we don't have to go back to the bargaining table anytime soon," board Vice President Tom Humphreys said, according to The Press.

SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Belding: School board, teachers reach contract deal," April 22, 2008
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1208870156119030.xml&coll=6

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Employee Salaries and Benefits," in "A Collective Bargaining Primer," Feb. 28, 2007
http://www.mackinac.org/8266

COMMENT AND WIN AN IPOD
MIDLAND, Mich. — Go to http://forum.educationreport.org and post a comment for a chance to win one of three iPods.

MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education Report (http://www.educationreport.org), a quarterly newspaper published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy (http://www.mackinac.org), a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute.

Contact Managing Editor Sarah Grether at
mailto:med@educationreport.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to
http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/mer/listserver.aspx?Source=MED

Related Topics: Education

Comments

Reply New Comment

What the news article on MESSA ...

From Mackinac Blog,
May 6, 2008, 12:32:00 PM
What the news article on MESSA conveniently leaves out is the intrusive nature of the questionnaire sent out in the Paw Paw district. It asks for--under threat of not being covered if you don't comply--your name, ss number, all family details, and a specific 14-question section on your medical history.

And there's a 3-page lawyer note attached to the survey that essentially says the company has the right to share this info with anyone they choose to do so.

Where's the ACLU when you need them?

It's a disgrace that a site like this would be so in bed with corporate interests that it would gladly back such an invasion of personal privacy.

And before you ask, yes I have indeed seen the survey. I have a copy of it. Why doesn't your site post THAT?
Reply
From Mackinac Blog,
May 6, 2008, 12:32:33 PM
Michigan Education Digest is just that, a digest, which means it is a compilation of what is reported by other media. You may want to contact the Paw Paw newspaper and give them a copy of the questionnaire so they can do a follow-up story on the issue. Please keep us updated on that matter.
- Ed.
Reply
From Mackinac Blog,
May 6, 2008, 12:33:01 PM
And you don't simply "report" stories in the Education Digest. For example, in this story in question you link directly to a story where MESSA's accused of stonewalling, further bolstering the bias and claim that MESSA is doing something wrong here.

Your coyness is patronizing.
Reply
From Mackinac Blog,
May 6, 2008, 12:33:18 PM
The links to the sources used in MED are so that people can read the entire article. MED provides a summary of what the media reports. A "further reading" is then included for those readers who wish to read more on a related topic.
Reply
From Mackinac Blog,
May 6, 2008, 12:33:45 PM
So you're not going to admit an anti-MESSA bias?

*wink*
Michigan Education Daily
Fri., November 21, 2008
"Bay County area schools should conduct school board elections jointly with general elections as a way to save money and have more representative voter turnout." >>
Thu., November 20, 2008
"Now three years old, the Kalamazoo Promise has had mixed results in its mission to send Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates to college." >>
Wed., November 19, 2008
"Grand Rapids and Holland public schools are reporting higher numbers of homeless students than last year and expect the figures to grow." >>
Tue., November 18, 2008
"Nineteen Detroit Public Schools teachers are running for election to leadership slots in the Detroit Federation of Teachers union on a school reform platform, according to The Detroit News. The teachers want to open their own charter school modeled after the Los Angeles Green Dot Schools." >>
Mon., November 17, 2008
"Teachers in Gaylord Community Schools have voted to replace the Michigan Educational Special Services Association with AmeraPlan as a third-party insurance administrator, saving the district about 25 percent on health care costs." >>
Sun., November 16, 2008
"A Spanish language teacher quit her job at Michigan Collegiate High School amid allegations that she had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old male student." >>
Sat., November 15, 2008
"Wyandotte Public Schools is attracting attention statewide for its 90 percent pass rate among algebra II students." >>
User Comments
llsmith
Testing is not the answer. All it does is give the "teacher" a basis for determining a grade. And, we all know that grading and grades are circumspect. Rather, a more true measure of learning is when the learner (i.e., the "student" using traditional and aniquated terminology and stereotyping) wants to know more about a topic or issue. This expression of desire for more is an affirmation that the learner has mastered current concepts and material and now wants to move on. In this scenario no test nor grade is necessary. What should be necessary is for the provider (i.e., the "teacher") to have the next level or dimension of concepts and materials readily available to present and apply once the learner expresses the desire to move on.

What we need is a system that is designed to cater to this basal learning behavior and can be applied in real time. Take a look at the definitive treatment "Education in America -- What's to Be Done?" developed by Trigon-International. This commission report presents an end-to-end solution that is actionable and affordable. >>
samuel
$400 K, try $400 million >>
terrym2442
Thank you to Lorie Shane and Marcie Lipsitt for blowing off the cover, exposing one of Michigan's "dirty secrets."

As the parent of a child with special needs in Michigan, it's been an uphill battle since day one to get the APPROPRIATE services for my child. Sadly, the bar is held too low for our kids. Upon graduating, if the student is not capable of attending college, he/she is warehoused into post-secondary settings where formal academics are not offered. Perhaps if students had gotten proper academics when younger- taught by highly qualified teachers- many would have had the opportunity to move on and continue formal academics like their non-disabled peers, rather than be expected to dust shelves and bag groceries their whole lives.

Michigan's special eduation has and continues to fail our children.

>>
frick@mackinac.org
As a parent I see the value of a teacher with knowledge of both special ed methods and the subject matter. Do enough of them exist to go around? My guess is that many teachers who concentrated their schooling and training on special ed took fewer courses in subject matter (English, Mathematics, Science, etc.). There are limits on course load, number of years in college, and student finance.

As much as we want the best for every person, we are not going to have six teachers each an expert in their subject matter per one pupil. So in this world of limited resources, each person and our society have to decide how to use the resources we have. Hopefully a successful balance of flexibility and accountability can produce the desired results: educated children with the capacity to think and the ability to learn. >>
Carol
Michigan High School & the University deliver quality education to its
students & has maintained its standard with good caliber. The courses offered by the Michigan institutes are versatile and for future progress of the society and the students, it further enhances them to become excellent citizens!!
---------------------------
Carol
<a href="http://http://www.treatmentcenters.org/michigan">Michigan Treatment Centers</a>
>>
drgrenan
Thank you for your comments. I would be honored and proud to go to any school district or meeting to stand up for your/our children!! Just EMail me and I will be there or call me anytime at 616-8474282
Thank You, Dr Jack Grenan Educator and Cancer Survivor >>
ilifflij
Parents and teachers have not had a voice. The waivers used have allowed administrators of various Michigan schools to plunk in 20 - 25 students in a classroom of students with learning disabilities. As a special education teacher, I find it very difficult to meet the individual learning objectives of that many students. >>
rlboogren
This article presents excellent information. As the parent of a child with a disability I advocate for my son. Currently, there is no one to speak for all the children with disabilities in Michigan. There is no transparency of government. The position of State Superintendent is a dictatorship with the power to make all the decisions. As a parent, I cannot voice my concerns by voting. >>
Ferndale Eagle
Ferndale High School in Ferndale, Michigan succeeded in correcting the mistaken reporting of the Johns Hopkins University report that had included it as a "dropout factory" with poor "promoting power." The University researchers have acknowledged that Ferndale High School does not belong in this category and removed the school from the list because of the school district's high outward mobility (more students move out than move in during high school.). The high school has a three-year promoting power ration of 77% rather than the 50% reported in the Associated Press in October 2007, with the Class of 2006 having a 91% promoting power. Please visit Johns Hopkins' website for more clarification to see the "Schools Removed from the List of Weak Promoting Power High Schools: http://web.jhu.edu/CSOS/images/Removed_from_List_5_14_08.pdf .

Also, visit www.ferndaleschools.org for info about the school district. >>
From Mackinac Blog
So you're not going to admit an anti-MESSA bias?

*wink* >>