MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
Volume XI, No. 42
Oct. 20, 2009
http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/med/
MICHIGAN MATH SCORES FLAT
---------------------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - Michigan math scores remain at a standstill on The
National Assessment of Educational Progress, while other Midwest
states are improving, The Detroit News reported in a recent
column.
The NAEP tests fourth- and eighth-grade students across the
country. The latest math scores show that achievement levels in
Michigan have remained essentially flat over the past five
years, while those in other Midwest states have improved
relative to national averages, according to The News.
In addition, African-American students in Michigan scored lower,
on average, than their counterparts in any other state, The News
noted. Michigan also is tied for last nationally in calculations
of black-white achievement gaps on the test, the report said.
"While our neighbors are dramatically improving, we continue to
fail," Sharif Shakrani, co-director of the Michigan State
University Education Policy Center, said, according to The News.
_______
SOURCES:
The Detroit News, "New test scores show that our students are
falling behind," Oct. 19, 2009
http://www.detnews.com/article/20091019/OPINION03/910190306/1031/opinion03
National Center for Education Statistics, "Mathematics 2009:
Snapshot State Report, Michigan Grade 4."
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/stt2009/2010454MI4.pdf
National Center for Education Statistics, "Mathematics 2009:
Snapshot State Report, Michigan Grade 8."
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/stt2009/2010454MI8.pdf
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Double-but-nothing: More education
spending hasn't yielded better results," Sept. 6, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7914
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
More Shared Services May Lie Ahead
MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
Volume XI, No. 42
Oct. 20, 2009
http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/med/
MORE SHARED SERVICES MAY LIE AHEAD
---------------------------------------------------------------
THREE RIVERS, Mich. - Consolidation of services is one likely
way public school districts will deal with future budget
reductions, the Three Rivers Community Schools superintendent
told the school board recently, according to radio station WLKM-
95.9.
Superintendent Roger Rathburn noted that technology services
already have been consolidated at the county level there, and he
suggested that business and superintendent services may follow
suit, the station reported.
"The school systems just can't exist under the old model. There
are not enough revenues to sustain that model and I think most
districts are doing their best to keep the impact away from the
classroom," Rathburn said, according to WLKM.
The Three Rivers district has reduced spending by about $2.8
million in the past four years, the report said. The K-12
spending bill passed by the state Legislature for the current
year cuts school aid by about $165 per student.
______
SOURCE:
WLKM-95.9, "TR School Board discusses budget trends,"
Oct. 13, 2009
http://www.wlkm.com/?p=7952
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Six Habits of Fiscally
Responsible Public School Districts: Executive Summary,"
Dec. 3, 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4892
Volume XI, No. 42
Oct. 20, 2009
http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/med/
MORE SHARED SERVICES MAY LIE AHEAD
---------------------------------------------------------------
THREE RIVERS, Mich. - Consolidation of services is one likely
way public school districts will deal with future budget
reductions, the Three Rivers Community Schools superintendent
told the school board recently, according to radio station WLKM-
95.9.
Superintendent Roger Rathburn noted that technology services
already have been consolidated at the county level there, and he
suggested that business and superintendent services may follow
suit, the station reported.
"The school systems just can't exist under the old model. There
are not enough revenues to sustain that model and I think most
districts are doing their best to keep the impact away from the
classroom," Rathburn said, according to WLKM.
The Three Rivers district has reduced spending by about $2.8
million in the past four years, the report said. The K-12
spending bill passed by the state Legislature for the current
year cuts school aid by about $165 per student.
______
SOURCE:
WLKM-95.9, "TR School Board discusses budget trends,"
Oct. 13, 2009
http://www.wlkm.com/?p=7952
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Six Habits of Fiscally
Responsible Public School Districts: Executive Summary,"
Dec. 3, 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4892
PPS Board Committees 2009-2010
The Portage Public Schools' Board of Education televised meetings occur approximately once a month and can be viewed on Public Access TV. DVD's can be obtained for a fee or can be viewed at Public Access.
However, the majority of the Board of Education's work is spent off camera in committee work.
As of this writing, you will not find committee information on the PPS website. It has been requested.
Also requested is the addition of Committee Meeting Schedules, Agendas & Minutes.
****************************************
Board of Education
2009/10 Committee/Liaison Assignments
Audit Committee – *Deb Polderman, Dale Posthumus, Jennifer Whistler
Bond Construction Committee – *Dale Posthumus, Rusty Rathburn, Deb Polderman
CEO Evaluation Committee – *John Whyte, Randy VanAntwerp, Melanie Kurdys
Governance Education Committee – *Melanie Kurdys, Randy VanAntwerp, Jennifer Whistler
Owner Linkage – Ad Hoc Committee – *John Whyte, Randy VanAntwerp, Rusty Rathburn
*Chair
Liaison Assignments:
• District Advisory Council – John Whyte
• Portage Athletic Foundation – Dale Posthumus
• Portage Education Foundation– Deb Polderman
10/8/09
Contact Information for the Board of Education can be found on the PPS Website.
http://www.portageps.org/administration/boardofeducation/default.aspx
However, the majority of the Board of Education's work is spent off camera in committee work.
As of this writing, you will not find committee information on the PPS website. It has been requested.
Also requested is the addition of Committee Meeting Schedules, Agendas & Minutes.
****************************************
Board of Education
2009/10 Committee/Liaison Assignments
Audit Committee – *Deb Polderman, Dale Posthumus, Jennifer Whistler
Bond Construction Committee – *Dale Posthumus, Rusty Rathburn, Deb Polderman
CEO Evaluation Committee – *John Whyte, Randy VanAntwerp, Melanie Kurdys
Governance Education Committee – *Melanie Kurdys, Randy VanAntwerp, Jennifer Whistler
Owner Linkage – Ad Hoc Committee – *John Whyte, Randy VanAntwerp, Rusty Rathburn
*Chair
Liaison Assignments:
• District Advisory Council – John Whyte
• Portage Athletic Foundation – Dale Posthumus
• Portage Education Foundation– Deb Polderman
10/8/09
Contact Information for the Board of Education can be found on the PPS Website.
http://www.portageps.org/administration/boardofeducation/default.aspx
"It's the taxpayers' dollars. They have a right to see how it is being spent, and I have a responsibility to share it with them."
In the Portage Public Schools District folks have been asking for the online check register. The response from the Board of Education:
"The Owner's Linkage committee will be looking into the issue of posting checkbook registers online. Stay tuned."
Here is the Owner Linkage Committee – *John Whyte, Randy VanAntwerp, Rusty Rathburn.
Contact them and let them know what you think.
John Whyte johntwhyte@ameritech.net 327-3561
Rusty Rathburn rrathburn@portageps.org 385-4178
Randy VanAntwerp rvanantwerp@portageps.org 327-5742
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009
Contact: Ken Braun
Policy Analyst
517-482-7108
or
989-631-0900
Four Mid-Michigan Public School Districts Open Books
Gladwin acknowledges ‘responsibility’ to embrace transparency; resident’s effort gets Clare on board
MIDLAND — Four more public school districts — Gladwin, Clare, Frankenmuth and Coleman — have joined a growing transparency effort by publishing their checkbook registers online, said Ken Braun, director of the Mackinac Center’s “Show Michigan the Money” project. Braun has been encouraging all 551 public school districts, every charter public school, municipalities and legislators in Michigan to regularly provide this data on their Web sites.
“It’s very simple,” said Gladwin Superintendent Rick Seebeck. “It’s not my money. It’s the taxpayers’ dollars. They have a right to see how it is being spent, and I have a responsibility to share it with them.”
In Clare, local attorney Ghazey Aleck launched a Web site to push the school district toward transparency.
“I noticed a disturbing trend,” said Aleck. “The school was holding kids responsible in the classroom, but they weren’t being held accountable for their own actions.”
His efforts paid off, and the district now posts expenditures on its own site.
With these additions, there are now 58 public school districts and two intermediate school districts statewide providing this information online, including half of the largest 20 districts. More than one in five public school students now attend a district that has an online check register.
“On the day after his inauguration, President Obama said, ‘The way to make government accountable is to make it transparent, so that the American people can know exactly what decisions are being made, how they’re being made and whether their interests are being well served,’” said Braun. “It’s encouraging to see school districts in mid-Michigan, and throughout the state, fulfilling the spirit of this ideal.”
Links to all school district checkbook registers open to the public are available at www.showmichiganthemoney.org/9329.
#####
Mackinac Center News Release"
"The Owner's Linkage committee will be looking into the issue of posting checkbook registers online. Stay tuned."
Here is the Owner Linkage Committee – *John Whyte, Randy VanAntwerp, Rusty Rathburn.
Contact them and let them know what you think.
John Whyte johntwhyte@ameritech.net 327-3561
Rusty Rathburn rrathburn@portageps.org 385-4178
Randy VanAntwerp rvanantwerp@portageps.org 327-5742
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009
Contact: Ken Braun
Policy Analyst
517-482-7108
or
989-631-0900
Four Mid-Michigan Public School Districts Open Books
Gladwin acknowledges ‘responsibility’ to embrace transparency; resident’s effort gets Clare on board
MIDLAND — Four more public school districts — Gladwin, Clare, Frankenmuth and Coleman — have joined a growing transparency effort by publishing their checkbook registers online, said Ken Braun, director of the Mackinac Center’s “Show Michigan the Money” project. Braun has been encouraging all 551 public school districts, every charter public school, municipalities and legislators in Michigan to regularly provide this data on their Web sites.
“It’s very simple,” said Gladwin Superintendent Rick Seebeck. “It’s not my money. It’s the taxpayers’ dollars. They have a right to see how it is being spent, and I have a responsibility to share it with them.”
In Clare, local attorney Ghazey Aleck launched a Web site to push the school district toward transparency.
“I noticed a disturbing trend,” said Aleck. “The school was holding kids responsible in the classroom, but they weren’t being held accountable for their own actions.”
His efforts paid off, and the district now posts expenditures on its own site.
With these additions, there are now 58 public school districts and two intermediate school districts statewide providing this information online, including half of the largest 20 districts. More than one in five public school students now attend a district that has an online check register.
“On the day after his inauguration, President Obama said, ‘The way to make government accountable is to make it transparent, so that the American people can know exactly what decisions are being made, how they’re being made and whether their interests are being well served,’” said Braun. “It’s encouraging to see school districts in mid-Michigan, and throughout the state, fulfilling the spirit of this ideal.”
Links to all school district checkbook registers open to the public are available at www.showmichiganthemoney.org/9329.
#####
Mackinac Center News Release"
Sunday, October 11, 2009
HB 4447
HB 4447
School Aid Budget
The highlights are as follows:
· A per pupil reduction of $165—this reduction is a bottom line reduction in state aid payments and doesn’t reflect an adjustment in the foundation amount.
· A 20 percent reduction in Sec. 81 ISD operations.
· The inclusion of a minimum number of days of instruction—the conference report requires that all districts maintain at least 165 days of instruction for 2010-11 and 2011-12, and at least 170 days of instruction in 2012-13. Additionally, the law requires that a district not provide fewer days of instruction than were provided in the 2009-10 school year. Existing collective bargaining agreements supersede the implementation of this requirement.
· The conference report requires that districts and ISDs provide on their Web sites expenditure pie charts, details of salaries in excess of $100,000, lobbying expenditures, association fees and links to bargaining agreements, health care benefit plans and annual financial audits.
· Districts were granted flexibility to absorb the per pupil cut in other program areas, besides the discretionary spending categorical (state aid payments), if they agree to develop a service consolidation plan to reduce school operating costs within Michigan Department of Education guidelines.
· In this report the Legislature moved the retirement contribution rate from 16.54 to 16.94 percent.
· On the question of stimulus funds used for this budget—there’s still a carryover of $184 million. The new budget assumes that the state will enact over $100 million in new revenue. Without that new revenue the cuts would reflect the initial conference report. Details are unknown on this component at this time
SOURCE:
MASB News from the Capitol
Don Wotruba/Peter Spadafore
School Aid Budget
The highlights are as follows:
· A per pupil reduction of $165—this reduction is a bottom line reduction in state aid payments and doesn’t reflect an adjustment in the foundation amount.
· A 20 percent reduction in Sec. 81 ISD operations.
· The inclusion of a minimum number of days of instruction—the conference report requires that all districts maintain at least 165 days of instruction for 2010-11 and 2011-12, and at least 170 days of instruction in 2012-13. Additionally, the law requires that a district not provide fewer days of instruction than were provided in the 2009-10 school year. Existing collective bargaining agreements supersede the implementation of this requirement.
· The conference report requires that districts and ISDs provide on their Web sites expenditure pie charts, details of salaries in excess of $100,000, lobbying expenditures, association fees and links to bargaining agreements, health care benefit plans and annual financial audits.
· Districts were granted flexibility to absorb the per pupil cut in other program areas, besides the discretionary spending categorical (state aid payments), if they agree to develop a service consolidation plan to reduce school operating costs within Michigan Department of Education guidelines.
· In this report the Legislature moved the retirement contribution rate from 16.54 to 16.94 percent.
· On the question of stimulus funds used for this budget—there’s still a carryover of $184 million. The new budget assumes that the state will enact over $100 million in new revenue. Without that new revenue the cuts would reflect the initial conference report. Details are unknown on this component at this time
SOURCE:
MASB News from the Capitol
Don Wotruba/Peter Spadafore
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
PPS Athletic Budgets Posted
Board of Education,
On Monday, August 24, 2009, I found that the athletic budgets were posted on the websites of North, Central & West Middle schools along with Northern & Central High Schools.
I would like to sincerely thank President Whistler, the Board of Education, Superintendent Wells and Dr. Perry for their roles in posting the athletic budgets online and for providing this transparency.
This is a great first step and I hope that this fall each school will also include how these funds are distributed between the various sports.
I would also urge the Board to see that Portage joins the area districts of Vicksburg and Lakeview along with many other Michigan School Districts in posting the checkbook register online as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Wendy Mazer
--- On Tue, 8/25/09, Mackinac Center News Release wrote:
From: Mackinac Center News Release
Subject: Three New School Districts Post Checkbooks
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 10:45 AM
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ken Braun
Policy Analyst
517-482-7108
or
989-631-0900
Carman-Ainsworth, Lakeview, Birch Run School Districts Post Checkbooks Online
But spending transparency lacking for residents in West Michigan
MIDLAND — Three more Michigan school districts have joined the fight for greater government transparency by opening their books, according to Ken Braun, director of the Mackinac Center ’s “Show Michigan the Money” project. Carman-Ainsworth, Battle Creek Lakeview and Birch Run are the latest entries on a growing list of local governments, school districts and politicians embracing this trend.
Braun has been encouraging all 551 public school districts, legislators and every municipality in Michigan to regularly provide this data on their Web sites and he predicts that most of the 50 largest school districts will be posting soon.
“[This] was a reasonable request from the public,” said Carman-Ainsworth Superintendent Bill Haley. “As a public service entity, we hope this can be a service [to taxpayers].”
With these additions, there are now 51 public school districts and two intermediate school districts statewide providing this information on the Internet, including half of the 20 largest districts. More than one in five public school students now attend a district that has an online check register. Links to all school district checkbook registers are available at www.showmichiganthemoney.org/9329.
Despite these advances throughout the state, Braun said that districts in Kent and Ottawa counties have been conspicuously guarded about their spending details.
“We have been diligently contacting school districts in these West Michigan counties about using 21st century technology to keep taxpayers and parents informed,” said Braun. “Unfortunately, unlike the eager and open response we’ve received throughout the rest of Michigan , these districts have been resistant to transparency.”
#####
On Monday, August 24, 2009, I found that the athletic budgets were posted on the websites of North, Central & West Middle schools along with Northern & Central High Schools.
I would like to sincerely thank President Whistler, the Board of Education, Superintendent Wells and Dr. Perry for their roles in posting the athletic budgets online and for providing this transparency.
This is a great first step and I hope that this fall each school will also include how these funds are distributed between the various sports.
I would also urge the Board to see that Portage joins the area districts of Vicksburg and Lakeview along with many other Michigan School Districts in posting the checkbook register online as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Wendy Mazer
--- On Tue, 8/25/09, Mackinac Center News Release
From: Mackinac Center News Release
Subject: Three New School Districts Post Checkbooks
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 10:45 AM
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ken Braun
Policy Analyst
517-482-7108
or
989-631-0900
Carman-Ainsworth, Lakeview, Birch Run School Districts Post Checkbooks Online
But spending transparency lacking for residents in West Michigan
MIDLAND — Three more Michigan school districts have joined the fight for greater government transparency by opening their books, according to Ken Braun, director of the Mackinac Center ’s “Show Michigan the Money” project. Carman-Ainsworth, Battle Creek Lakeview and Birch Run are the latest entries on a growing list of local governments, school districts and politicians embracing this trend.
Braun has been encouraging all 551 public school districts, legislators and every municipality in Michigan to regularly provide this data on their Web sites and he predicts that most of the 50 largest school districts will be posting soon.
“[This] was a reasonable request from the public,” said Carman-Ainsworth Superintendent Bill Haley. “As a public service entity, we hope this can be a service [to taxpayers].”
With these additions, there are now 51 public school districts and two intermediate school districts statewide providing this information on the Internet, including half of the 20 largest districts. More than one in five public school students now attend a district that has an online check register. Links to all school district checkbook registers are available at www.showmichiganthemoney.org/9329.
Despite these advances throughout the state, Braun said that districts in Kent and Ottawa counties have been conspicuously guarded about their spending details.
“We have been diligently contacting school districts in these West Michigan counties about using 21st century technology to keep taxpayers and parents informed,” said Braun. “Unfortunately, unlike the eager and open response we’ve received throughout the rest of Michigan , these districts have been resistant to transparency.”
#####
Monday, December 1, 2008
Confidence in District Accountability
I would like to share the results of an inquiry I first made of our administration over two years ago.
In October of 2006, I requested a cost/benefit analysis of our International Baccalaureate program against another widely accepted honors program. This request was brought forth by members of our parent community who sought a better understanding of our choice to offer IB exclusively while other leading, higher achieving school districts in the state offer it as a choice to AP.
In the years that followed I received what amounts to an incomplete explanation of our philosophical/fiduciary accounting of what is nearly a ten year program. Recently, I received the final feedback relative to this program by the Superintendent and our administration.
Simply, Portage Public Schools has not been tracking the total program cost. This would include materials, subscription, professional development, subs, and any other program related expenses to IB. What data does exist seems scattered, and one sided with little no tracking of AP. The possible exception would be those students who participate with KAMSC who offers a limited AP program. In its current form the information does not represent a complete picture to our community.
In these ever challenging economic times I feel we are under greater scrutiny than ever to account for our decisions in the pursuit/review of qualified educational choices for our students and our community. In my mind the best way to ensure this is through a deliberative process using evidentiary and empirical data to support our decisions.
A districts honors program is an important factor when citizens make their decision to settle in a community. By having an all or nothing approach I wonder how many families have simply taken a pass on Portage due to the absence of AP for our students.
I was recently asked by a parent how in one breath we scrutinize the cost of our building materials, express what appears to be heartfelt understanding for our economic struggles to only then provide our students and families with less options to qualify for college credit. More students receive college credit with AP than those with IB certificates. College admission offices I contacted these many months have expressed to me their institutions preference for a student to score 5 or 6 on their IB exams in order to obtain college credit. How many of the few dozen or so certificate candidates have done so?
Let me be clear, I am not in favor of dropping our IB program. Rather, I believe it is our responsibility to periodically review our Points of Pride against the needs and desires of the majority of our total student population. I believe we need to be intellectually honest with our community and balanced in our approach.
To build confidence in district accountability it would be wise for the board to call upon this administration to present a full and empirical picture of IB/AP. This would include but not limited to:
1. IB program cost to date. (broken down)
2. Empirical evidence of rigor.
3. Test /placement results of student graduates attempting to obtain college credit using either program. (Portage vs. an IB/AP school in Michigan)
4. Ongoing certificate participation from both high schools.
5. Students post graduate (KAMSC) and parent survey comparing programs and preparedness for college level work. This should represent PPS students who have “touched” both AP and IB programs.
This analysis should be part of an annual review of our honors program and woven into our academic achievement results.
Upon the completion and discussion of this analysis, if the decision is to continue to offer IB exclusively for our students, then I believe the community will be confident in the work of our administration and Board to analyze our curricular offerings in an honest, unbiased and thorough manner. If on the other hand the empirical data (including parent feedback) supports a tandem/alternate honors program I would ask we act as soon as fiscally possible to provide that option for our students and their families.
Wendy Mazer and Debbie Rude
In October of 2006, I requested a cost/benefit analysis of our International Baccalaureate program against another widely accepted honors program. This request was brought forth by members of our parent community who sought a better understanding of our choice to offer IB exclusively while other leading, higher achieving school districts in the state offer it as a choice to AP.
In the years that followed I received what amounts to an incomplete explanation of our philosophical/fiduciary accounting of what is nearly a ten year program. Recently, I received the final feedback relative to this program by the Superintendent and our administration.
Simply, Portage Public Schools has not been tracking the total program cost. This would include materials, subscription, professional development, subs, and any other program related expenses to IB. What data does exist seems scattered, and one sided with little no tracking of AP. The possible exception would be those students who participate with KAMSC who offers a limited AP program. In its current form the information does not represent a complete picture to our community.
In these ever challenging economic times I feel we are under greater scrutiny than ever to account for our decisions in the pursuit/review of qualified educational choices for our students and our community. In my mind the best way to ensure this is through a deliberative process using evidentiary and empirical data to support our decisions.
A districts honors program is an important factor when citizens make their decision to settle in a community. By having an all or nothing approach I wonder how many families have simply taken a pass on Portage due to the absence of AP for our students.
I was recently asked by a parent how in one breath we scrutinize the cost of our building materials, express what appears to be heartfelt understanding for our economic struggles to only then provide our students and families with less options to qualify for college credit. More students receive college credit with AP than those with IB certificates. College admission offices I contacted these many months have expressed to me their institutions preference for a student to score 5 or 6 on their IB exams in order to obtain college credit. How many of the few dozen or so certificate candidates have done so?
Let me be clear, I am not in favor of dropping our IB program. Rather, I believe it is our responsibility to periodically review our Points of Pride against the needs and desires of the majority of our total student population. I believe we need to be intellectually honest with our community and balanced in our approach.
To build confidence in district accountability it would be wise for the board to call upon this administration to present a full and empirical picture of IB/AP. This would include but not limited to:
1. IB program cost to date. (broken down)
2. Empirical evidence of rigor.
3. Test /placement results of student graduates attempting to obtain college credit using either program. (Portage vs. an IB/AP school in Michigan)
4. Ongoing certificate participation from both high schools.
5. Students post graduate (KAMSC) and parent survey comparing programs and preparedness for college level work. This should represent PPS students who have “touched” both AP and IB programs.
This analysis should be part of an annual review of our honors program and woven into our academic achievement results.
Upon the completion and discussion of this analysis, if the decision is to continue to offer IB exclusively for our students, then I believe the community will be confident in the work of our administration and Board to analyze our curricular offerings in an honest, unbiased and thorough manner. If on the other hand the empirical data (including parent feedback) supports a tandem/alternate honors program I would ask we act as soon as fiscally possible to provide that option for our students and their families.
Wendy Mazer and Debbie Rude
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