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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., July 3, 2009
"A recall effort against four school board members is under investigation by Michigan State Police, but a detective said that his work might not be finished before the recall election itself." >>
Thu., July 2, 2009
"The Ypsilanti school district plans to spend about $3 million more than it takes in during the 2009-2010 fiscal year, which means it also will have to file a deficit elimination plan with the state to explain the shortfall." >>
Wed., July 1, 2009
"The Algonac Community School District may privatize its custodial and bus services, but is giving current employees a chance to make a counter proposal first." >>
Tue., June 30, 2009
"Potential bankruptcy, continuing budget problems, more staff cuts and allegations of theft at Detroit Public Schools all were reported by Detroit media during the past week." >>
Mon., June 29, 2009
"Only 33 percent of the students enrolled in Grand Rapids alternative high schools graduated last year, a number the district believes can be improved by switching to online courses, extended days and hours and a lower student-adult ratio." >>
Sun., June 28, 2009
"African-American students are suspended or expelled at disproportionately higher rates than white students in Michigan." >>
Sat., June 27, 2009
"Employees in the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District will receive pay hikes, contribute 10 percent to their health insurance premiums and move to a new insurance plan under the terms of a newly signed contract." >>
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