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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
July 6, 2010

School funding increases, DPS Super out, CMU/AFT

Contents of this issue:

  • Bobb says superintendent is out; board pushes back
  • Lawmaker: Shift 'race' money to jobs
  • School funding increases
  • CMU, AFT agree on new bargaining unit

Bobb says superintendent is out; board pushes back

DETROIT — The Detroit Public Schools board of education says that Teresa Gueyser is still district superintendent, even though her contract expired and emergency financial manager Robert Bobb did not renew it, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Gueyser's contract and $190,000 annual salary expired June 30, and district spokesman Steve Wasko said the nonrenewal was "strictly a decision based on economic necessity," the Free Press reported.  The district faces a $363 million deficit, according to the report.

School board President Anthony Adams said that Bobb does not have authority over the superintendent and that, "We expect her to come to work tomorrow, and we expect him not to interfere with her ability to do her job," the Free Press reported.

If she does show up, she faces not being paid, Bobb said, according to the Free Press. He said he notified Gueyser in April that her contract would not be renewed, the Free Press reported.  The conflict is the latest in a series of showdowns between the board and Bobb over financial and academic authority in the district.

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Public Schools chief is not renewed," July 1, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Bobb wins in court — for now," May 8, 2010

Lawmaker: Shift 'race' money to jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Money earmarked for education reform would go instead to education jobs under a proposal by the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, The Washington Post reported.

Rep. David R. Obey, D-Wisconsin, wants to move about $800 million out of the Race to the Top and other federal education programs and put it toward a $10 billion education jobs bill, according to The Post. The shift would be accomplished by tacking it to a military spending bill.

The Post reported that the idea is likely to force debate among Democrats about federal aid to schools. Some believe it should be spread widely, as through an education jobs bill, The Post reported, while others argue that a significant portion should be set aside for the most innovative states and schools, as the Race to the Top envisions.

Tim Daly, president of the New Teacher Project, predicted that state education officials would be "enraged" at cuts in the Race program, since many states (including Michigan) adopted reform measures to become more competitive for funding.

Ellis Brachman, an Obey spokesman, told The Post that the appropriations chairman believes there is a threat of massive teacher layoffs across the country. Peter Cunningham, assistant education secretary for communications, said that the country should not have to choose between jobs and reform, given that other areas of the federal budget could be cut.

SOURCE:
The Washington Post, "Lawmakers wants to shift some 'Race to the Top' funds to prevent teacher layoffs," June 30, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Jobs-and-reform mostly jobs-and-jobs," Jan. 21, 2010

School funding increases

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan public schools would receive an $11-per-pupil increase in 2010-2011 under a legislative conference committee agreement reached Wednesday, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The committee agreed to retain most of a current $300 million surplus in the School Aid Fund for now, rather than apply it to the state's general fund budget deficit, the Free Press reported. Schools would receive a total of $12.8 billion during the state fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, according to the Free Press. After paying for the per-pupil increase and other minor funding increases, about $276 million would remain as surplus.

Huron School District Superintendent Rick Naughton told the Free Press that the increase was welcome news that could allow his district to lower class sizes.

The Free Press reported that significant issues remain on the 2011 budget, including a retirement reform measure aimed at state employees.

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Michigan schools get boost," July 1, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Unstable Funding Myth," June 28, 2010

CMU, AFT agree on new bargaining unit

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Non-tenure track faculty  at Central Michigan University are expected to vote soon on certifying the American Federation of Teachers as their union representative, now that a dispute over who would be eligible to join has been resolved, according to The (Mount Pleasant) Morning Sun.

Under an agreement announced Wednesday between CMU and the union, the new bargaining unit is expected to include about 400 non-tenure track faculty members, called "temporary" faculty by the university, who teach at quarter time or greater, including those teaching as few as three credit hours per semester, according to The Morning Sun.

If a majority of the bargaining unit members vote to have the AFT represent them in collective bargaining, then work would begin on an initial contract, The Morning Sun reported. The new group calls itself the Union of Teaching Faculty.

In a related report by Central Michigan Life, the campus newspaper, Keith Johnson, president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, said members should realize gaining membership to the union is only the first step.

"We have one mission: to create the best working environment for employees," he said. "We are the reason for progress."

SOURCES:
(Mount Pleasant) Morning Sun, "Most nontenure-track faculty to be part of potential new CMU bargaining unit," July 1, 2010

Central Michigan Life, "Non-tenure track faculty, CMU reach union agreement," June 30, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "More and More a Political Animal," June 7, 2010

 

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 med@educationreport.org

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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
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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

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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>.


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QUEEN_BEE_09
I AGREE >>