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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
November 7, 2006

Contents of this issue:
  • DPS fights union to keep at-risk program
  • Lansing schools may save by cutting teachers' stipend
  • Report: Charters have higher teacher certification
  • School safety drill angers parents
  • Merrill schools move to alternative fuel
DPS FIGHTS UNION TO KEEP AT-RISK PROGRAM
DETROIT — The Detroit Federation of Teachers union is refusing to sign a waiver exempting those who teach in Last Chance, a program for at-risk students, from DFT's collective bargaining agreement, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Public Schools receive state funding for the program, which is run by private organizations. DFT will only sign the exemption waiver if DPS uses half of its share of the state funding to give union members pay raises, the Free Press reported.

Janna Garrison, president of the DFT, said that the union has granted waivers for the past two years and was told by the district that it would try to "work something out," the Free Press reported.

DPS, in exchange for signing the waiver, has offered to pay the union's $100,000 in legal fees the DFT accrued during a recent strike, the Free Press reported. The teachers union conducted an illegal strike that denied instruction to students for several days in September.

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "In Detroit, schools and union dispute money again," Oct. 31, 2006
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061031/NEWS02/610310403/1004

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "DPS teachers union strikes," Aug. 29, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7882

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

Michigan Education Digest, "Detroit dropout programs encourage kids to go back to school," Sept. 27, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7364

LANSING SCHOOLS MAY SAVE BY CUTTING TEACHERS' STIPEND
LANSING, Mich. — The Lansing school district will save $2.5 million a year by ending a $166 monthly health care stipend for teachers, according to the Lansing State Journal.

District officials said the stipend was offered on a temporary basis for teachers who chose a less costly version of union-affiliated health insurance. The monthly bonus was used as an incentive for teachers who opted for Tri-MED, under which they agree to pay a portion of their own doctor visits and prescriptions, the State Journal reported.

"For some of our teachers, this stop in payment is 10 percent of their income," union President Jerry Swartz told the Lansing State Journal.

The stipend was included in a contract that expired in August, according to the State Journal.

"We can't allow these inherent expenditures to take place because our surplus is simply not going to be there," board member Jack Davis told the State Journal.

The Michigan Education Association school employee union said it will file an unfair labor practice charge, as well as a wage and hour violation, against the district, the State Journal reported.

SOURCES:
Lansing State Journal, "District, teachers clash on insurance," Nov. 3, 2006
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061103/NEWS05/611030349/1006/news05

Lansing State Journal, "Loss of stipends angers teachers: Lansing schools' move cuts income of about 1,000 staff," Oct. 31, 2006
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061031/NEWS05/610310326/1006/news05

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Lansing public school board decides to close five schools," Feb. 22, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/6987

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "School Budgets: A Crisis of Management, Not Finance," Feb. 11, 2005
http://www.mackinac.org/6980

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

REPORT: CHARTERS HAVE HIGHER TEACHER CERTIFICATION
LANSING, Mich. — Charter public schools have a higher percentage of certified teachers than their "host" conventional public school districts, according to a new report issued by the Michigan Association of Public School Academies.

According to The Detroit News, the report states 95 percent of teachers in charter schools are certified, compared to 87 percent of teachers in conventional public schools.

Dan Quisenberry, president of MAPSA, said the data shows charter public schools attract quality teachers.

"It's due to the diligence by the school to ensure they hire certified teachers," Quisenberry told The News.

Michigan Department of Education officials are concerned about the validity of the statistics because the information was self-reported by districts and could be inaccurate, according to The News.

"A school district cannot employ a teacher that is not certified or permitted," Martin Ackley, spokesman for the MDE, told The News, "And districts know that."

SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "More charter teachers certified," Oct. 27, 2006
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006610270368

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Governor's letter calls on authorizers to improve charter performance," Sept. 27, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7364

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Teaching by Example," Oct. 24, 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6867

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Does Teacher Certification Matter?" Sept. 14, 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6831

SCHOOL SAFETY DRILL ANGERS PARENTS
WYOMING, Mich. — Parents and students were caught off guard by "lock-down" drills held in the Godfrey Lee school district middle and high schools, according to The Grand Rapids Press.

Local police officers in riot gear stormed into two separate classrooms, took students into the hall and patted them down. Students were given no reason to believe they were participating in a drill, according to The Press.

Many parents were outraged and believed the drill went too far.

"Some of these kids were so scared, they just about wet their pants," Marge Bradshaw, a parent of four children who attend the schools told The Press. "I think it's pure wrong that the students and parents were not informed of this."

Despite concern from many parents, the Godfrey Lee school board is standing by its decision, according to The Press.

"How are you going to know if you're prepared or not if you don't go 100 percent?" board member Doug Alspaugh told The Press.

SOURCES:
The Grand Rapids Press, "School board members approve of tactics in drill," Oct. 31, 2006
http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-32/116230981721780.xml?grpress?NEG&coll=6

The Grand Rapids Press, "Realistic school drill riles parents," Oct. 28, 2006
http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-32/1162017602317690.xml?grpress?NEG&coll=6

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "The three P's of school safety," Nov. 1, 2000
http://www.educationreport.org/3134

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Private Protection: A Growing Industry Could Enhance School Safety," Nov. 16, 1998
http://www.mackinac.org/802

MERRILL SCHOOLS MOVE TO ALTERNATIVE FUEL
MERRILL, Mich. — Merrill Community Schools has partnered with private industry in an attempt to reduce heating costs, according to the Midland Daily News.

The district recently purchased a $70,000 corn-fed furnace from Best Burns, prompted in part by an increase in natural gas prices. The boiler, along with other energy-saving changes, is expected to save the district $30,000 per year, the Daily News reported.

The system currently is tied in to the middle school's hot water heating system, and can be upgraded to heat the high school, according to the Daily News.

SOURCE:
Midland Daily News, "Merrill Schools a state leader for alternative energy," Oct. 31, 2006
http://www.ourmidland.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17400922&BRD=2289& PAG=461&dept_id=578054&rfi=8

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Private firm helps Battle Creek schools cut energy costs," July 19, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7817

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

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 Sarah Grether at
mailto:med@educationreport.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to
http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/mer/listserver.aspx?Source=wwwMED
Related Topics: Education
Michigan Education Daily
Wed., March 17, 2010
"Detroit Public Schools will end up with 100 fewer school buildings than it had in 2006 if a new closure plan is carried out." >>
Tue., March 16, 2010
"Most of the country's public schools would have more freedom under a proposed rewrite of the No Child Left Behind law." >>
Tue., March 16, 2010
"Reading scores improved in all grades, and math scores in most grades, while science and social studies scores dipped slightly on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests taken in fall of 2009." >>
Mon., March 15, 2010
"Some parents who attended a South Redford School District forum recently called on teachers to make wage or benefit concessions as a way to protect school programs." >>
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." >>
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 >>