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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
January 19, 2010

Contents of this issue:

  • Straus signs 'Race' application
  • Schools of choice popular in Berrien County
  • Brighton teachers mum on concessions
  • Advice to board: Tax, spend, save
  • Schools cutting, but also building

STRAUS SIGNS 'RACE' APPLICATION

LANSING, Mich. - Kathleen Straus, president of the State Board of Education, signed Michigan's "Race to the Top" application Saturday, according to the Detroit Free Press. Straus created a flurry of headlines last week by saying she wanted to read the entire form before signing it, leading to talk of division among state board members.

In related news, the Associated Press has reported that President Obama will ask Congress for $1.35 billion to extend the Race program and that he may introduce a competitive grant program for individual school districts, not just for states as a whole.

Applications for the first round of Race awards are due today; Michigan is in the running for up to $400 million in additional federal stimulus funds, the Free Press reported. First-round winners will be named in April, followed by a second round in the fall.

About 700 Michigan public school districts have signed memoranda indicating they support the application and are willing to implement the reform measures it includes, but the Michigan Education Association has withdrawn its support and recommended its local union leaders not sign.

Citing anonymous sources, AP reported that President Obama wants to make federal money available to states that lose out in the first two rounds, and that he plans to continue the competitive nature of the awards as a way to spark improvement in public education.

SOURCES:
Detroit Free Press, "Local news briefs: Race for more stimulus cash on to next step," Jan. 17, 2010

The Detroit News, "School aid pitch splits Michigan board," Jan. 13, 2010

Associated Press, "Obama to seek $1.35B more for education," Jan. 18, 2010

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

SCHOOLS OF CHOICE POPULAR IN BERRIEN COUNTY

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. - More than 3,000 students in Berrien County attend a public school other than the one to which they are officially assigned, according to the Niles Daily Star.

Some area districts gain hundreds of students through these schools-of-choice programs, others hold even and others see enrollment declines, the report said.

A "snapshot" report released by the Berrien Regional Education Service Agency for 2009-2010 listed incoming and outgoing students in each district, the Daily Star reported. The largest figures were reported in Benton Harbor Public Schools, where 1,296 students left the district to enroll elsewhere, and 11 students chose to join the district.

In contrast, Berrien Springs added 534 students and saw 11 leave, according to the Daily Star.

Niles Community Schools Superintendent Doug Law told the Daily Star that research in his district showed that parents of elementary children may switch districts because of child care arrangements. At the high school level, he said, it's more often due to athletics, curriculum or a negative reaction to something in the assigned district.

Schools of choice programs affect school budgets because state funding is primarily based on enrollment, the Daily Star reported.

Law told the Daily Star that the choice programs create a barrier to school cooperation, while Jeff Siegel, BESA superintendent, said that the programs are popular with parents and that, "Districts need to review why they are losing students or what successes they've had with attracting students."

SOURCE:
Niles Daily Star, "Schools of choice snapshot shows some districts struggling," Jan. 13, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "DPS enrollment down by thousands," Feb. 23, 2007

BRIGHTON TEACHERS MUM ON CONCESSIONS

BRIGHTON, Mich. - Union solidarity is showing signs of wear in Brighton Area Schools, as the teachers union apparently snubbed a request from support staff employees to discuss districtwide concessions, according to the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus.

The district plans to save money by joining a transportation program operated by the Livingston Educational Service Agency, the Press & Argus reported, and Brighton bus drivers who transfer will see pay cuts and loss of health insurance.

Brighton Education Association President Barry Goode declined to attend a meeting with the drivers about the issue and also declined comment to the Press & Argus, it reported.

"I feel they bailed on us, basically," bus driver Laura Rupp told the Press & Argus, speaking of the BEA. "They just turned their backs on us."

One bus driver asked at a recent school board meeting that all employees take a 20 percent reduction in compensation as a way to address an overspending crisis that is expected to reach $15 million by June 2011, according to the Daily Press & Argus.

Superintendent Greg Gray said that even a 20 percent reduction, which would bring down spending by $8 million, was not a guarantee that jobs would be saved, the Press & Argus reported.

He said the district is overstaffed, has an outdated bus fleet and has no sinking fund, according to the report.

SOURCE:
Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, "Cuts put Brighton unions at odds," Jan. 14, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Unions Nix Job-Saving Plan," Dec. 2, 2009

ADVICE TO BOARD: TAX, SPEND, SAVE

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State Board of Education heard a range of ideas last week on increasing school revenue and decreasing spending as it prepares to make recommendations to the state Legislature.

Three guest speakers at a state board meeting cited Michigan's defined-benefit pension system for school employees and health care costs as significant budget problems.

Charles Ballard, a Michigan State University economics professor, and Tim Bartik, a senior economist with the W.E.

Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, suggested ways to increase school revenue that ranged from statewide taxes on services to a graduated income tax to allowing local school districts more taxing authority, all as part of a larger review of the state's overall tax structure, according to The Detroit News.

Bartik also suggested spending more money in targeted areas, particularly preschool, saying it would reduce spending on remedial education or corrections programs later, The News reported.

Michael Van Beek, education policy director of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, suggested that potential savings be addressed first, such as lowering the cost of school employee pensions by shifting new entrants to a 401(k)-style plan and introducing health savings accounts. He also cited privatization and charter school growth as cost-saving ideas, The News reported.

Separately, a coalition of school administrators hosted a news conference and suggested these cost-savers, according to a report in the (Royal Oak) Daily Tribune: a regional or statewide approach to negotiating labor contracts and health insurance for school employees; requiring school employees to pay a percentage of the cost of their health insurance; and changing the retirement benefit system.

SOURCES:
(Royal Oak) Daily Tribune, "Schools, state education board discuss finances," Jan. 12, 2010

The Detroit News, "School aid pitch splits Michigan board," Jan. 13, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Are Schools Underfunded?"

SCHOOLS CUTTING, BUT ALSO BUILDING

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Public school districts in southwest Michigan may be cutting their operations budgets, but they're also spending tens of millions on facility upgrades, according to The Kalamazoo Gazette.

At least seven districts are building or renovating schools, The Gazette reported, paid for through local property taxes that voters have approved in those districts over the past five years. Since the money is earmarked for capital improvements, it can't be spent on operations, a scenario that can create confusion among residents, administrators told The Gazette.

"You can't help but have some people asking, 'Why are you building these buildings?' Those questions are out there," Tom Noverr, assistant superintendent of operations in Portage Public Schools, told The Gazette.

Portage voters approved $120 million in bond issues in 2007. It is building two new schools and renovating another, but at the same time the district is cutting its operations budget in response to less state funding, according to The Gazette.

Noverr and Portage school board trustee Melanie Kurdys told The Gazette that the district is benefitting from lower construction costs and also pointed out that facilities projects put people to work.

However, Kurdys also said districts must be careful not to add space that isn't needed, The Gazette reported.

SOURCE:
The Kalamazoo Gazette, "Building boom for cash-strapped schools: Taxpayers in southwestern Michigan OK projects, even as state cuts operating revenues," Jan. 16, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Michigan's prevailing wage law forces schools to waste money," Dec. 13, 2001

MICHIGAN EDUATION 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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http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/mer/listserver.aspx?Source=MED

Michigan Education Daily
Wed., September 1, 2010
"An aviation school in Michigan is one example of a new generation of public charter schools designed to serve niche audiences." >>
Tue., August 31, 2010
"A 10-year-old Windsor boy who completed part of his education in Michigan is being denied entry to public high school in Windsor even though he's completed the eighth-grade curriculum." >>
Mon., August 30, 2010
"Principal John Hoving is using Facebook as a way to promote Bay City All Saints Central School as well as to head off possible cyber bullying." >>
Sun., August 29, 2010
"Royal Oak Public Schools students will be featured in an Oct. 12 episode of MTV's "If You Really Knew Me," a cable television program that the producer describes as "students trying to be accepted for who they are."" >>
Sat., August 28, 2010
"Public schools in Michigan were offered an automatic "A" on part of their annual state report card this year, a one-time arrangement that may have spared some from being unaccredited." >>
Fri., August 27, 2010
"More than 1,000 teacher retirements will allow Detroit Public Schools to recall all teachers from layoff and hire up to 300 more to fill staffing gaps." >>
Thu., August 26, 2010
"Inland Lakes Schools is considering hiring a private firm to provide custodial services as a way to save money, but a union representative says that new federal funding makes such a move unnecessary." >>
User Comments
carol peterson
education is an all around development for a child
he should be mentally and physically strong


<a href="http://rescueyoursavings.com" rel="dofollow">Savings</a> >>
carol peterson
education is an all around development for a child
he should be mentally and physically strong >>
johnstfu
Informative post. In order to deal with today's troubled youth, it is helpful to take a professional guidance for better teen recovery programs. Choosing a specialized organization for troubled youth is one of the most important steps for better teen recovery. Boysville is one of the non profit organization dedicated to help troubled youth with years of successful results by helping <a href=http://www.troubledteensguide.com/>troubled youth</a> to responsible individuals. Hope this organization continue their priceless support to most of the needy troubled youth with various helpful services. >>
Aarowman
Public servants like Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Senators, Congressmen, Judges, Secretaries of Various Departments and the like should be first to be compensated for performance.
The idea that the playing field for students is level everywhere is as Quixotic as thinking all politicians are honest and competent.
There are neighborhoods where only Portugese or gang sign language is spoken, where the parents both work two jobs to pay rent, where getting to school and back is more dangerous than Iraq and Afghanastan.
This Secretary of Education has to remove the silver spoon, roll up his sleeves and take his superior intellect attitude into the trenches and show the poor slobs that are taking their teachers jobs for granted how he would do it. Just because his mommy used to help out in Chicago doesn't give him the Congression Medal of Honor. Actually he's a stuffed shirt pretending to know it all.
How much do you want to bet that he wouldn't attempt entering these neighborhoods let alone these schools without security. >>
verdemont resident
This article is tucked away yet is profoundly correct. Parents are pseudo parenting little objects of consumption. Teens, professionals, working moms like the "idea" of a child but are not in for the long haul and everyone loses.

Schools are enabling parents to do precious little. The time parents spend with their children is the only thing that matters. Bussing needs to be cut, school breakfast, lunch, and afterschool care needs to be stopped. Parents will grow that bond by sacrificing the nails, hair, parties, drugs, quads, vacations, etc. and making a lunch for their child and arrangements to be home when the child is out of school. No one is that poor that they can't provide a boloney sandwich, a baggie of pretzels, an apple, 50 cents for a milk, and two cookies each day.

Please respond!

>>
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 >>