Login

Register

Detroit grad chosen to run ailing district

Adamany asks corporate execs to help fix schools

Fri., May 12, 2000

The Detroit public schools reform board ended its nearly year-long search for a permanent CEO May 11 when members voted unanimously to replace outgoing interim CEO David Adamany with Kenneth Burnley, Detroit native and current superintendent of Colorado Springs, Colo., schools.

"I think it's of great benefit for us to have a graduate of Detroit schools," board member and State Treasurer Mark Murray told The Detroit News. "[Burnley] knows the issues of education up front. But he also knows the Detroit situation."

Burnley graduated from Detroit's Mumford High School in 1960. He has led Colorado Springs schools since 1987.

Board members were impressed with Burnley's reform ideas, which focus on increasing parental involvement, encouraging the use of technology in the classroom, and tying teachers' raises to their performance.

But some parents are skeptical that Burnley can turn around the struggling Detroit district.

"His district cannot compare to what we go through here," Abby Phelps, whose 16-year-old daughter attends King High School, told the Detroit Free Press. "There's just too many issues for one man to address."

Colorado Springs is a 33,500-student district with an annual budget of $175.7 million. Detroit has 180,000 students and a $1.2-billion budget.

At press time, Detroit Deputy Mayor and school board President Freman Hendrix was negotiating a contract with Burnley, who could receive up to $250,000 per year. Outgoing CEO David Adamany earns $193,000.

Meanwhile, Adamany has begun his own reform program by assembling a team of corporate executives to help Detroit contract with private companies to cut red tape, reduce costs, and improve quality.

Most district officials have backgrounds in education, rather than business, and this lack of corporate experience has led to waste and mismanagement in the district, according to Adamany.

"Many people in the district didn't know what to do," Adamany told the Detroit Free Press. "They were not sophisticated in what was happening in the private sector."

The executives-from companies including DaimlerChrysler, Ford, and Detroit Edison-are acting "on loan" to the district, which means in most cases the companies will continue to pay their salaries.

The Case for Choice in Schooling: Restoring Parental Control of Education

The Cost of Remedial Education

The Michigan Education Association

Michigan Education Special Services Association: The MEA's Money Machine

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." >>

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. >>

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

>>

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 >>

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>.

>>

I AGREE >>

Godfrey-Lee on the west side of the state has been running all-day, every-day kindergarten for several years. >>

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/

>>

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.
>>

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?
>>

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 >>