Contents of this issue:
Gov. Granholm calls Watkins "ineffective," asks for resignation
Grand Rapids superintendent announces funding study
Detroit administrators propose closing more than 100 schools
Michigan scholarship grant to be unchanged under new state test
Many school districts opt for board elections in May, not November
Berrien ISD ponders privatization of special ed transportation
GOV. GRANHOLM CALLS WATKINS "INEFFECTIVE," ASKS FOR RESIGNATION
DETROIT — In a Detroit Free Press interview last week, Michigan Gov.
Jennifer Granholm called on State Superintendent Tom Watkins to resign
his post.
Gov. Granholm told the Free Press that through her education advisor,
she asked Watkins to resign in early January. The request was a direct
contrast to her public statement about two weeks ago that Watkins was a
"valued member" of her cabinet.
"He needs to resign for the good of the state board, for the good of
public education," Granholm told the Free Press. "The simple reason is
he is not providing effective leadership in one of the most critical
departments in state government."
Media reports have suggested that friction between the governor and the
superintendent arose from a report Watkins submitted to the state in
December calling for major overhauls in district and state
administration. Granholm's education adviser told the Free Press this
was not the case.
In her Free Press interview, Granholm asserted that Watkins agreed last
May to resign at the end of 2004, but did not follow through. Though
the state Board of Education has sole authority to hire and fire
Watkins, the Free Press noted that Granholm can influence the board's
decisions. The board last week tabled Watkins' contract extension.
Watkins told the Free Press he would not step down. He cited
improvements in academic standards under his three-year administration,
and he pointed to a recent, positive evaluation of his job performance
by the state board.
SOURCES:
Detroit Free Press, "Schools chief asked to resign," Jan. 19, 2005
http://www.freep.com/news/education/watkins19e_20050119.htm
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Lansing Must Embrace Basic Reform
Following the Watkins Debacle," January 2005
http://www.mackinac.org/6951
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Watkins Gets It Right,"
January 2005
http://www.mackinac.org/6939
Michigan Education Report, "State superintendent launches plan to grade
schools," Winter 2002
http://www.educationreport.org/4083
Michigan Education Report, "State Board of Education adopts school
grading plan," Spring 2002
http://www.educationreport.org/4270
GRAND RAPIDS SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCES FUNDING STUDY
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Superintendent Bert Bleke last week
announced the formation of a committee to review possible solutions to
a projected $18 million budget deficit next year, The Grand Rapids
Press reported.
Bleke said possible solutions to the problem "will cause quite a stir."
The Press noted that Bleke "would not rule out bankruptcy, shortening
the school year, closing schools or massive layoffs." Seeking a
countywide tax increase for schools will not be considered, however.
The Press reported that the projected deficit stems from a number of
issues, including health-care costs, retirement costs and the loss of
800 students, many of them to suburban districts. Bleke also complained
that other Michigan districts receive more state money per student than
Grand Rapids does, and he told The Press, "This is a problem that must
be addressed at the state level...."
SOURCES:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Bleke says budget fix may cause 'a stir,'"
Jan. 19, 2005
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1106149542236160.xml
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Michigan's Budget Challenge"
http://www.mackinac.org/4964
Michigan Privatization Report, "Privatization Survey Shows Outsourcing
is a Popular Management Tool," Winter 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6913
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Six Habits of Fiscally
Responsible School Districts," December 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4891
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "'Proposal A,' 10 Years Later,"
February 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6112
DETROIT ADMINISTRATORS PROPOSE CLOSING MORE THAN 100 SCHOOLS
DETROIT — A plan released by the Detroit Public Schools last Wednesday
suggests the district will close 110 schools and reduce spending by
$380 million, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The Free Press reported that district officials predict a student
population of just 100,000 in 2008, down from a current enrollment of
roughly 140,000. To address the school district's debt and the
anticipated student decline, the district's plan calls for the closing
of 110 schools over the next three to five years, leaving just 142
schools operating.
Janna Garrison, president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, told
the Free Press: "I believe they're in what they call the scrap-and-burn
mode. All this is just not necessary." Mike Griffith, a policy analyst
for the Denver-based Education Commission of the States, suggested the
Detroit district should consider dividing itself into smaller districts
or creating more district-run charter schools.
The Free Press also reported speculation late last week that Detroit
Schools Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Burnley may leave his post at
the end of his contract, which expires June 30. A board meeting is
planned for today to discuss Burnley's future with the district.
SOURCES:
Detroit Free Press, "Detroit district: 110 schools must close,"
Jan. 21, 2005
http://www.freep.com/news/education/burnley21e_20050121.htm
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The $200 Million Question,"
January 2005
http://www.mackinac.org/6947
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Fewer Students = More Money?"
October 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6856
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "School Choice in Michigan: A Primer
for Freedom in Education: Lack of Incentives Produces Poor Results and
Exacerbates Problems," July 1999
http://www.mackinac.org/2049
MICHIGAN SCHOLARSHIP GRANT TO BE UNCHANGED UNDER NEW STATE TEST
CADILLAC, Mich. — A state official told the Cadillac News that the
Michigan Merit Award, a state-sponsored scholarship given to high
school students for good performance on a state high school exam, will
still be available to students, even though the state exam will be
changed in just two years.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm earlier this month approved a new standardized
state test for high school students to be used starting in the
2006-2007 school year. The new test will be known as the Michigan Merit
Exam, and it will replace the 11th-grade test currently administered
under the Michigan Educational Assessment Program.
Under the new test, the News reported, the Michigan Merit Award will
still be available to students who perform at or above an established
minimum standard. Michigan Department of Treasury Spokesman Terry
Stanton told the News: "We are not expecting any (changes) at this
point. Some sort of cut score will have to be determined as it (the
Michigan Merit Exam) is produced and developed." The Michigan Merit
Award was established in 1999 by the state Legislature. The award
currently gives students who score well on the high school MEAP tests a
grant of up to $2,500. According to the News, about 49,000 high school
graduates receive the award every year.
Still, "At any point in the future it (the award) could be eliminated,
changed or cut in half," Stanton told the News. "It is an annual
appropriation. It is not guaranteed to go on in perpetuity."
SOURCES:
Cadillac News, "Changes in MEAP test bring no changes for scholarship,"
Jan. 24, 2005
http://www.cadillacnews.com/articles/2005/01/24/news/news01.txt
Michigan Education Report, "College bound students receive new
state scholarships," Fall 2000
http://www.mackinac.org/3058
Michigan Education Report, "Markets, not MEAP, best way to measure
school quality," Spring 2000
http://www.mackinac.org/2872
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "POLICY BRIEF: Which Educational
Achievement Test is Best for Michigan?" May 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4382
MichiganVotes.org, 2004 Senate Bills 1153, 1154, 1155, 1156, 1157
http://www.michiganvotes.org/2004-SB-1153
http://www.michiganvotes.org/2004-SB-1154
http://www.michiganvotes.org/2004-SB-1155
http://www.michiganvotes.org/2004-SB-1156
http://www.michiganvotes.org/2004-SB-1157
MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS OPT FOR BOARD ELECTIONS IN MAY, NOT NOVEMBER
LANSING, Mich. — Booth Newspapers reported that a recent survey by the
Michigan Association of School Boards suggested that most Michigan
school districts have chosen under a new "election consolidation" law
to hold district elections in May, instead of November.
A package of bills signed into law last year by Gov. Jennifer Granholm
helped consolidate elections statewide by requiring districts to hold
their elections in November or May of odd-numbered years, Booth
reported. "The main reason we wanted it (consolidated elections) was to
lessen voter confusion and to raise turnout," Kent County Clerk Mary
Hollinrake told Booth.
Of 313 districts that responded to the MASB survey, 299 chose to hold
elections in May. Chris Thomas, director of the Michigan Bureau of
Elections, told Booth that school districts would save money by holding
elections in November, which is when state and municipal elections are
held. "Those (districts) that have not taken advantage of that, I would
say, made a clear, conscious decision to eat those costs," he said.
School officials cited by Booth, however, said that a November election
would force school board members to be seated half-way through the
school year. In addition, Flushing Superintendent Barbara Goebel told
Booth, "You start putting that (school board elections) on the November
election, that starts making it partisan."
SOURCES:
Booth Newspapers, "Most districts bypass chance to save on school
elections," Jan. 21, 2005
http://www.mlive.com/news/statewide/index.ssf?/base/news-5/110630580189010.xml
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Consolidate School Elections with
General Elections," June 2003
http://www.mackinac.org/5441
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Is there a case for election
consolidation across the state or should such matters be decided at the
local level?" June 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4409
MichiganVotes.org, House Bills 4820-4828, Senate Bill 877
http://www.michiganvotes.org/2003-HB-4820
http://www.michiganvotes.org/2003-SB-877
BERRIEN ISD PONDERS PRIVATIZATION OF SPECIAL ED TRANSPORTATION
ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — The Berrien County Intermediate School District is
soliciting bids from transportation companies to gauge whether
competitive contracting of special education bus services would save
the district money, according to The St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Herald-Palladium.
Currently, the Berrien ISD provides transportation for 200 special
education students to its Blossomland Learning Center at a cost of $2.3
million annually, according to The Herald-Palladium. At the same time,
the district contracts with Berrien Springs-based Careful Transit to
bus 75 students to its Lighthouse Education Center for $700,000 per
year. Jim Palm, assistant superintendent for the district's
administrative services, told The Herald-Palladium, "We've had a good
experience with privatization (at the Lighthouse school and its
predecessor) for 20 years."
Although Palm was unsure about the potential cost-savings from
privatization, he said, "We feel we would be negligent if we didn't
check to see what kind of savings might be available."
Critics of the plan include Mike Schroeder of the Michigan Education
Association. Schroeder told The Herald-Palladium, "The parents will not
know who is driving these buses. ... If (drivers are) employed by the
school district, a criminal record check is mandatory. A private
company does not have to do that."
Palm disagreed. "This is not true," he told The Herald-Palladium. "In
all the requests for proposals (RFP), we insisted on background checks
and drug and alcohol testing. And, as part of the RFP, we ask all
successful bidders to interview all (ISD) employees and consider them
first."
SOURCES:
The St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Herald-Palladium, "ISD considers private
school bus service," Jan. 20, 2005
http://www.heraldpalladium.com/articles/2005/01/20/news/news1.txt
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Contract Out School Services Before
Laying Off Teachers," Nov. 20, 2003
http://www.mackinac.org/5948
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Habit 2: Take Advantage of Cost
Savings Through Outsourcing Non-Instructional Services," Dec. 3, 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4896
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Privatization's Big Picture,"
Summer 1996
http://www.mackinac.org/291
MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education
Report (
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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.
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