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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
January 6, 2009

Contents of this issue:

  • Budget crunch hits metro schools
  • Online classes get a boost in some districts
  • Parents try to save Catholic school
  • Director ousted, alternate ed program closed
  • Enrollment averaging boosts revenue

BUDGET CRUNCH HITS METRO SCHOOLS

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. - Increased energy, health care and retirement costs, coupled with declining enrollment and uncertain state funding, have pushed a number of public school districts into the red, according to The Detroit News. School officials are responding by laying off teachers, consolidating schools and reducing transportation services as a way to balance budgets, the article said.

"It's like a volcano has erupted, and we're just trying to keep ahead of the lava flow," Madison District Public Schools Superintendent Paul Rogers told The News. "But this is a man- made disaster, and it's ruining lives."

Several Metro Detroit districts are currently in a deficit position, according to The News. Pontiac faces a $10 million deficit in its $96 million budget; Howell projects a $3 million deficit in its $68 million budget; and Dearborn expects a $10.5 million deficit in its $180 million budget, the News reported.

SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "Deep cutbacks test Metro Detroit schools," Jan. 5, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Detroit not the only school district seeing red," June 30, 2008

ONLINE CLASSES GET A BOOST IN SOME DISTRICTS

DETROIT - More students will earn high school credit online and off campus in Michigan in 2009 due to a pilot program allowing some school districts to bypass "seat time" requirements, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Two dozen conventional and charter public school districts applied for waivers that would allow more online education, the Free Press reported, and 12 were approved. The waivers relax the requirement that students be in a school building for nearly 1,100 hours each school year and also increases the limit on online courses taken outside a school building during a semester.

"That would be so much easier," Kayla Jacques, 18, of Waterford, told the Free Press. The state hopes that the waivers will help alternative education students like Jacques, according to the Free Press, as well as students struggling to meet new high school graduation requirements. Teacher monitors are assigned to track student progress, though students generally can access the online class where and when they like, the Free Press reported.

"What we're going to learn is not only which kids do well, but what kinds of support a district can give them to help them succeed in a virtual learning environment," said MaryAlice Galloway, senior adviser to the chief academic officer at the Michigan Department of Education.

SOURCE:
The Detroit Free Press, "Waivers free students to study online, off-campus," Jan. 4, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "New high school graduation requirements in action," May 6, 2008

PARENTS TRY TO SAVE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

COOPERSVILLE, Mich. - Parishioners have stepped forward with private donations to keep St. Michael School open for now, but they also want the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids to develop a strategic plan to help struggling schools, according to The Grand Rapids Press.

Enrollment at the K-6 school stands at 35, down more than 50 percent since 2000, according to The Press. Diocesan officials said that enrollment will be the deciding factor in the school's fate, but parents told The Press that it is difficult to attract more students given the perception that the school likely will close.

"We're still trying to work on this, but I hate giving people the false impression that there is some magic thing out there that will turn things around," the Rev. Tony Pelak, parish priest, told The Press.

St. Michael Church is spending about 60 percent of its Sunday collections on the school, well above the 35 percent benchmark set by the diocese, according to The Press. Parishioners and others have stepped forward to sponsor students who can't afford the private school, according to The Press, and have asked for a "town hall-like meeting" with diocesan officials to discuss the future of Catholic schools in West Michigan.

SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Parents continue to fight to save St. Michael Catholic School in Coopersville," Dec. 29, 2008

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Catholic schools and the common good," Aug. 16, 2005

DIRECTOR OUSTED, ALTERNATE ED PROGRAM CLOSED

ALPENA, Mich. - Atlanta Public Schools will close its alternate education program at the end of the current semester, according to The Alpena News. The program's director, Elven Duvall, already has been removed from his position and the school board is seeking to terminate his employment, The News reported.

An internal investigation allegedly revealed that Duvall provided students with answers to GED tests and, in some cases, completed the tests for them, according to The News.

"The first complaint was from a girl who had left some of her answers blank," school board President Janette Sarkozi told The News. "She was told to go to lunch and when she came back to resume the test, the answers were filled in. She informed us, because she wanted to pass the test herself."

The school board took action following an internal investigation. The program already had been under scrutiny due to questions about attendance figures, according to The News.

Remaining students will be allowed to transfer to Atlanta High School and take a combination of regular and online courses, the article said. Five students are on track to graduate this year.

SOURCE:
The Alpena News, "School ends alternate ed program," Dec. 23, 2008

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "District hires company to provide alternative education," Nov. 14, 2007

ENROLLMENT AVERAGING BOOSTS REVENUE

FREE SOIL, Mich. - Enrollment averaging has helped Free Soil Community Schools financially in recent years, according to a report in the Ludington Daily News. State law allows small schools to use three-year averages when determining enrollment figures, Superintendent Ron Nurnberger told the Daily News, so even after Free Soil's high school program closed, the district was temporarily allowed to "count" those students for state aid purposes.

Free Soil received state aid for about 90 students during 2007-2008, when actual enrollment was about 50, the Daily News reported, and estimates it will receive aid for 70 students in the current school year.

The district anticipates a $285,000 fund balance at the end of the current school year, the Daily News reported. Teachers received raises of 2.25 percent for the current year in a recently signed contract and will receive an additional 2 percent in 2009-2010, according to the Daily News.

SOURCE:
The Ludington Daily News, "Free Soil teachers' contract approved," Jan. 2, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "A Michigan School Money Primer," May 30, 2007

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

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Michigan Education Daily
Wed., March 10, 2010
"Sara McLaren is taking a once-in-a-decade opportunity to tie the U.S. Census directly to her civics and social studies curriculum at Niles High School." >>
Wed., March 10, 2010
"Research done by the dean of the University of Michigan school of education was featured at length in a New York Times magazine article recently about training effective teachers." >>
Tue., March 9, 2010
"A public education advocacy group said Monday that Michigan should begin taxing consumer services at 5.5 percent, while reducing the existing sales tax from 6 to 5.5 percent, as a way to generate $550 million for schools in 2011." >>
Tue., March 9, 2010
"Michigan Future Inc. has awarded an $850,000 grant to Detroit Edison Public School Academy to help it open a new high school this fall, the first in a planned series of grants." >>
Mon., March 8, 2010
"Members of the Fenton Education Support Personnel have voted to leave the Michigan Education Association and join Teamsters Local 214, saying they want better representation." >>
Mon., March 8, 2010
"The Kent County Circuit Court has upheld an arbitrator's decision that Grand Rapids Public Schools did not violate a labor contract when it privatized transportation workers in 2005, even though their contract with the district had not expired." >>
Sun., March 7, 2010
"The Detroit school board and its emergency financial manager must work together on a school redesign plan if they want to receive federal funding intended for low-achieving Michigan schools." >>
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 >>