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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
July 11, 2006

Contents of this issue:

  • "Foundation grant" to increase again

  • Former MEA union employee pleads guilty

  • Home-school mom elected to Howell board

  • Holland teachers reject insurance offer

  • Traverse City moves school elections to fall

  • Detroit can keep tax money

"FOUNDATION GRANT" TO INCREASE AGAIN
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan will increase the amount it spends on public schools under a budget plan approved by the governor and Legislature, according to Booth Newspapers.

Schools will receive $210 more per pupil during the 2006-2007 school year, bumping the foundation grant up to $7,085. That amounts to about $19.5 million more that will be spent on public schools, Booth reported.

The Legislature also is discussing other public school spending increases, including an additional $20 million to boost math and science education in middle schools, $20 million for schools that lose students, and another $20 million for schools that receive the mandated amount of state education funds, according to Booth.

The deal also includes a 3 percent increase in state spending for universities and community colleges, Booth reported.

SOURCE:
Booth Newspapers, "State budget agreement means more money for K-12, higher ed," June 30, 2006
http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1151705412326660.xml?news/statewide?NE&coll=1

FURTHER READING:
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, "State College Money Should Follow Students, Not Lobbyists," May 15, 2006
http://www.mackinac.org/7703

FORMER MEA UNION EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY
HANCOCK, Mich. — A former secretary with the Michigan Education Association union pleaded guilty to making a false statement on a loan application in U.S. District Court July 10, according to WLUC TV6, an Upper Peninsula television station.

Susan Lynn Gregg, 36, faces 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, WLUC reported. The loan was for $29,000, but some $178,000 was taken from the Copper Country chapter of the MEA union between 1999 and 2005, according to WLUC. Gregg will be sentenced in November, the station reported.

SOURCE:
WLUC, "MEA official admits to financial fraud," July 10, 2006
http://www.wluctv6.com/Global/story.asp?S=5133377&nav=81AX

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Former union official accused of embezzlement," Nov. 8, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7424

Michigan Education Digest, "Judicial Board Censures Kalamazoo Union President for Misusing Funds," July 19, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7166

HOME-SCHOOL MOM ELECTED TO HOWELL BOARD
HOWELL, Mich. — A home-school mom was sworn in as a member of the Howell Public Schools Board of Education Monday night, according to the Livingston Daily Press & Argus.

Wendy Day, who began home schooling her children during the 2005-2006 school year after her husband's military deployment to Iraq, said educating her children at home was a way for the family to deal with the difficult situation, the Press & Argus reported. Her decision also was prompted by concerns over some of the subject matter taught in the schools, including evolution taught as fact instead of theory, and teaching seventh graders about contraception.

"Those were a variety of issues that compromise our beliefs as a family," Day told the Press & Argus. "We were trying to do what was best for our kids."

The issue of home schooling was raised during the campaign, the newspaper reported, yet Day was the top vote getter among six candidates in the May 2 election.

"I think every parent has a vested interest in the quality of our public schools," she told the Press & Argus. "I think everybody wants to know the schools are the best that they can be, and that includes me as a taxpayer."

Other Livingston County school districts — including Brighton, Pinckney and Hartland — have or have had school board members whose children did not attend schools in the district during their time on the board, the Press & Argus reported.

"There are many dedicated people in the community who care about the community," Pinckney board member Carol Houston told the Press & Argus. "To narrow a pool of candidates to those people who just have children in the schools, I think, would shut out people who would be excellent school board members."

SOURCE:
Livingston Daily Press & Argus, "What was best for our kids: Soon to become a school board member, Day homeschools her children," July 6, 2006
http://www.livingstondaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006607060331

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Homeschooling a growing trend; critics want greater oversight," Aug. 23, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7321

Michigan Education Report, "Home School Heroes," Jan. 18, 1999
http://www.educationreport.org/1592

HOLLAND TEACHERS REJECT INSURANCE OFFER
Holland, Mich. — Teachers in the Holland Public Schools rejected an offer to return to the union-affiliated health insurance plan they want because they would be required to pay a portion of the costs, according to The Grand Rapids Press.

Holland Public Schools offered to reinstate health insurance purchased through the Michigan Education Special Services Association if teachers were willing to pay $120 a month toward their own insurance, The Press reported. MESSA is a third-party administrator affiliated with the Michigan Education Association union. District officials say the $120 figure is the difference in cost between MESSA and what the taxpayers can afford, according to The Press.

SOURCES:
The Grand Rapids Press, "School district makes health insurance offer," June 28, 2006
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1151506024160740.xml&coll=6

The Grand Rapids Press, "Health offer rejected," June 29, 2006
http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1151594891144150.xml?grpress?NELK&coll=6

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Holland teachers threaten illegal strike," May 2, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7696

Michigan Education Digest, "Holland declares second impasse, teachers get free insurance," Jan. 17, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7551

Michigan Education Report, "School districts wrestle with high health care costs," March 7, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7611

TRAVERSE CITY MOVES SCHOOL ELECTIONS TO FALL
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A divided Traverse City Area Public Schools board voted recently to hold school board elections in November instead of May, according to the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Elections held in November of even-numbered years will cost the district about $5,000 because they would be combined with other general election costs countywide. Elections in November of odd-numbered years would cost about $25,000 to $30,000, according to the Record-Eagle. The vote was 4-3 in favor of the change.

SOURCE:
Traverse City Record-Eagle, "Elections move to the fall," June 27, 2006
http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/jun/27tcaps.htm

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Secret Ballot?" May 22, 2006
http://www.mackinac.org/7708

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "A Voter's Checklist for School Elections," April 28, 2006
http://www.mackinac.org/7688

DETROIT CAN KEEP TAX MONEY
DETROIT — Detroit Public Schools can keep $259 million in tax money it wasn't entitled to because property owners filed complaints too late, according to the Detroit Free Press.

DPS continued collecting an 18-mill levy on non-homestead property through 2004, even though it expired in 2002. Officials revealed the mistake in July 2005, the Free Press reported. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Isidore Torres ruled recently that a lawsuit from four businesses filed in 2005 was too late to protest the 2002 or 2004 tax collections, according to the Free Press.

The Michigan Tax Tribunal had already ruled that taxpayers filed disputes too late, the Free Press reported.

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Tax complaints vs. Detroit schools dismissed," June 23, 2006
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060623/NEWS01/606230430/1003

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "DPS' credit rating falls after $259 million tax error," Dec. 15, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7467

Michigan Education Digest, "DPS must repay almost $1 million to feds," July 5, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7807

Michigan Education Digest, "DPS limits 'excessive' retreat spending," May 23, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7710

Michigan Education Digest, "Study: Detroit graduation rate worst in the nation," June 27, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7798

MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education Report (http://www.educationreport.org), a quarterly newspaper with a circulation of nearly 150,000 published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy (http://www.mackinac.org), a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute.

Contact Managing Editor Ted O'Neil at
mailto:med@educationreport.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to
http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/mer/listserver.aspx?Source=wwwMED
Michigan Education Daily
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." >>
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 >>