Contents of this issue:
- Several Metro Detroit districts add Mandarin to curriculum
- GRPS support staff contribute to health care; union refuses
- All three Grand Rapids recall signatures deemed invalid
- Redford Union schools file unfair labor charge against teachers
- Hillsdale teachers, support staff get raises; help pay premiums
- Gwinn teachers, paraprofessionals see raises
- Comment and win book money
SEVERAL METRO DETROIT DISTRICTS ADD MANDARIN TO CURRICULUM
TROY, Mich. — A dozen districts in the Metro Detroit area are
finding ways to include Mandarin Chinese into their curriculum,
according to The Detroit News.
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson pushed for Mandarin
to be added to the schools, and it is now offered in Troy,
Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham and Novi. Troy has offered the
language for 10 years in its high schools and plans to expand its
program to middle school next year, The News reported.
"We've had a great deal of success," Tim McAvoy, a Troy district
spokesperson, told The News. "It is important for kids to learn
the language and culture if they're going to be a success in the
global economy."
Many of the schools will not have to pay for its Mandarin
language program; the money will come from a group of businesses,
as well as from grants. Districts that aren't receiving
assistance from other organizations, like South Lyon, will begin
to offer Mandarin, but at the expense of another language. For
instance, South Lyon will begin to phase out its French classes,
according to The News.
Howell Public Schools has teamed with Michigan State University
to expose students to Mandarin. The International Baccalaureate
Academy in the Chippewa Valley School district will start
offering the language in the fall of 2008. Additionally, schools
associated with the Center for Advanced Studies and the Arts will
offer Mandarin in some form in preschool through 12th grade, The
News reported.
SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "As China's global presence grows, more Metro
districts add Mandarin to curriculum," July 27, 2007
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070727/SCHOOLS/707270359/1026
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Online Chinese course to be offered
to high school students," April 10, 2007
http://www.educationreport.org/8373
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Asian Food for Thought,"
Dec. 10, 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6905
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Undereducated Today,
Outsourced Tomorrow?" Nov. 16, 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6886
GRPS SUPPORT STAFF CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH CARE; UNION REFUSES
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Public Schools support staff
have agreed to contribute $50 a month to their own health
insurance in return for a 2 percent pay increase. But district
teachers, who received a raise last year, are unwilling to make a
similar compromise unless the district offers them more money,
according to The Grand Rapids Press.
The district's support staff will still receive health coverage
through the Michigan Educational Special Services Association, a
third-party administrator affiliated with the Michigan Education
Association school employees union.
Teachers agreed to a 1.25 percent pay increase last year, but
refuse to make concessions on health insurance unless they
receive a higher raise as compensation for the contribution, The
Press reported.
"They're knocking at the door, and they're knocking hard," Alex
Chess, president of the Grand Rapids Education Association told
The Press. "But we have some proposals of our own. I don't see us
taking that kind of a monthly hit unless there is a raise that
will cover it."
SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Grand rapids teachers want health fee
covered," July 24, 2007
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-37/1185285429242420.xml&coll=6
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Health care holds up contract
negotiations in Grand Blanc," July 10, 2007
http://www.educationreport.org/8799
Michigan Education Digest, "Flint area schools battle over health
insurance," May 22, 2007
http://www.educationreport.org/8617
ALL THREE GRAND RAPIDS RECALL SIGNATURES DEEMED INVALID
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A recall effort in Grand Rapids came to a
halt when members of the recall group turned in three petition
signatures, all of which were deemed invalid, according to The
Grand Rapids Press.
The Committee for Positive Community Change targeted Board of
Education member David Allen because of his support for
competitive contracting. The group considers their effort a
success, as they meant it to be symbolic, The Press reported. The
group needed to collect at least 16,000 signatures to have a
recall measure placed on the ballot.
"As far as we are concerned, we met our objectives," Kenneth
Muhammad, organizer of Positive Community Change told The Press.
"We slowed the rate of privatization in the city, and we informed
the public about the privatization issue."
The events in Grand Rapids have also gained the attention of
nationally syndicated columnist Paul Jacob.
"What were their objectives? How did they do? They gathered a
whopping three signatures. Just three," he wrote.
Allen wasn't threatened by the recall attempt, but is bothered by
the waste of resources and taxpayer dollars.
"They were allowed to drag my name through the mud all these
months, and this is all they can do?" Allen told The Press.
SOURCES:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Recall effort garners just 3
signatures," July 24, 2007
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-37/1185285560242420.xml&coll=6
Townhall.com, "Enemies worth a laugh," July 29, 2007
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/PaulJacob/2007/07/29/enemies_worth_a_laugh
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Privatization Report, "School Board Members Survive
Recall Attempt," July 26, 2007
http://www.mackinac.org/7845
Michigan Education Digest, "Board member may face recall for
moving kids to new school," Jan. 4, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7564
REDFORD UNION SCHOOLS FILE UNFAIR LABOR CHARGE AGAINST TEACHERS
REDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Redford Union Schools filed an unfair
labor practice against teachers who refused to work on three
different dates this spring, according to The Detroit News.
According to the district, 67 teachers called in sick from
Redford High School on June 7, and an unusually high number of
teachers from a district elementary and middle school called in
sick on May 22 and June 4, respectively. The district is naming
43 teachers in its complaint. Michigan law prohibits public
employees from striking, The News reported.
"The thing that infuriated me the most is the high school
teachers that called in on graduation day," Superintendent Donna
Rhodes told The News. "They did not even come to graduation and
walk with the kids as they have for over 40 years."
Redford teachers have been without a contract since November
2005. The district imposed one on the employees on July 1, but
made fewer cutbacks than had originally been expected. Imposing a
contract was necessary to create a budget for the 2007-2008
school year, according to The News.
SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "Redford Twp. Labor clash hits schools,"
July 25, 2007
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070725/METRO01/707250377/1026/SCHOOLS
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "A Collective Bargaining
Primer For Michigan School Board Members," Feb. 28, 2007
http://www.mackinac.org/8258
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Teachers' Strikes, Court
Orders and Michigan Law," Sept. 11, 2006
http://www.mackinac.org/7922
HILLSDALE TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF GET RAISES; HELP PAY PREMIUMS
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Teachers and support staff in Hillsdale
Community Schools have both reached tentative contract agreements
that include raises and a contribution to their own health care
coverage, according to The Hillsdale Daily News.
Teachers will receive a 1.25 percent salary increase for 2007-2008 and an additional 1 percent the year after. If health
insurance premiums are less than a certain amount, teachers will
receive an additional 0.25 percent raise. Teachers will
contribute $300 toward their premiums in 2007-2008 and $500 in
2008-2009. The district will reimburse teachers for up to $300 in
insurance co-pays, The Daily News reported.
School support staff will receive 35 cents an hour more in the
fall and 25 cents more in 2008-2009. They will be reimbursed up
to $200 for co-pays and will contribute $325 and then $300 to
their premiums over two years. Both the support staff and
teachers will pay $10 co-pays for generic prescription drugs, and
$20 for brand name drugs, according to The Daily News.
Superintendent Richard Ames said because employees were willing
to contribute to health care costs, the district could afford
modest raises.
"The strong working relationship that exists between the board
and both units came through during this process," Ames told The
Daily News. "We use the phrase 'school family' and we tried to
approach things from that point of view."
SOURCE:
The Hillsdale Daily News, "School board OKs labor deals,"
July 27, 2007
http://www.hillsdale.net/stories/072707/news_20070727005.shtml
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Cedar Springs teachers voluntarily
give up pay increase," June 12, 2007
http://www.educationreport.org/8639
Michigan Education Digest, "Royal Oak teachers protest at board
meeting, want to keep MESSA," May 1, 2007
http://www.educationreport.org/8483
GWINN TEACHERS AGREE TO START CONTRIBUTING TO HEALTH CARE IN 2008
MARQUETTE, Mich. — Teachers represented by the Gwinn Education
Association agreed to salary increases over the next three years,
while agreeing to start contributing to the cost of health care,
according to The Mining Journal.
Teachers are scheduled for a 0.45 percent pay increase in 2007-2008, a 1 percent raise the following year, and 1.25 percent in
2009-2010. The contract states that if the district receives an
increase in state aid, teachers will receive additional raises,
The Journal reported.
Teachers will continue to have health benefits administered by
the Michigan Education Special Services Association, but will
begin paying between $15 and $65 per month in 2008-2009 toward
insurance premiums. Teachers will have a $10 co-pay for generic
prescriptions and a $20 co-pay on brand name drugs, according to
The Journal.
District paraprofessionals will receive a 2 percent raise each
year for three years. These employees do not receive insurance
through the schools, The Journal reported.
"We're extremely pleased with the attitude that all parties
brought to the table in helping the district," Superintendent
Steve Peffers told The Journal.
SOURCE:
The Mining Journal, "Gwinn school board OKs contracts,"
July 25, 2007
http://www.miningjournal.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=17903
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Howell teachers contribute more for
MESSA premiums," June 19, 2007
http://www.educationreport.org/8648
Michigan Education Digest, "Jackson teachers vote to contribute
more to health care," June 12, 2007
http://www.educationreport.org/8639
Michigan Education Report, "Growing number of districts seek
solutions to costly health insurance," Dec. 15, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7479
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