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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
May 13, 2008

Contents of this issue:
  • Swartz Creek considers creating charter school
  • Grand Rapids contracts for custodial services
  • Genesee County voters approve school taxes
  • Flint schools pink slip another 28 employees
  • Romulus expands schools of choice policy
SWARTZ CREEK CONSIDERS CREATING CHARTER SCHOOL
SWARTZ CREEK, Mich. — The Swartz Creek school district is considering establishing a charter public school for its alternative education students, according to The Flint Journal.

The earliest the school would open is the fall of 2009, and it would be the first charter public school authorized by a conventional school district in Genesee County, the Journal reported.

"As a school district and board we've made a decision to be prescriptive in education for each child," school board member Dallas Gatlin, who chairs the academic achievement committee, told The Journal. "We can't pick and choose which students we're going to do that for."

By establishing a charter, the district will grant the school autonomy and allow it to experiment with different educational methods. The school may also have flexible learning schedules, which could include three sessions over 12 hours daily and a year-round program. The school would serve students in grades 9-12 and the goal would be to get them on track to graduate by age 18, according to The Journal.

"It's pretty obvious the system that was in place didn't work for these kids," Superintendent Jeff Pratt told The Journal. "By chartering, it allows us as a school district to focus attention on specific populations in a way different from the majority of students we have."

SOURCE:
The Flint Journal, "Swartz Creek School District will investigate creation of charter school for next school year," May 9, 2008
http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/05/swartz_creek_school_district_w.html

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "District hires company to provide alternative education," Nov. 14, 2007
http://www.educationreport.org/9094

GRAND RAPIDS CONTRACTS FOR CUSTODIAL SERVICES
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids board of education has hired a company to fill vacant part-time custodial positions, according to The Grand Rapids Press.

The board unanimously approved a deal with CSM Services through the end of the school year, which will cost the district $55,000. The recommendation has been made to sign a three-year contract with the company. The deal was a result of a high turnover rate among part-time custodians working for the district. During the 2006-2007 school year, the district had 55 custodial positions and by the end of the year, 22 of those employees left. Under the contract, current employees will keep their jobs, but any new hires will be made by CSM, The Press reported.

"When we're talking about school safety, that also means keeping the buildings clean to keep people from getting sick," Grand Rapids Education Association union President Paul Helder told The Press. "They haven't been filling these jobs, and then the buildings are dirty, and you have problems like roaches."

Board member David Allen still backs the plan.

"One of the things people bring up when they hear 'the p word' — privatization — is that we won't be able to control who is coming into our schools," Allen told The Press. "But this plan doesn't eliminate any jobs and is more to deal with the incredible turnover in these positions."

SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Private service to clean Grand Rapids Schools," May 6, 2008
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-41/12100797701 91930.xml&coll=6

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Custodial Contracting," in "A School Privatization Primer," June 26, 2007
http://www.mackinac.org/8713

GENESEE COUNTY VOTERS APPROVE SCHOOL TAXES
FLINT, Mich. — Voters in Beecher, Fenton and Goodrich agreed to local school taxes, according to The Flint Journal.

In Beecher, 75 percent of voters approved an 18-mill levy on nonhomestead property. If the measure had failed, the district would have lost $931,000 in revenue. Parent Karen Spiller voted for the proposal so the schools can remain on par with other districts, The Journal reported.

"I voted for the millage because Beecher students should have the same opportunities as other schools," Spiller, the parent of a high school senior, told The Journal.

Sixty-eight percent of Fenton voters approved the district's 18-mill levy on nonhomestead property. Residents also voted in favor of a 3-mill increase to be used if there is a "Headlee rollback." The measures provide the district with $5.2 million in additional general fund revenues, according to The Journal.

Goodrich voters also approved a 3-mill Headlee override, giving the district an additional $239,000.

SOURCE:
The Flint Journal, "Despite struggling economy nonhomestead renewals approved in Beecher and Fenton schools; Goodrich voters pass Headlee override proposal," May 7, 2008
http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/05/despite_struggling_economy_non.html

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Local Government," in "A Michigan School Money Primer," May 30, 2007
http://www.mackinac.org/8550

FLINT SCHOOLS PINK SLIP ANOTHER 28 EMPLOYEES
FLINT, Mich. — The Flint board of education voted to send 28 more lay-off notices to employees, according to The Flint Journal.

Superintendent Linda Thompson said the pink slips — sent to parent facilitators and behavioral specialists — are precautionary and, more than likely, temporary. The layoffs go into effect on June 13, but will be rescinded before next school year when the district receives $16 million in federal Title I aid, The Journal reported.

Community member Belinda Mack isn't too worried about the layoffs.

"It's sad some people don't see the big picture of what's going on," Mack told The Journal. "We don't have the money and we have to do what we can to keep the children we have. Everyone should take a business class to understand."

The 28 pink slips are in addition to the 240 layoff notices sent to teachers and administrators in April. The district will also close four schools to help alleviate budgeted spending that is $12 million over expected revenues, according to The Journal.

SOURCE:
The Flint Journal, "Flint schools send 28 more lay-off notices, hope to bring staff back," May 7, 2008
http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/05/flint_schools_send_28_more_lay.html

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "School District Budgeting," in "A Michigan School Money Primer," May 30, 2007
http://www.mackinac.org/8560
ROMULUS EXPANDS SCHOOLS OF CHOICE POLICY
ROMULUS, Mich. — The Romulus Community Schools has revised its schools of choice policy and will now allow students assigned to other districts, in grades kindergarten through eighth grade, to enroll in its schools, according to The Romulus Roman.

The district first experimented with schools of choice two years ago and only opened enrollment in one of its elementary schools. Last year the district expanded its policy by creating schools of choice slots in two elementary schools. Now, there will be 10 schools of choice spots per grade at each of the four elementary schools, as well as at the middle school, The Roman reported.

"What happened last year is that we had too many students at the facilities we advertised," Superintendent Carl Weiss told The Roman. "This strategically is a little different — we can place the students at any building where we have the room."

Last year, 38 students from outside the district chose to attend Romulus schools. District officials hope to fill all of the available schools of choice slots through an advertising campaign this summer. If the district fills all available slots, it will receive about $700,000 in additional revenue.

"I think everyone knows that all of the schools around us are doing this," Weiss told The Roman. "We haven't had any complaints since we started taking students, so we have a lot of support."

SOURCE:
The Romulus Roman, "School of Choice plan is expanded," May 8, 2008
http://www.journalgroup.com/Romulus/7610/school-of-choice-plan-is-expanded

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Conclusion: Competition Is Improving Public Schools for Michigan Children," in "The Impact of Limited School Choice on Public School Districts," July 24, 2000
http://www.mackinac.org/2979

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Foundation Allowance: General Education," in "A Michigan School Money Primer," May 30, 2007
http://www.mackinac.org/8628#nonassign

MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education Report (http://www.educationreport.org), an online newspaper 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=MED

Related Topics: Education
Michigan Education Daily
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." >>
Thu., March 11, 2010
"All Flint Community Schools administrators, including members of the superintendent's cabinet, are likely to receive layoff notices this spring, though the majority could be back next year." >>
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 >>