Contents of this issue:
MEAP scores show mixed results
Later school start could mean end of winter break
Independent school adapts to meet needs of parents
Lakeview considers downsizing, privatization
More school construction problems in Ann Arbor
Judge rejects Livonia parents' lawsuit
Bullock Creek settles contract
MEAP SCORES SHOW MIXED RESULTS
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan students do better on the math and
reading portions of the MEAP test in earlier grades, while older
students perform better on the writing test, according to Booth
Newspapers.
MEAP results released March 9 show 87 percent of third graders
met or exceeded state standards in math and reading. Just over
half, 51 percent, performed that well on writing standards, Booth
reported.
Sixth graders recorded the highest writing scores, with 75
percent of them meeting or exceeding standards. Among eighth
graders, 63 percent met or exceeded state math standards, while
73 percent did the same for reading, Booth reported.
The MEAP, expanded to test more students in more grades last
fall, included science for fifth and eighth grades and social
studies in sixth grade, Booth reported. Some 77 percent of fifth
and eighth graders met or exceeded science standards, while 78
percent of sixth graders did the same in social studies.
MEAP scores will be used in determining school achievement in
making Adequate Yearly Progress under the No Child Left Behind
Act, as well as in formulating Michigan's school report cards,
Booth reported. MEAP scores for school districts can be found at
www.michigan.gov/meap.
SOURCE:
Booth Newspapers, "Statewide students scores up on MEAP,"
March 9, 2006
https://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1141913405245260.xml?news/statewide?NE&coll=1
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Nationalizing Curriculum and
Testing," July 27, 2002
https://www.mackinac.org/4453
Michigan Education Digest, "MEAP results late," Feb. 14, 2006
https://www.educationreport.org/7589
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Credit Conundrum,"
Dec. 12, 2005
https://www.mackinac.org/7462
Michigan Education Digest, "State threatens action against MEAP
contractor," Oct. 11, 2005
https://www.educationreport.org/7380
Michigan Education Digest, "More students to take MEAP: Testing
earlier in school year," Sept. 6, 2005
https://www.educationreport.org/7344
LATER SCHOOL START COULD MEAN END OF WINTER BREAK
MONROE, Mich. — Students in the Monroe Public Schools have
enjoyed their last winter break for the foreseeable future,
according to the Monroe News.
A new state law that mandates schools begin classes after Labor
Day means giving up the week off in February in order to finish
the school year in early June.
"Rather than teach in the summer, they would much rather teach
now," Bob Nichols, president of the Monroe teachers union, told
the Monroe News. Nichols said a membership survey showed 80
percent of teachers preferred to cancel the winter break, rather
than teach into the middle of June. One reason Nichols cited for
support among teachers was the lack of air conditioning in many
of the district's schools.
SOURCE:
Monroe News, "Winter break was last for Monroe," Feb. 26, 2006
http://www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006102260001
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Legislative Action: Post-Labor Day
School Start," Dec. 15, 2005
https://www.educationreport.org/7482
MichiganVotes.org, "2005 House Bill 4803 (Ban school year
starting before Labor Day)"
https://www.michiganvotes.org/2005-HB-4803
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ADAPTS TO MEET NEEDS OF PARENTS
MUSKEGON, Mich. — A Montessori school in Muskegon County will
offer year-round classes beginning in September, according to The
Muskegon Chronicle.
Michigan Dunes Montessori, which offers pre-kindergarten through
third grade, has experienced a 73 percent drop in enrollment over
the past decade, The Chronicle reported.
"Our motto all of these years has been, 'How can we meet the
needs of the parents?'" school Administrator Claire Chiasson told
The Chronicle. "We have a lot of working, professional parents,
who don't want to have to take their children from our school and
put them in a day care. They told us that if we wanted the school
filled, we should keep it open."
Unlike conventional public schools that close for breaks during
the school year and for a long stretch in the summer — sometimes
causing parents to seek alternative accommodations during those
times — Michigan Dunes will remain open all year, except two
weeks each August, The Chronicle reported. The move is in
response to parents' wishes expressed during a December meeting.
Chiasson told The Chronicle that Michigan Dunes, which attempted
to merge with a public charter school last fall, could still
pursue that option.
SOURCE:
The Muskegon Chronicle, "School comes up with new plan to attract
students," Feb. 22, 2006
https://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-8/114062495390380.xml?muchronicle?NEM&coll=8
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Grand Rapids board reviews plans for
year-round schools," Dec. 21, 2004
https://www.educationreport.org/6933
LAKEVIEW CONSIDERS DOWNSIZING, PRIVATIZATION
LAKEVIEW, Mich. — Lakeview Community Schools is considering
eliminating several positions and privatizing custodial and food
service operations as part of a plan to eliminate a $1.2 million
deficit, according to the Greenville Daily News.
The district, in Montcalm County, has discussed eliminating one
principal position, several secretarial positions, a
transportation supervisor job, a high school teacher spot and
seven paraprofessional positions, the Daily News reported.
More than 70 people picketed a board of education meeting last
month, carrying signs that read "No Privatizing," according to
the Daily News. Sally Raczkowski, president of the Lakeview
Education Support Personnel Association said the picketers came
from other school districts, including Cedar Springs, Tri-County,
Grand Rapids and Montabella.
The district has 128 fewer students compared to five years ago,
the Daily News reported.
"Everything we do financially depends on how many students we
have here," the Daily News reported Superintendent J. Mark
Parsons said during the four-hour meeting. "We are not taking joy
in what we are looking at."
SOURCE:
The Greenville Daily News, "4 hour meeting, pickets at Lakeview,"
Feb. 14, 2006
http://www.thedailynews.cc/articles/2006/02/14/news/news02.txt
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Survey: School Outsourcing Grows," Aug. 1, 2005
https://www.mackinac.org/7212
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "How Much Is Enough?" May 16, 2005
https://www.mackinac.org/7116
MORE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS IN ANN ARBOR
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Financial problems continue to plague two
major construction projects for the Ann Arbor Public Schools,
according to The Ann Arbor News.
More than half of a $530,000 contingency fund has been spent in
change orders for an early childhood center, The News reported.
The $6.8 million project did not meet building codes, and many of
the change orders came after a state review. Door locations, for
example, had to be moved to meet egress standards, The News
reported.
"The amount of change orders is exceptionally high," Julianne
Chard, the district's bond director, told The News. "We're using
more of the construction contingency than is comfortable in a
normal project."
A new high school the district is building is $3.3 million over
budget and a year behind schedule, according to Superintendent
George Fornero, The News reported.
SOURCE:
The Ann Arbor News, "2nd school project hits snag," March 7, 2006
https://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-16/114174609163800.xml?aanews?NEA&coll=2
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "New Ann Arbor high school $3 million
over budget," Dec. 13, 2005
https://www.educationreport.org/7464
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Michigan's Prevailing Wage
Law Forces Schools to Waste Money," Nov. 9, 2001
https://www.mackinac.org/3844
Michigan Education Report, "Innovative construction saves charter
school time, money," Aug. 18, 2004
https://www.educationreport.org/6737
Michigan Education Report, "Is there a better way to finance and
build new schools?" April 16, 1999
https://www.educationreport.org/1693
JUDGE REJECTS LIVONIA PARENTS' LAWSUIT
LIVONIA, Mich. — Livonia Public Schools can proceed with a school
consolidation plan, now that a judge has denied a request to
block it, according to The Detroit News.
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge John A. Murphy denied a
preliminary injunction filed by a group of parents. The district
wants to close seven elementary schools and reconfigure buildings
with grades split into K-4, 5-6, 7-8 and 9-12, The News reported.
The district said the plan could reduce costs by up to $2 million
a year.
Murphy said the plaintiffs failed to prove the board's decision
was "arbitrary," The News reported.
"Common sense says that the fewer schools, fewer costs," Murphy
said, according to The News.
Parents also accused the school of violating the Open Meetings
Act by forming a Demographics Committee made up of 40 people,
including five school board members, which met for a year without
keeping minutes or attendance records, The News reported. Murphy
sided with the district, saying the parents did not prove board
intent to circumvent the act.
SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "Judge refuses to halt Livonia school
restructuring plan," March 10, 2006
https://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060310/UPDATE/603100421
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Livonia parents fight school
closings," Jan. 10, 2006
https://www.educationreport.org/7533
Michigan Education Digest, "Livonia to close seven schools,"
Dec. 13, 2005
https://www.educationreport.org/7464
Michigan Education Digest, "Metro Detroit schools face budget
cuts," Jan. 29, 2002
https://www.educationreport.org/4188
BULLOCK CREEK SETTLES CONTRACT
MIDLAND, Mich. — Teachers in the Bullock Creek Public Schools
have a new contract, ratified by 92 percent of union members,
according to the Midland Daily News.
Negotiations took seven months, the Daily News reported. The two-year contract includes a 1.5 percent pay raise this year and a 2 percent raise next year. Teachers also agreed to switch health insurance coverage to a PPO. The Daily News in December reported
that health care in the district cost more than $16,000 a year
per teacher.
"That was our big economic adjustment," Renaye Baker, president
of the Bullock Creek teachers union, told the Daily News.
SOURCES:
Midland Daily News, "BC teachers, administration agree on pact,"
March 9, 2006
https://www.ourmidland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16269851&BRD=2289&PAG=461&dept_id= 472542&rfi=6
Midland Daily News, "Bullock Creek calls in state mediator for
talks," Dec. 15, 2005
https://www.ourmidland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15760776&BRD=2289&PAG=461&dept_id= 472542&rfi=6
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Growing number of districts seek
solutions to costly health insurance," Dec. 15, 2005
https://www.educationreport.org/7479
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Teacher Health Insurance
Money Should Not Fund Politics," July 1, 1998
https://www.mackinac.org/530
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Michigan Education Special
Services Agency: The MEA's Money Machine," Nov. 1, 1993
https://www.mackinac.org/8
MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education
Report (
https://www.educationreport.org),
a quarterly newspaper
with a circulation of nearly 150,000 published by the Mackinac
Center for Public Policy (
https://www.mackinac.org),
a private,
nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute.
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