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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
July 19, 2006

Contents of this issue:

  • Private firm helps Battle Creek schools cut energy costs

  • NEA spends $8 million fighting NCLB

  • DPS error omits teachers from payroll

  • Grand Rapids administrators could get incentive-based raises

  • MESSA disagreement hampering Ferris State contract talks

PRIVATE FIRM HELPS BATTLE CREEK SCHOOLS CUT ENERGY COSTS
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — A private company that assists schools in reducing energy costs helped Battle Creek Public Schools save $5 million in the past decade, according to The Battle Creek Enquirer.

Texas-based Energy Education Inc., which had a $446,000 contract with Battle Creek schools from 1997 to 2001, continues to provide consulting services to the district, The Enquirer reported.

Steve Osborn, energy manager for the district, said the private company "came in and taught us how to save energy," according to The Enquirer. Osborn said students, teachers and staff have made simple changes in daily routines, such as turning off lights in empty rooms and powering off computers that aren't in use.

Energy Education uses a computer software program that monitors energy use in each building, which is compared against weather forecasts for specific days, The Enquirer reported. Osborn said the program tracks energy uses, instead of costs.

"From that, we can tell if a pipe is leaking or if there's abnormal usage based on what we should be using and how much it costs," he told The Enquirer. "We've found a lot of mistakes in buildings that way."

Osborn said the savings have been used to purchase thousands of computers and new audio-visual equipment. About 45 school districts in Michigan contract with Education Energy Inc., according to The Enquirer.

SOURCE:
The Battle Creek Enquirer, "Schools save $5M in energy," July 13, 2006
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060713/NEWS01/607130304/1002

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Walled Lake implements program to save on energy," Nov. 1, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7417

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Six Habits of Fiscally Responsible School Districts," Dec. 3, 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4891

NEA SPENDS $8 MILLION FIGHTING NCLB
WASHINGTON — An investigation by Washington-based think tank Education Sector found that the National Education Association has spent more than $8 million in an effort against a federal law aimed at helping students succeed in math and reading, according to USA Today.

The report showed that the NEA, the nation's largest teachers union, has given millions of dollars to organizations that oppose the No Child Left Behind Act, USA Today reported. NCLB regulations call for all students to be "proficient" in math and reading by 2014.

USA Today reported that opponents of the law were critical of the Bush administration for paying syndicated columnist Armstrong Williams about $240,000 to promote the legislation.

SOURCE:
USA Today, "Report: NEA pays opponents of No Child Left Behind law," July 10, 2006 http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-07-10-nea-no-child_x.htm

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "NEA gives millions to special interest groups," Jan. 10, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7533

Michigan Education Digest, "IRS begins audit of nation's largest teachers union," Nov. 25, 2003
http://www.educationreport.org/5971

DPS ERROR OMITS TEACHERS FROM PAYROLL
DETROIT — About 200 teachers were deleted from the payroll, causing the Detroit Public Schools employees to miss a paycheck last week, according to The Detroit News.

Some of the teachers, who are working during summer school, will not get paid until July 25, some five weeks after summer classes began, The News reported. Mattie Majors, a spokeswoman for DPS, said the error was caused by people not transferring paperwork correctly among departments. According to The News, Majors would not say who was responsible.

"The bottom line is, everybody wasn't on the list to get paid," Majors told The News. "Now their names will be on the list."

SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "District error deletes paychecks for Detroit teachers," July 12, 2006
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006607120401

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Detroit teachers union wants more money," June 27, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7798

Michigan Education Digest, "Teacher 'sick-out' forces Detroit schools to close," March 28, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7656

GRAND RAPIDS ADMINISTRATORS COULD GET INCENTIVE-BASED RAISES
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Administrators in the Grand Rapids Public Schools could each get a 1.75 percent raise if the district loses fewer than 800 students, according to The Grand Rapids Press.

The district is projecting about 800 students will leave during the 2006-2007 school year. Teachers accepted a similar pay incentive, along with a 1.25 percent raise, in a new contract with the district in June, The Press reported.

About 240 principals, office staff and administrators agreed to the plan and also agreed to pay a higher percentage of their own health care costs, according to The Press.

SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Grand Rapids administrator raises tied to enrollment," July 11, 2006
http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-30/11526292599720.xml?grpress?NEG&coll=6

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Grand Rapids teachers agree to incentive-based pay," June 27, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7798

Michigan Education Digest, "Otsego teachers will pay more for expensive MESSA insurance," May 9, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7701

MESSA DISAGREEMENT HAMPERING FERRIS STATE CONTRACT TALKS
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — A disagreement over health insurance plans, and how much employees should contribute toward their own insurance, has delayed contract talks at Ferris State University, according to The Grand Rapids Press.

Administrators have offered a variety of health care insurance options from which faculty members can pick. The university has agreed to pay the first $10,740 for coverage, with employees paying anything over that, The Press reported. Faculty also would get a raise and bonuses worth 3 percent.

Among the options are plans offered through the Michigan Education Special Services Association. MESSA is a third-party administrator affiliated with the Michigan Education Association union.

MESSA insurance for next year at Ferris would cost $15,419, The Press reported. Blue Cross would cost $13,560. Mike Ryan, president of the Ferris Faculty Association, told The Press that the university should pay the entire cost of the more expensive MESSA plan.

SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Insurance holds up Ferris contract," July 3, 2006
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-30/1151938018229810.xml&coll=6

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "CMU saves millions without MESSA," April 11, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7677

Michigan Education Digest, "Holton staffers drop MESSA," May 2, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7696

Michigan Education Digest, "Pinckney teachers voluntarily abandon MESSA," Feb. 7, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7585

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
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." >>
Tue., March 9, 2010
"Michigan Future Inc. has awarded an $850,000 grant to Detroit Edison Public School Academy to help it open a new high school this fall, the first in a planned series of grants." >>
Mon., March 8, 2010
"Members of the Fenton Education Support Personnel have voted to leave the Michigan Education Association and join Teamsters Local 214, saying they want better representation." >>
Mon., March 8, 2010
"The Kent County Circuit Court has upheld an arbitrator's decision that Grand Rapids Public Schools did not violate a labor contract when it privatized transportation workers in 2005, even though their contract with the district had not expired." >>
Sun., March 7, 2010
"The Detroit school board and its emergency financial manager must work together on a school redesign plan if they want to receive federal funding intended for low-achieving Michigan schools." >>
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 >>