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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
September 19, 2006

Contents of this issue:
  • Classes resume after Detroit teachers end illegal strike
  • EMU faculty ends illegal strike
  • Lincoln Park could lose students, money over dress code
  • St. Johns board declares impasse
  • Report: Michigan college outlook bleak
CLASSES RESUME AFTER DETROIT TEACHERS END ILLEGAL STRIKE
DETROIT — More than 129,000 students in Detroit are once again receiving the instruction to which they are entitled after the teachers union there voted to end a 17-day strike, according to The Detroit News.

The Detroit Federation of Teachers ratified a new three-year contract and agreed to freeze wages this year, while getting a 1 percent raise next year and 2.5 percent in the final year, The News reported. Teachers also agreed to give up 5 percent concessions in non-wages, as well as pay 10 percent of their own health insurance premiums. The district said the contract saves $60 million, far short of the $89 million it had sought. Superintendent William F. Coleman told The News the difference would come from shifting state dollars that are supposed to help at-risk students.

DPS officials estimate the district will see an enrollment drop of about 9,400 students compared to last year, although that could be higher due to the strike. Coleman told The News that losing more students means less state aid, which in turn could lead to teacher and other staff layoffs.

SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "Finally, school days," Sept. 14, 2006
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=SCHOOLS

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "No classes for Detroit students," Sept. 12, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7926

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

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

EMU FACULTY END ILLEGAL STRIKE
YPSILANTI, Mich. — Striking faculty members at Eastern Michigan University agreed to return to classrooms and let an independent fact finder help with contract negotiations, according to The Detroit News.

Professors rejected a contract offer that would have given them raises of 3, 3.25 and 3.5 percent over three years, claiming the contract would only be worth 2.5 percent a year because it also required them to pay more for their own health insurance costs, The News reported.

SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "EMU strike ends; negotiations continue," Sept. 14, 2006
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060914/SCHOOLS/609140359/1026

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "EMU professors stop strike for a day," Sept. 12, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7926

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Teachers' Strikes, Court Orders and Michigan Law," Sept. 12, 2006
http://www.mackinac.org/7922

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

LINCOLN PARK COULD LOSE STUDENTS, MONEY OVER DRESS CODE
LINCOLN PARK, Mich. — Lincoln Park schools are in danger of losing students and money due to a new dress code, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The dress code does not allow students to wear clothes with writing or pictures, other than school-sanctioned items such as those bearing the school's mascot, the Free Press reported. Some students were reprimanded for wearing clothes commemorating the anniversary of Sept. 11, while about 200 students were sent home on the first day of classes, including three who wore shirts featuring the First Amendment, according to the newspaper.

Paula Koths said she will not send her children to school on Sept. 27, known as "count day," when enrollment figures determine how much state aid each district receives. Koths told the Free Press she is protesting "unreasonable rules."

Superintendent Randall Kite told the Free Press about 120 students have left the district, including some because of the dress code. That will result in $850,000 less in per-pupil funding than the district projected. Kite said teacher layoffs and school consolidation may be necessary.

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Dress code could cost district," Sept. 14, 2006
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060914/NEWS02/609140320

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Detroit-area districts encourage students to attend count day," Oct. 4, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7373

ST. JOHNS BOARD DECLARES IMPASSE
ST. JOHNS, Mich. — The St. Johns board of education has declared an impasse in contract negotiations with teachers, a decision that will freeze salaries and eliminate longevity step increases this year, according to the Lansing State Journal.

A letter from Superintendent Bob Kudwa to the teachers union said the board had offered the district's "Best Settlement Offer," which teachers rejected, the State Journal reported.

The district also wants to implement a less expensive health insurance plan through Centennial Group Community Blues, under which teachers would self-fund their own prescription drug costs, according to the State Journal.

Teachers had offered to accept a less costly insurance offered through the Michigan Education Special Services Association, the State Journal reported. MESSA is a third-party administrator affiliated with the Michigan Education Association teachers union, and acts as a middleman to repackage health insurance plans.

SOURCE:
Lansing State Journal, "District freezes SJ teachers' pay," Sept. 10, 2006
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060910/CLINTON02/609100498/1006/news05

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Blue Cross and MESSA," Sept. 6, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7907

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, "CMU saves millions without MESSA," April 11, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7677

REPORT: MICHIGAN COLLEGE OUTLOOK BLEAK
WASHINGTON — The chances of a high school freshman in Michigan enrolling in college by age 19 has fallen three percentage points in the last 14 years, according to a new report detailed by Booth Newspapers.

The Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, based in California, said the chances of a ninth-grader in Michigan enrolling in college by age 19 is just 38 percent, compared to 41 percent in 1992, Booth reported.

The report graded all 50 states in a number of categories, including college preparation, affordability and completion, Booth reported. Michigan scored an F in affordability, a C- in student preparation, a B for the number of students graduating from college and an A- for the benefit accrued to the state from higher education, such as an increase in personal income, according to Booth.

"We're doing what we can at the institutional level to make sure that the access is there (by keeping costs down)," Daniel Hurley, a spokesman for an organization representing Michigan's 15 public universities, told Booth. "But we also have to recognize there has been a detrimental impact from disinvestment by the state."

Chuck Wilbur, Gov. Jennifer Granholm's education adviser, told Booth a plan to increase the Merit Award scholarship to $4,000 should help make post-secondary schooling more affordable.

Legislation is pending in Lansing.

SOURCES:
Booth Newspapers, "Report rips Michigan's higher-ed conditions," Sept. 7, 2006
http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1157640341158650.xml?aanews?NEA&coll=2

MichiganVotes.org, "2006 House Bill 6302 (Replace Merit scholarship with $4,000 over two years)"
http://www.michiganvotes.org/2006-HB-6302

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Seeking Opportunities," Aug. 7, 2006
http://www.mackinac.org/7855

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "State College Money Should Follow Students, Not Lobbyists," May 15, 2006
http://www.mackinac.org/7703

Michigan Education Report, "More diplomas, more ivory tower research won't cure Michigan's ills," March 7, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7632

MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education Report (http://www.educationreport.org), a quarterly newspaper with a circulation of 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
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User Comments
suemack
Since 2009, the EFM was allocated $500.5 million in stimulus funds. They tore down a High School and built a multi-million dollar Cass Tech, the structure alone costing $94 million. $45 million was spent for a safety program. $41 million was used to purchase a reading series not needed, $50 million was used to buy all new computers for staff and students. $1.6 million was used for administrative travel and all leadership positions recieved significant raises. The EFM in the first year gave himself a $86,000 raise, including resources from philanthropist contributions, his salalry was somewhere beyond $450,000. This is a leadership who spent more to rent and eventually buy five floors of the Fisher Bldg for office space, paying more than the owner paid for the entire building one year earlier, adorned with rare and expensive artifacts.

Teachers have had pay freezes since 2001, they have had pay cuts, benefit cuts and an additional $500.00 has been deducted from their monothly pay for two years and counting.

Oh the money is in the schools alright, it just doesn't make it to the classroom. >>
adrianna
except/accept??????? per pupil funding. If you're a teacher, I hope this was a typo. >>
danielsmith506
Yes, I am agree with you. Educational equity argument can help, But also cause blowback credits are more popular than vouchers.

Thanks
_______
Daniel

<a href=“http://www.legalx.net” rel=“dofollow”>Find Attorney</a> >>
danielsmith506
Yes, I am agree with you. Educational equity argument can help, But also cause blowback credits are more popular than vouchers.

Thanks
_______
Daniel

<a href=“http://www.legalx.net”>Find Attorney</a> >>
9Billion
Your comment "No one is that poor that they cant provide a boloney sandwich..." was the definition of "out-of-touch". First, I agree whole-heartedly that parents matter. I would love to see parents drive or car pool kids to school. Even provide them with food, too. However, sadly it is unrealistic. The economy is so weak that everything is shrinking. If we eliminate transportation and food for students we may find many families electing not to send the child to school at all...then what?

Please respond! >>
colonelb
This agreement has saved the districts money yet we are chastised for it despite the fact the wording at issue was known to be invalid and unenforceable by either side. I applaud our effort and believe this suit is frivolous. http://www.godfrey-lee.org/education/components/board/default.php?sectiondetailid=3458&threadid=554 >>
carol peterson
education is an all around development for a child
he should be mentally and physically strong


<a href="http://rescueyoursavings.com" rel="dofollow">Savings</a> >>
carol peterson
education is an all around development for a child
he should be mentally and physically strong >>
johnstfu
Informative post. In order to deal with today's troubled youth, it is helpful to take a professional guidance for better teen recovery programs. Choosing a specialized organization for troubled youth is one of the most important steps for better teen recovery. Boysville is one of the non profit organization dedicated to help troubled youth with years of successful results by helping <a href=http://www.troubledteensguide.com/>troubled youth</a> to responsible individuals. Hope this organization continue their priceless support to most of the needy troubled youth with various helpful services. >>
Aarowman
Public servants like Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Senators, Congressmen, Judges, Secretaries of Various Departments and the like should be first to be compensated for performance.
The idea that the playing field for students is level everywhere is as Quixotic as thinking all politicians are honest and competent.
There are neighborhoods where only Portugese or gang sign language is spoken, where the parents both work two jobs to pay rent, where getting to school and back is more dangerous than Iraq and Afghanastan.
This Secretary of Education has to remove the silver spoon, roll up his sleeves and take his superior intellect attitude into the trenches and show the poor slobs that are taking their teachers jobs for granted how he would do it. Just because his mommy used to help out in Chicago doesn't give him the Congression Medal of Honor. Actually he's a stuffed shirt pretending to know it all.
How much do you want to bet that he wouldn't attempt entering these neighborhoods let alone these schools without security. >>