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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
January 4, 2005

Contents of this issue:

  • State deadline for Detroit deficit plans may be postponed

  • Detroit teachers union criticizes district for Christmas Eve layoffs

  • Many Colorado charter schools earn top ratings on state test

  • Alpena considers collecting school taxes in money-saving effort

  • ISD officials criticize recent legislation at press conference

  • Upper Peninsula district consolidation produces financial solvency

STATE DEADLINE FOR DETROIT DEFICIT PLANS MAY BE POSTPONED
DETROIT — State officials told The Detroit News that they may grant Detroit public school officials an extension of the state deadline for submitting a plan to address the school district's accumulated $200 million deficit.

Detroit Public Schools CEO Kenneth Burnley has been asked to provide the Michigan Department of Education with two- and five-year plans for relieving the district's deficit. The plans were due last Friday, but a state Department of Education spokeswoman suggested the deadline might be pushed back pending the selection of a committee of community members being convened to assist with budget decisions in the Detroit district. Elizabeth Boyd, spokeswoman for Gov. Jennifer Granholm, told The News that the governor is still assembling the committee.

The News reported that the Detroit Public Schools will run out of funds in April if the district does not eliminate its deficit. "I don't think we can languish too long," N. Charles Anderson, CEO and president of the Detroit Urban League, told The News. "The clock is still ticking."

SOURCES:
Detroit News, "School budget plan may get delay," Dec. 29, 2004
http://detnews.com/2004/schools/0412/29/C01-44564.htm

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Dancing Around Education: A 170-Year Waltz With Reform," December 11, 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6906

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Ironic Choices," November 29, 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6895

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "School Funding: Lack of Money or Lack of Money Management?" Aug. 30, 2001
http://www.mackinac.org/3683

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Six Habits of Fiscally Responsible School Districts," December 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4891

DETROIT TEACHERS UNION CRITICIZES DISTRICT FOR CHRISTMAS EVE LAYOFFS
DETROIT — The Detroit News reported that the president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers criticized the Detroit Public Schools at a news conference last week for the district's decision to lay off 374 teachers to help relieve the district's current-year $150 million deficit. The layoffs drew particular ire because the notices were distributed on Christmas Eve.

"This action demonstrates a blatant disregard for the union and the members we represent," DFT President Janna Garrison said, according to The News. "We don't believe there have to be layoffs," she added, suggesting instead a retirement-incentive program for older teachers that would allow new teachers to replace them, presumably at lower salaries. According to The News, the district already has cut $76 million from its budget through school closings, spending reductions and 2,100 layoffs.

District spokesman Kenneth Coleman defended the district's action, telling The News, "I wouldn't agree with the characterization that this came out of the blue." He also told The News that the layoffs might be reduced if enough teachers avail themselves of the retirement options referred to by Garrison. Both the layoffs and the incentive program are scheduled to take effect in February.

SOURCES:
Detroit News, "Union critical of school cuts," Dec. 28, 2004
http://detnews.com/2004/schools/0412/28/B01-43540.htm

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Playing Monopoly With Detroit's Kids," July 15, 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6688

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "School Funding: Lack of Money or Lack of Money Management?" Aug. 30, 2001
http://www.mackinac.org/3683

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Six Habits of Fiscally Responsible School Districts," December 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4891

MANY COLORADO CHARTER SCHOOLS EARN TOP RATINGS ON STATE TEST
DENVER — A Denver Post analysis found that a higher percentage of Colorado charter schools than of traditional public schools earned the state's highest ratings on a state standardized test this year.

According to the analysis, 46 percent of Colorado charter schools earned an "excellent" or "high" rating this year on the state's School Accountability Report, compared to 39.6 percent of traditional public schools. A higher percentage of traditional school students scored "average" than in charter schools, while there was little difference between the two types of schools in the proportion of students who scored in the "low" and "unsatisfactory" categories, the Post reported.

The Post observed that charter students in Colorado appear to serve fewer low-income students and racial and ethnic minorities than Colorado's traditional public schools do, which may help explain the higher test scores. Charter school advocates argue that the state's charter schools enroll just as many low-income students as traditional public schools, but that many of the charter schools do not provide lunch, thus reducing the number of their students who receive "free or reduced-price lunch," a standard measure of low-income status.

Nina Rees, assistant deputy secretary for innovation and improvement at the federal Department of Education, said it is difficult to compare charters to traditional schools using test scores alone. "It's not like comparing McDonald's to Burger King," she told the Post. "They're all so different."

SOURCES:
Denver Post, "State's charter schools buck trend," Dec. 22, 2004
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2612129,00.html

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "When Will Conventional Public Schools Be as Accountable as Charters?" July 7, 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6684

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Time to Stop Beating Up on Charter Schools," December 2, 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4864

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Impact of Limited School Choice on Public School Districts," July 2000
http://www.mackinac.org/2962

ALPENA CONSIDERS COLLECTING SCHOOL TAXES IN MONEY-SAVING EFFORT
ALPENA, Mich. — The Alpena News reported that Alpena Public Schools Superintendent David Werner has asked the Alpena Municipal Council to consider collecting school taxes for the district. The superintendent reportedly hopes that the city will be able to do the job for less money than the county, which currently charges about $23,000 to collect the district's taxes.

"In conversation with the county folks, they assured us that there wasn't really a significant amount of additional work that would be required to levy the taxes, in the sense that you (the city) already send out a tax bill and you already collect taxes," Werner said, according to The News.

The municipal council declined to collect the school tax in 2005, but said it would consider doing so in 2006. The Alpena city clerk plans to study the cost to the city of the school district's proposal.

SOURCES:
Alpena News, "City considering collecting school taxes," Dec. 23, 2004
http://www.thealpenanews.com/Archives/2004/December/23/local2.html

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Six Habits of Fiscally Responsible School Districts," December 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4891

ISD OFFICIALS CRITICIZE RECENT LEGISLATION AT PRESS CONFERENCE
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — According to Advance Newspapers, officials from two Michigan intermediate school districts publicly criticized legislation that would force them to discontinue a practice they have employed to bring in greater state funding for special education. The legislation has been passed by the state Legislature and is currently awaiting the signature of Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

At a December press conference, Kent Intermediate School District Superintendent Michael Weiler defended so-called "dual employment," a system by which special education employees are reported on the payroll of both the ISD and the school district in which they work. The new legislation would prohibit ISDs from continuing the practice.

"With this legislation, some ISDs can be funded and some can't. It's a question of fairness and equity," said Weiler, according to Advance Newspapers. Weiler argued that smaller intermediate school districts are able to receive full reimbursement for special education by simply rotating their staff among their component school districts, something that larger ISDs do not do. Brian O'Connell, spokesman for the bill's sponsor, state Sen. Shirley Johnson, said that ISDs have used dual employment to receive more special education funding without providing extra services. "The only thing that is different is an accounting change," said O'Connell, Advance Newspapers reported.

Halting the dual-employment practice would reportedly cost the Kent ISD $10 million and the Ottawa ISD $2.55 million in reduced state funding.

SOURCES:
Advance Newspapers, "School officials say legislation targets area students," Dec. 21, 2004
http://www.mlive.com/news/advancenewspapers/south/index.ssf?/base/ news-1/110365901178190.xml

Michiganvotes.Org, Senate Bill 1193
http://www.michiganvotes.org/2004-SB-1193

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Michigan's Budget Challenge"
http://www.mackinac.org/4964

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Eliminate Intermediate School Districts," August 21, 2003
http://www.mackinac.org/5678

Michigan Education Report, "What Are Intermediate School Districts?" Winter 2000
http://www.educationreport.org/2709

Michigan Education Report, "Group files complaints against districts," Spring 2000
http://www.educationreport.org/2882

UPPER PENINSULA DISTRICT CONSOLIDATION PRODUCES FINANCIAL SOLVENCY
IRONWOOD, Mich. — The Ironwood Daily Globe reported yesterday on the financial solvency of a new, consolidated school district in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The district was created when voters in two small Upper Michigan school districts, Wakefield and Marenisco, chose last June to consolidate their two districts into one.

The vote followed the Marenisco district's announcement last January that it would be unable to operate past the 2003-2004 school year. Marenisco officials considered annexation offers from two other school districts, but preferred a consolidation with Wakefield schools, since the two districts already shared programs and staff.

The subsequent Wakefield-Marenisco merger eliminated Wakefield's budget deficit by increasing enrollment in the district. Most employees of the two original districts were hired by the new district, although some teachers reportedly disliked being employed on probationary status by the district. One-year contracts offered by the consolidated district included limits on the district's payment of health insurance premiums. Contract negotiations are still underway between the district and its unions, according to the Daily Globe.

The Wakefield-Marenisco merger was the first school district consolidation in Michigan since 1987, according to the Daily Globe.

SOURCES:
Ironwood Daily Globe, "Tiny school districts unite," Jan. 3, 2005
http://www.ironwoodglobe.com/1231wskl.htm

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "School Districts: Is Less More?" July 2001
http://www.mackinac.org/3544

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Six Habits of Fiscally Responsible School Districts," December 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4891

MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education Report ( http://www.educationreport.org), a quarterly newspaper with a circulation of 130,000 published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ( http://www.mackinac.org), a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute.

Contact Managing Editor Neil Block at
med@educationreport.org.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to: http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/mer/listserver.aspx.
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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 >>