Contents of this issue:
- Monroe schools begins firing process for math teacher
- Jackson-area schools save with private energy conservation plan
- Schools end mandatory volunteer requirements
- Montessori school seeks charter status
- Project seeks to enlarge ranks of scientists, engineers
MONROE SCHOOLS BEGIN FIRING PROCESS FOR MATH TEACHER
MONROE, Mich. — The Monroe Board of Education voted 6-0 to begin
the tenure hearing process for a teacher who is accused of
having sexual contact with a student, according to the Monroe
News.
Kelly Anne Bussell has been on paid leave since late May and is
also under investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
An internal investigation by the district accuses Bussell of
"engaging in sexual acts with male students," according to a
district document, the News reported.
"She absolutely denies all charges," local teachers union
President Nikki Klonaris told the News. "What if no formal
charges are filed? It seems Kelly has not been allowed due
process. It's unfair to Kelly. It's frustrating."
State law requires a teacher to respond to tenure charges within
20 days. If Bussell appeals the charge, the Michigan Education
Association school employees union will give her an attorney and
will proceed with a hearing. The process could take anywhere
from nine months to a year. Bussell is being paid her full
salary of more than $44,000 while on administrative leave,
according to the News.
SOURCE:
Monroe News, "Monroe moves to fire embattled teacher,"
July 10, 2008
http://www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080710/NEWS01/ 361656193
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Tenure law is impediment to school
reform," May 12, 2000
http://www.educationreport.org/2874
JACKSON-AREA SCHOOLS SAVE WITH PRIVATE ENERGY CONSERVATION PLAN
JACKSON, Mich. — Jackson-area school districts have seen
significant savings from contracting with private companies to
manage energy consumption, according to The Jackson Citizen
Patriot.
Northwest school district implemented a Trane energy program and
has saved more than $840,000 over four years. That is about
$300,000 more than Trane estimated. The district has used the
savings to invest in more energy efficient furnaces and
lighting, according to The Citizen Patriot.
Both Western and Jackson Public Schools have saved with programs
through Texas-based Energy Education Inc. Western is at the end
of its second year under the program and estimates about
$100,000 in savings. The Jackson Public Schools has been working
with the company since 2000 and has saved more than $2 million
in utility costs.
"(Energy consumption) is an area we have some control over,"
Steve Bartels, energy manager for the districts, told The
Citizen Patriot. "That's why it's so important that each school
be able to do something to reduce consumption. To me, it's a no-brainer."
SOURCE:
The Jackson Citizen Patriot, "Energy plans save schools big
cash," July 9, 2008
http://blog.mlive.com/citpat/2008/07/energy_plans_save_schools_big.html
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Districts could save money with
private energy consultant," Dec. 12, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/8113
SCHOOLS END MANDATORY VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
HOLLAND, Mich. — Citing increased demands on students, West
Ottawa Public Schools is eliminating mandatory volunteer work,
according to The Grand Rapids Press.
The change will affect students in the class of 2010 and beyond.
Four years ago, the state attempted to require 40 hours of
community service for students to receive Michigan Merit award
money. The attorney general's office overruled the requirement,
The Press reported.
Other schools have decided to keep a service requirement in
place. Northview and Grandville public schools require service
during high school, as do Black River charter public school and
many parochial schools. Black River requires 60 hours of
community service for high school students, while Grandville
requires 20 hours, according to The Press.
SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Schools feel pressure to end mandatory
service," July 14, 2008
http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/07/schools_feel_pressure_to_end_m.html
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Should students be required to
complete 40 hours of community service to qualify for the
Michigan Merit Award? No" Aug. 16, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7255
Michigan Education Report, "Should students be required to
complete 40 hours of community service to qualify for the
Michigan Merit Award? Yes" Aug. 16, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7256
MONTESSORI SCHOOL SEEKS CHARTER STATUS
NORTON SHORES, Mich. — A Norton Shores Montessori school has
filed an application to become a charter public school
authorized by Central Michigan University, according to The
Muskegon Chronicle.
Enrollment has been declining at Michigan Dunes Montessori due
to the weakening economy. The school once served students in
grades pre-K through sixth, but now only serves students up
until first grade.
"Our primary grades haven't been functioning because people just
can't afford it, so they choose to go to public schools," School
Director Claire Chiasson told the Chronicle. "The charter would
really fill up our school."
CMU officials say that it was the only application received from
the west Michigan area and that they should choose a school to
authorize by Aug. 15.
SOURCE:
Muskegon Chronicle, "Montessori files to become charter school,"
July 14, 2008
http://www.mlive.com/muskegon/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-14/1216046703 66220.xml&coll=8
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Full Educational Choice
(Vouchers, Private Scholarships, Tax Credits and Universal
Tuition Tax Credits)," in "The Case for Choice in Schooling,"
Jan. 29, 2001
http://www.mackinac.org/3273
PROJECT SEEKS TO ENLARGE RANKS OF SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS
LAKE FENTON, Mich. — Students at Lake Fenton Middle School are
building traffic signals, designing wooden toys and testing
aviation models as part of a new effort to interest middle-schoolers in engineering and related fields.
Project Lead the Way is a national, nonprofit educational
program working to increase the number and diversity of students
in science, math, engineering and technology, so-called STEM
fields. With corporate partners, the organization has developed
a curriculum package for middle and high school classrooms with
courses ranging from robotics to civil engineering to
architecture.
About 80 Michigan schools will have all or part of the Lead the
Way curriculum in place by this fall, and about 75 teachers are
spending part of this summer learning how to implement the
program in their classrooms.
"This was designed because kids weren't taking classes to become
engineers," said Bill Rae, a Lake Fenton Middle School teacher
and master teacher for the project.
SOURCE:
Michigan Education Report, "It's hard, but it's fun: Project
seeks to enlarge ranks of scientists, engineers," July 15, 2008
http://www.educationreport.org/9661
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Huron County teachers win DTE Energy
grants," March 11, 2008
http://www.educationreport.org/9324
MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education
Report (
http://www.educationreport.org),
an online 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
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