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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
January 5, 2010

Contents of this issue:

  • Unions: 'Race' memo goes too far
  • New jobs for education leaders
  • Chesaning: MESSA costs up
  • Court to hear e-mail case today
  • Granholm says no more school cuts

UNIONS: 'RACE' MEMO GOES TOO FAR

LANSING, Mich. - Now that the state Legislature has signed off on school reform intended to bring federal dollars to Michigan, local school districts and union leaders aren't sure they want to follow suit, according to a report at Mlive.com

State education leaders and Gov. Jennifer Granholm have asked school boards, superintendents and union presidents in local districts to sign a "memorandum of understanding" by Thursday indicating they will support the reform measures, including one that would allow teacher and principal evaluations based partly on student test scores, Mlive reported.

The Michigan Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers-Michigan say that the state's implementation plans go beyond the scope of the reform laws, the report said. They are advising local union leaders not to sign.

School districts have been told that if they do not sign the memorandum, it will weaken Michigan's chances to win Race to the Top grant money. Further, school districts that do not participate have been told they will not be eligible to receive grant funding, Mlive reported, although they will have to follow the new laws.

The Huron Daily Tribune reported that several districts in the Huron County area had second thoughts about signing the statement, questioning the amount of local dollars that would be needed to carry out the grant requirements.

SOURCES:
Mlive.com, "Teachers unions object to Michigan school reform plan," Jan. 4, 2010

Huron Daily Tribune, "Should Our Schools Race to the Top?" Jan. 2, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Race to the Top Realities," Dec. 22, 2009

NEW JOBS FOR EDUCATION LEADERS

NEW YORK - Central Michigan University's online program to train charter school leaders is drawing interest from students and prospective employers alike, according to a report in The New York Times.

The article discussed new types of jobs for educators, among them running charter schools, directing school turnaround efforts and establishing nonprofit education ventures. CMU's program attracts people looking for high-level training and scheduling flexibility, according to The Times.

The Times reported that one student in CMU's program is Patrick Kissel, 44, a retired Army master sergeant who is taking classes while also continuing his job as chief of business operations at the Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania.

Kissel already has been contacted by a charter school group in Canada about working there after he graduates in 2011, The Times reported.

Elsewhere, the Harvard Graduate School of Education now operates a tuition-free doctoral program in education leadership designed to apply business and public policy principles to school improvement, The Times reported. One reason for the new interest in education is the amount of federal dollars flowing into the sector, the report said.

SOURCE:
The New York Times, "Skills to fix failing schools," Jan. 3, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Education reform passes," Dec. 21, 2009

CHESANING: MESSA COSTS UP

CHESANING, Mich. - Chesaning Union Schools is paying nearly 21 percent more for employee health insurance this year, even though teachers agreed to a plan with higher deductibles, the (Chesaning) Tri-County Citizen reported.

Scott Sawyer, the district's finance director, told school board members that Chesaning is in better financial condition than many school districts, with an anticipated fund balance equaling about 13 percent of the budget in 2010, according to the Citizen. But Sawyer also predicted the district could enter a deficit position by 2012 depending on spending, enrollment and state revenue levels.

The district purchases Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance for teachers through the Michigan Education Special Services Association, a third-party administrator that has accumulated about $364 million in reserve funds, Sawyer said, according to the Citizen.

"It's all public money. It's taxpayers' money," he said of the MESSA reserve, the Citizen reported.

Retirement costs are up by 9.4 percent as well, Sawyer told the board.

SOURCE:br> (Chesaning) Tri-County Citizen, "Chesaning schools adjust budget to compensate," Jan. 3, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Tough Questions to Ask Your School District," Dec. 24, 2009

COURT TO HEAR E-MAIL CASE TODAY

HOWELL, Mich. - The Michigan Court of Appeals was to hear oral arguments today in a case involving the public release of teacher union e-mail messages, according to radio station WHMI- FM.

Copies of the e-mails originally were sought by Oakland County resident Chetly Zarko, who alleged that members of the Howell Education Association used Howell Public Schools computers to lobby the public and the school board about teacher employment benefits, the station reported. He requested copies under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.

The Livingston County Circuit Court ruled in November 2008 that the e-mails could be released, but the Howell Education Association appealed, according to WHMI-FM. Former HEA President Doug Norton said at the time that the union had a "recognized right" to use the district e-mail server for union business, the station reported.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy filed a "friend of the court" brief in the case, stating that documents created by public officials using public computer systems are public records and should be treated as such under the state's FOIA.

The Mackinac Center publishes Michigan Education Digest.

SOURCE:
WHMI-FM, "State Court To Hear Arguments In Howell Teachers E- mail Suit," Dec. 28, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Howell Education Association v. Howell Board of Education," April 15, 2009

GRANHOLM SAYS NO MORE SCHOOL CUTS

LANSING, Mich. - Schools probably won't face additional cuts in state funding this year because state revenue has "stabilized," according to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the Lansing State Journal reported.

The state has about $150 million more than expected, Granholm told reporters. However, she also said she will propose changes in the school funding system with her proposed state budget in February.

Several Lansing area districts told the Journal that the news means that they will not have to reduce spending as much as expected.

"We will still be in a position of having to make cuts, and make staff cuts, but probably not as deep," Tina Templin, superintendent of DeWitt Public Schools, told the Journal.

Looking ahead, schools will know more about funding projections for 2010-2011 after a state revenue-estimating conference next week, the Journal reported.

SOURCE:
Lansing State Journal, "Granholm: Schools cut unneeded," Jan. 5, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Are schools underfunded?" Nov. 23, 2009

Michigan Education Daily
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." >>
Thu., March 11, 2010
"All Flint Community Schools administrators, including members of the superintendent's cabinet, are likely to receive layoff notices this spring, though the majority could be back next year." >>
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." >>
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 >>