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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
December 5, 2006

Contents of this issue:
  • Detroit teachers oust union leader
  • Charlevoix battles union over long-term sub hire
  • Holland contracts for substitute teachers
  • Teachers in thumb agree to cheaper union health plan
  • Hart schools leave MESSA
  • Ewen-Trout Creek Schools uncovers deficit
  • Win an iPod
DETROIT TEACHERS OUST UNION LEADER
DETROIT — The Detroit Federation of Teachers union recently voted their president of six years out of office, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Teachers replaced President Janna Garrison with Executive Vice President Virginia Cantrell. Garrison believes that the change in power is a result of the recently negotiated contract, as well as the overall handling of the teacher's strike, according to the Free Press. The teachers union conducted an illegal strike that denied instruction to students for several days in September.

"If you betray the membership, you lose the job," DPS teacher Heather Miller told the Free Press.

Cantrell received 56 percent of the vote, while Garrison received 35 percent and math teacher Stephen Conn received 9 percent. Cantrell's two-year term will begin in January, according to the Free Press.

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Detroit's teachers union ousts leader," Dec. 3, 2006
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061203/NEWS01/612030695/1003/NEWS

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "DPS enrollment drop biggest in 20 years," Nov. 28, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/8085

Michigan Education Digest, "DPS, DFT disagree on compulsory dues, legal fees," Nov. 21, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/8087

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

CHARLEVOIX BATTLES UNION OVER LONG-TERM SUB HIRE
CHARLEVOIX, Mich. — The Charlevoix school district will save about $26,000 by hiring a substitute teacher through a private firm to fill a year-long vacancy, according to the Petoskey News-Review.

The Michigan Education Association school employees union, however, has filed a grievance over the matter, the News-Review reported. The district hired a long-term sub through PMP Personnel Services. In years past, the district hired a teacher to fill vacancies created by employee leaves of absence. Terry Cox, an MEA Uniserv director, believes the district is at fault for not notifying the union of a change in its practice, according to the News-Review.

Superintendent Jim Cooper believes that the district did not breach its contract because the Legislature amended the Michigan Revised School Code in 2002, allowing districts to contract with staffing agencies to fill vacancies created by leaves of absence, according to the News-Review.

"A lot of the areas of a contract are vague and open for interpretation," Cooper told the News-Review. "It comes down to the law and opinion."

SOURCE:
Petoskey News-Review, "Teachers seek arbitration over permanent sub hiring," Nov. 29, 2006
http://www.petoskeynews.com/articles/2006/11/29/news/local_regional/news1.txt

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Substitute teachers privatized in Grand Rapids," May 9, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7701

Michigan Education Digest, "Privatized subs can save schools money," April 11, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7677

HOLLAND CONTRACTS FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
HOLLAND, Mich. — Holland Public Schools is the latest district to sign a competitive contract for its substitute teachers, according to The Grand Rapids Press.

Holland has joined the list of 26 school districts in Kent and Ottawa counties that now use Professional Employment Services Group to provide their substitute teachers. School officials are reporting savings of about 8.5 percent on substitute costs because of the switch, according to The Press.

PESG allows districts to set their own pay rate for subs, and some have reduced pay to increase savings. Holland, however, which uses between 30 and 50 subs a day, has promised to keep wages at $95 per day. The district is doing this to compete with two neighboring districts that do not contract with PESG, according to The Press.

PESG also is convenient for substitute teachers who work in multiple districts because they will receive one check per pay period and one W-2 in January. Moreover, unlike Kent ISD, PESG hires new substitutes throughout the year, The Press reported.

"This poses advantages to new teachers, especially if they graduate from college mid-year," Jon Felske, superintendent of Wyoming schools, which works with PESG, told The Press.

SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Districts find savings by privatizing sub teachers," Nov. 28, 2006
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-33/1164720902183860.xml&coll=6

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "West Michigan schools contract for substitute teachers," Nov. 21, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/8087

Michigan Education Report, "Beyond brooms, burgers and buses," Nov. 21, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/8032

TEACHERS IN THUMB AGREE TO CHEAPER UNION HEALTH PLAN
BAD AXE, Mich. — Teachers in two Thumb-area school districts have settled contracts and opted to take a more cost-effective insurance plan, according to the Huron Daily Tribune.

Teachers from both Unionville-Sebewaing Area Schools and Deckerville have agreed to switch from the Michigan Education Special Services Association Supercare I health plan to MESSA Choices II, according to the Tribune. MESSA is a third-party administrator affiliated with the Michigan Education Association school employees union.

Deckerville will save $17,936 on insurance for this school year and teachers will receive a 2 percent pay increase. Teachers in Unionville-Sebewaing will receive a 1.95 percent pay increase for this year and a 1.85 percent raise for the next two years, according to the Tribune.

"It's a win-win contract," Dr. Kip Walker, superintendent of Unionville-Sebewaing schools told the Tribune. "The teachers received a decent raise and agreed to take a cheaper insurance."

SOURCES:
Huron Daily Tribune, "USA teacher contract approved," Nov. 22, 2006
http://www.michigansthumb.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17502020&BRD=2292& PAG=461&dept_id=571474&rfi=6

Huron Daily Tribune, "District finalizes teacher contract," Nov. 29, 2006
http://www.michigansthumb.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17525968&BRD=2292&PAG=461& dept_id=571474&rfi=6

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Pellston teachers choose less expensive health plan," Nov. 21, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/8087

Michigan Education Digest, "Fruitport teachers flock to less expensive MESSA," Sept. 12, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7926

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

HART SCHOOLS LEAVE MESSA
HART, Mich. — The support staff for Hart Public Schools has agreed to abandon health insurance sold through the Michigan Education Special Services Association in exchange for a more cost-effective insurance offered by SET SEG, according to the Ludington Daily News.

The Hart board of education has recently required that teachers also take the less costly health plan, saving the district at least $250,000, the Daily News reported.

Members of the support staff were pleased with their decision, according to the Daily News.

"We were satisfied," support staff union representative Judy Herin told the Daily News. "We met a compromise and we felt we got something. By going with it we saved the district some money. We were pleased."

While many aspects of the teachers' contract are still on the table, the district and union already have decided on annual and step pay increases. The support staff contract also includes pay increases ranging from 2 to 2.5 percent over the three-year contract, according to the News.

SOURCE:
Ludington Daily News, "Hart schools OK support staff contract," Nov. 30, 2006
http://www.ludingtondailynews.com/news.php?story_id=34019

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Madison contracts stall over health insurance," Nov. 21, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/8087

Michigan Education Digest, "St. Johns board declares impasse," Sept. 19, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7934

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

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "MESSA Reference Page," March 10, 2006
http://www.mackinac.org/7643

EWEN-TROUT CREEK SCHOOLS UNCOVERS DEFICIT
Ewen, Mich. — The Ewen-Trout Creek school district's audit revealed a $1.2 million budget deficit, according to the Ironwood Daily Globe.

Auditor Diane Rostagno reported that the largest liability is owed to the Michigan Education Special Services Association, a third-party administrator affiliated with the Michigan Education Association school employees union. The district owes $600,000 in payments to MESSA, according to the Globe.

Rostagno told the board it is likely that financial reports from past years were incorrect and that the district has had the deficit for many years without realizing it.

"This did not just occur but is a culmination over several years," Rostagno told the board, according to the Globe.

The board speculates that notices about overdue payments to MESSA were not given to administrators by an office professional who is no longer employed by the district, the Globe reported.

SOURCE:
Ironwood Daily Globe, "E-TC School District discovers $1.2 million deficit," Nov. 30, 2006
http://www.ironwooddailyglobe.com/1130etcs.htm

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Dowagiac schools crunched by teacher benefits," Nov. 28, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/8085

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

WIN AN IPOD
MIDLAND, Mich. — Michigan Education Report is offering readers a chance to win an iPod when they comment on articles in its Winter 2006 issue. Comments can be made via e-mail about stories on alternative teacher certification, successful public school reform and Michigan's cap on charter public schools. Please visit www.educationreport.org for more information.

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
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 >>