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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
September 22, 2009

Contents of this issue:

  • Jackson gives edge to local contractors
  • Three charged with election crime
  • Lawsuit against charter may be at end
  • Gibraltar: Drug co-pay, no premium payment
  • Caucus to focus on funding equity

JACKSON GIVES EDGE TO LOCAL CONTRACTORS

JACKSON, Mich. - Jackson Public Schools has adopted a policy of hiring local contractors for large jobs, as long as the local bids are within 5 percent or $10,000 of the lowest bid, according to The Jackson Citizen Patriot.

The Citizen Patriot reported that Mike Sharp, president of the Jackson Commercial Contractors Association, urged the school board to adopt the policy so that local contractors can help the district pass a $16.6 million bond issue in November. The money would be used for major building renovation and upgrades.

The district already gives local vendors preference in smaller purchases, but the new policy extends that preference to larger construction services and contractors, The Citizen Patriot reported.

The school board approved the policy in a 4-2 vote this week.

Board President David Halsey and member Kathryn Keersmaekers voted no, saying the district should not lock itself into paying extra.

"I am all for keeping it local," Keersmaekers said, according to The Citizen Patriot. "Giving away $10,000 just because it's local is a real concern. I don't think this school district or any other school district can afford $10,000."

SOURCE:
The Jackson Citizen Patriot, "Jackson School Board approves rule favoring local contractors," Sept. 22, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Competitive Contracting is the Taxpayer's Best Friend," Sept. 5, 1995

THREE CHARGED WITH ELECTION CRIME

SAGINAW, Mich. - Three people, including two board members, have been charged with crimes related to the Buena Vista school board election in May, according to WEYI-TV25 and The Saginaw News.

The station reported that the Saginaw County Prosecutor's Office charged Alvin Jernigan, Julius Boarden and Leonard Williams.

Jernigan and Williams, both current board members, were charged with improper possession/return of absentee voter ballots, a felony, as well as making false statements in applying for an absentee ballot, a misdemeanor, according to The News.

Boarden was charged with making false statements in applying for an absentee ballot; he pleaded not guilty at a hearing Friday, The News reported.

Boarden and Williams both were candidates in the election, and Williams won a seat, according to The News. Jernigan was already a member of the board but was not a candidate in the May election. Neither Boarden nor Williams was appointed by the clerk to possess ballots, WEYI reported.

The News reported it could not reach any of the three men for comment.

SOURCES:
WEYI-NBC25, "3 Buena Vista school representatives charged," Sept. 18, 2009

The Saginaw News, "UPDATE: Three charged in alleged Buena Vista school election fraud," Sept. 18, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Schools move to November elections," Aug. 7, 2009

LAWSUIT AGAINST CHARTER MAY BE AT END

WARREN, Mich. - Michigan Collegiate High School and Middle School came out ahead in an ongoing legal battle recently, as the Michigan Supreme Court refused to take up the City of Warren's case against the public charter school's development, according to C&G News.

The city has challenged the school's site plan since 2007, citing concerns with traffic and size of the site, according to C&G News. A Macomb County judge ruled twice on behalf of the school, formerly called Conner Creek Academy, ordering building permits to be issued and allowing construction to continue. The state Court of Appeals also upheld the school.

The school currently enrolls 475 students, Superintendent Chuck Meredith told C&G News.

"We're happy that it's finally over and that we can move on, and do what we wanted to do in the first place, which is to educate kids," Meredith said.

Warren Mayor Jim Fouts said he was "very disappointed" and told C&G News he would press his case with state officials and Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

SOURCE:
C&G News, "State high court denies appeal in battle over charter school," Sept. 15, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Charter report favorable, state board wants more," Feb. 24, 2009

GIBRALTAR: DRUG CO-PAY, NO PREMIUM PAYMENT

WOODHAVEN, Mich. - Gibraltar Schools teachers will pay more out of pocket for prescription drugs, but will not contribute to their health insurance premiums under the terms of a new contract between their union and the school district, according to The (Southgate) News-Herald.

The new contract expires in 2011. Teachers will continue to receive Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance with the Michigan Education Special Services Association as a third-party administrator, according to The News-Herald. MESSA is affiliated with the Michigan Education Association.

Though they agreed to higher drug co-pays and new deductibles, teachers did not want to contribute to health plan premiums, Gibraltar Education Association President Barbara Golembiewski told The News-Herald. She said that could set a precedent of the district requesting higher contributions in future negotiations, The News-Herald reported.

Teachers will receive a 1 percent cost-of-living allowance in the first two years of the contract, the first year retroactively, according to The News-Herald. Teacher salaries in the district range from $38,019 to $80,415.

SOURCE:
The (Southgate) News-Herald, "Gibraltar: Teachers approve three- year contract," Sept. 15, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Splitting the health insurance bill," Aug. 19, 2009

CAUCUS TO FOCUS ON FUNDING EQUITY

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - State legislators have formed a caucus intended to work toward equitable funding among public schools, according to a report in the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Rep. Dan Scripps, D-Leland, told the Record-Eagle that the group wants to continue efforts to close the gap in per-pupil funding between districts, but also make sure that schools are treated equitably if and when the state cuts per-pupil aid.

Most caucus members represent school districts that receive near the base level of $7,316 per student, the Record-Eagle reported.

Rep. Chuck Moss, R-Birmingham, told the Record-Eagle that the caucus will need to define "equity." A model in which all school districts receive the same per-pupil funding won't work, since it costs more to live and work in certain parts of the state, Moss said.

SOURCE:
Traverse City Record-Eagle, "Local state reps push for school equity," Sept. 17, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "A Michigan School Money Primer: The Foundation Allowance, General Education," 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

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 >>