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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
December 9, 2008

Contents of this issue:

  • State to take financial control of DPS
  • Freeze-for-MESSA in Walled Lake
  • Lansing enrollment down by 688
  • Wind technology on tap in Warren
  • Judge nixes e-mail release

STATE TO TAKE FINANCIAL CONTROL OF DPS

DETROIT - An emergency manager will take financial control of Detroit Public Schools following the district's failure to meet the terms of an agreement outlining how it will resolve a $400 million deficit, the Detroit Free Press reported.

The district has 10 days to appeal the decision by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan, who found that budget documents DPS officials submitted to the state were inaccurate and incomplete, according to the Free Press. The district also failed to provide the state, as required by the consent agreement, a resolution giving Superintendent Connie Calloway the authority to implement a deficit reduction plan without further involvement by the school board, the Free Press reported.

"The schoolchildren of Detroit are being deeply affected academically by the chronic inability of the district to manage its finances," Flanagan said.

Calloway said in a statement, "We will discuss this matter with the Detroit Board of Education and determine the appropriate next steps," the Free Press reported. Board President Carla Scott said that there was no intent not to meet the terms of the agreement.

Flanagan said the Detroit board will continue to control educational matters, but that the emergency manager will be in charge of the budget and financial systems, according to the Free Press.

SOURCE:
The Detroit Free Press, "State to take over Detroit Public Schools' finances," Dec. 8, 2008

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "DPS: Agreement in lieu of takeover," Nov. 3, 2008

FREEZE-FOR-MESSA IN WALLED LAKE

WALLED LAKE, Mich. - Walled Lake Consolidated Schools teachers will pay higher deductibles while retaining health insurance through the Michigan Education Special Services Association under the terms of a new, three-year contract, according to the C&G News. They also will share in any increased costs to the district for health insurance overall, the News reported.

The contract establishes a salary freeze for the first year and 1 percent salary increases in the next two years, according to the News.

"Salary, with the economical times, we knew that we weren't going to get everything. It's a give-and-take process. So, membership gave us our marching orders to maintain MESSA, and that's what we were able to do," Chriss Golden, president of the Walled Lake Education Association, told the News.

Superintendent Bill Hamilton told the News that the contract agreement will not require dipping into fund equity.

"One thing that we're going to be very pleased about is this contract will prevent us from having to make cuts next year," Hamilton said.

SOURCE:
C&G Newspapers, "Walled Lake ratifies three-year teacher contract," Dec. 5, 2008 

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Health insurance: Reformed, but not resolved," Sept. 16, 2008

LANSING ENROLLMENT DOWN BY 688

LANSING, Mich. - Enrollment in the Lansing School District dropped twice as much as expected this year, meaning a corresponding decline in per-pupil state aid of up to $3 million, the Lansing State Journal reported.

District officials had projected a 300-student drop, but the actual number was 688, the State Journal reported, putting enrollment at 14,569. School officials said they plan to use money from the general fund balance and the facilities improvement budget to cover some of the anticipated loss, as well as reduce non-student supply expenditures, according to the State Journal.

Superintendent T.C. Wallace Jr. said that about 579 of the students moved out of the Lansing tri-county area, including 221 who left the state, the State Journal reported, a tally based on requests for transfer of records.

In other nearby districts, the State Journal reported that Haslett Public Schools enrollment declined by 130 students, Waverly Community Schools by 166 and DeWitt Public Schools by 27.

SOURCE:
The Lansing State Journal, "Lansing schools lose 688 students," Dec. 5, 2008

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Enrollment down, charters and choice up," Sept. 29, 2008

WIND TECHNOLOGY ON TAP IN WARREN

WARREN, Mich. - A turbine windmill will be installed at the Butcher Educational Center in Warren Consolidated Schools as part of a new focus on energy management and renewable energy education, according to the Advisor & Source.

The school board has established a Renewable Energy Institute that will manage and track energy consumption, develop a K-12 energy conservation curriculum and provide staff training and awareness, the Advisor & Source reported. The board is buying the Windspire windmill from Southern Exposure Renewable Energy Co., which distributes the vertical axis windmills for Nevada- based Mariah Power.

Students and staff from the Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center and the Career Preparation Center will use it to conduct research, according to the Advisor & Source.

SOURCE:
The Advisor & Source, "WCS creates Renewable Energy Institute," Nov. 30, 2008

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Huron County teachers win DTE Energy grants," March 11, 2008

JUDGE NIXES E-MAIL RELEASE

WAYNE, Mich. - A Wayne County judge has blocked the release of teacher union e-mails as requested by a nonprofit organization, ruling that the Wayne-Westland Education Association could face "irreparable harm" by the move.

The organization, Muskegon-based Education Action Group, said it requested the e-mails through the Freedom of Information Act as part of its study of the links between teacher unions and school board recalls in Michigan. The e-mails were written by WWEA President Nancy Strachan using a taxpayer-funded school e-mail account.

The WWEA filed a motion to prevent the release, which Circuit Court Judge Kathleen MacDonald granted on Dec. 3. Another hearing is scheduled Jan. 12.

Two board members have been named for recall in the district; the parent who filed the recall petitions said the effort is "parent-based."

SOURCE:
Michigan Education Report, "Judge nixes e-mail release," Dec. 9, 2008

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Teachers strike, students sent home," Oct. 6, 2008

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 Lorie Shane at
mailto:med@educationreport.org

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

Michigan Education Daily
Wed., March 17, 2010
"Detroit Public Schools will end up with 100 fewer school buildings than it had in 2006 if a new closure plan is carried out." >>
Tue., March 16, 2010
"Most of the country's public schools would have more freedom under a proposed rewrite of the No Child Left Behind law." >>
Tue., March 16, 2010
"Reading scores improved in all grades, and math scores in most grades, while science and social studies scores dipped slightly on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests taken in fall of 2009." >>
Mon., March 15, 2010
"Some parents who attended a South Redford School District forum recently called on teachers to make wage or benefit concessions as a way to protect school programs." >>
Sun., March 14, 2010
"An ambitious proposal to overhaul Detroit Public Schools ran into opposition Thursday over the issue of dissolving the school board and allowing Mayor Dave Bing to take charge." >>
Sat., March 13, 2010
"At least 14 public school districts in the Muskegon area offer some type of alternative education, either on their own or through a consortium, but the programs are under both budget and academic pressure." >>
Fri., March 12, 2010
"Michigan voters may see a ballot initiative in August asking them to approve a sales tax on services, with the understanding that their approval would also mean education spending reform, the chairman of the House Education Committee said Wednesday." >>
User Comments
JackI
Is it true that young ones today are losing interest on these subjects? Obviously, the White House is promoting programs that will help students on coping up with math and science subjects. But, The federal government thinks that the quality of math and science education can repair credit with the scientific community and improve US education with a few <a rev="vote for" title="U.S. Government Spends $250 Million on Science and Math" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/Payday-Loans/ ">payday loans</a> of sorts. In reality, it will take far longer to accomplish than they might think – US educators can't even get students to accept that "irregardless" isn't a word, and the difference between their, they're, and there – our students can't even learn their own language! It's a noble aim, to be sure, but throwing money at it may not work in the long run. >>
beggarsall
I am a teacher in the same county who is presently trying to quit the union. Like Caldwell, I strongly disagree with the MEA.

This article was timely.

Rob Olson
Pittsford Area Schools

>>
rickolson
I agree this is a change worth making. I describe some of the uneven effects of the idea on my blog at http://rickolson.blogspot.com/2009/08/statewide-health-insurance-plan-for.html which you may also wish to read.

The devil will be in the details, so this is one we will need to monitor closely.

Rick Olson from Saline, former school Business Manager >>
MichelleO

Nowadays, saving money is very crucial and properly investing the money can keep you and your family away from the effect of the financial crisis. The sad news is that a lot of the options for short term funding have been drying up. Short term funding is a necessary thing to have around, and going through traditional channels such as banks isn't an option for a lot of people anymore – basically it's only open to Ken Lewis. Installment loans are an option, but some people, including senior citizens, have been thinking about raiding their retirement fund. Getting into your pension retirement plan or 401(k) funds is the last thing you want to do if you don't qualify for any withdrawals yet. The penalties are substantial, and you'll end up needing installments loans to pay them if you use retirement funds for <a rev="vote for" title="Installment Loans Reliable Option As 401(k)s are Dwindling" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/05/17/installment-loans-reliable-option-401ks-dwindling/">short term funding</a>.


>>
QUEEN_BEE_09
I AGREE >>
colonelb
Godfrey-Lee on the west side of the state has been running all-day, every-day kindergarten for several years. >>
BenjaminY
We have a problem in Detroit Public School, their system had cash flow problem for years now. And honestly it getting worst in terms in progression with more children leaving to charter their schools almost every year. The state decided to give the Detroit school districts cash advance of $70 million so they would meet the schools expenses, as well as payment for teachers. Robert Bobb, the newly appointed emergency financial manager, requested the funds early in order for him to get the house in order before he had to start panicking. President Obama has been giving out large sums of money for troubled school districts, perhaps that’s where a generous portion of the aid came from. Getting Detroit Public Schools in working order is a worthy cause.

LINK TO READ FOR MORE INFO:
http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/03/10/state-advance-detroit-public-schools-70m/


>>
colonelb
I am all for school choice and think its great that charters are finally moving forward. However, I'm wondering if the research accounts for a playing field that is not level. I can't take my school buildings and move them anywhere I want, nor can I simply slap up a pole building and make it a school. If anything, public schools need less state regulation and oversight so we can play by the same minimal rules charters do. If you want public schools to compete to improve, remove the barriers to doing so. I will gladly except less funding per pupil if the playing field is level.
>>
karen
The purpose is to encourage non excercising children to excercise but my daughter's highschool gave her an improper body fat percentage and made my healthy daughter who trains 20 hours a week in tap jazz and ballet believe she was overweaghit instead of a person with muscles.
I believe the public schools do not have the right to make the diagnoses with these kids because they are using one measurement and recording it from their arms that they have a certain percetnage of body fat with one arm caliper test.
Does any one have feed back?
>>
deepakp9
Specifically, 81 percent of students in religiously affiliated schools and 82 percent of students in other private schools have parents who report being "very satisfied" with their schools, compared to 55 percent of students in assigned public schools and 63 percent of students in chosen public schools.

High levels of satisfaction among private school parents also extend to opinions about their children's teachers, academic standards of the school, order and discipline at the school, the amount of homework assigned, and interactions with school personnel.

http://fitt.in >>