Friday, March 22, 2013

EAA passes House

[Gongwer, 21 March 2013]
EAA Passes House With Big Changes

The House passed a bill today that would codify the Education Achievement Authority and allow it to handle 50 low-performing schools throughout the state, but also provides schools with an option to come under the oversight of their intermediate school district instead.

The bill (HB 4369*) narrowly passed 57-53, and would expand the current 15-school program in Detroit to 50 of the lowest-performing schools throughout the state.

Three Republicans voted no: Rep. Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo), Rep. Ben Glardon (R-Owosso) and Rep. Peter Pettalia (R-Presque Isle), and all Democrats voted no. Rep. John Olumba (I-Detroit) joined 56 Republicans in support of the bill after a lengthy speech denouncing his former Democratic colleagues as captive to special interests and ruing a change to the bill that phases in the expansion to 50 schools instead of immediately going to 50.

House Minority Leader Tim Greimel denounced the expansion of the Education Achievement Authority, which Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons defended.

It marked a big step forward for an issue that failed to get off the ground in the 2011-12 term despite a big push from Governor Rick Snyder, who again has made it a top priority. The EAA currently functions through an interlocal agreement between Eastern Michigan University and the Detroit Public Schools, but officials want it in statute with additional features.

Clearly, House Republican leaders were determined to get a bill passed Thursday because the House unexpectedly remained in session for more than seven hours trying to find language that would enable them to find enough votes for passage. Finally, just before 6 p.m., the House adopted three amendments.

And the big change was to allow the school board that oversees a school in the bottom 5 percent of schools to instead put that school under the oversight of its regional intermediate school district to handle the responsibilities and functions the EAA otherwise would have. Depending on the circumstances, the school eventually could still wind up in the EAA if insufficient progress occurs under the ISD.

Another key amendment would ensure if the EAA hires a public school employee who is part of the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System that the employee will remain in MPSERS. That addresses a concern about destabilizing the system.

Another amendment would require notification of schools that the state school redesign officer decides to put into the EAA during the first week in January of that school year.

Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R-Alto), sponsor of the bill, said when she walks through her children's school, she knows her children are receiving a good education.

"All across this state many parents can say the same of their kids' schools, and sadly many cannot," she said. "Nothing, nothing breaks my heart more than to see students trapped in schools that fail them year, after year, after year."

Ms. Lyons also said to those opposing the legislation because of lack of evidence proving the EAA works, "there is plenty of evidence showing the status quo does not work."

More than 10 Democrats spoke in opposition to the bill, including Rep. Nathan (D-Detroit).

"What disturbs me is we have not taken the time to determine whether or not this particular model works," he said. "If it does, I'll be the first one to say let's do it. But given the temperature in this room today, how this legislation has moved through the House this session, tells me this is not about making sure these children have the opportunity, this is about much more. It tells me it is about control, it is about wanting to see a certain group of folks in these schools."

Rep. Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) said the issues in these low-performing schools include third- and fourth-graders who cannot read and trash that rarely gets taken out.

"I've come to conclusion that something has to be done," he said. "The children in these schools cannot wait any longer."

But Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods) said evidence shows the EAA is a "failed experiment." She said the failures need to be examined and "provide the leadership and guidance to input changes that actually fix the problem."

Rep. Margaret O'Brien (R-Portage) countered the speeches from House Democrats were "distracting at best, and dishonest at worst."

Rep. Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills) said he gets emotional when discussing the topic, because children are being forced to stay in failing schools. He criticized the Democrats for offering the solution of "more money."

"There has been plenty of money," he said.

House Minority Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) said Thursday morning that Democrats will be announcing education reform bills of their own, with a specific timeline coming during the spring recess.

"This EAA bill is being passed off by Republicans as supposedly meaningful education reform," Mr. Greimel said. "That is not what it is. We as Democrats believe in education reform and we believe we need to do more as a state to turn around our struggling school districts, but the EAA will not do that."

The American Federation of Teachers-Michigan released a statement shortly after the bill passed saying the EAA will not help students learn.

"Lansing politicians have shown once again that they have the wrong priorities when it comes to public education," said David Hecker, president of AFT Michigan. "The EAA's limited history provides no evidence that being thrown into a state-run district is beneficial to schools. In fact, the EAA's own data presented to the Legislature show that most of their students are falling further behind their peers this year - why would we rush to expand this system?"

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

More per-pupil cuts proposed! Call legislators today!

Tell Representative MacGregor to vote NO on HB 4227 until K-12 is funded at least at current levels!

See the action alert from the Michigan Association of School Boards below: 

The House K12 subcommittee on appropriations will be voting on HB 4227 Tuesday morning with the full House expected to vote on it later this week.  This bill is the House’s recommendation for the new school aid act that will fund schools for the 2013-14 school year.  Although it may seem early in the process, this will be only time the full House will vote on the school aid act until final passage of a bill in late May.  If we have any ability to impact what this bill will look like, and in turn funding for schools next year, this is the time to act.  Please take the time to contact your legislator through the evocate system and let them know your thoughts.
We have all heard about the 2% increase that you are supposedly getting from the state and that is the first myth you must dispel.  Even though we are appreciative of the total increase in spending, all of that is going to pay down the retirement rate for next year and for an expansion of early childhood programs.  Every district in this state will see a reduction in per pupil discretionary funding.  This is a difficult concept for voters to understand as they have already read about the “2% increase.”  The House should not pass a bill that does not keep you at this year’s funding level. 
We are also seeing a change in categorical funding in the House version, which while not specifically a problem, looks like we are going to a more grant funded basis that requires staff time and expertise to access rather than general categoricals.  This will likely exacerbate the funding disparity for some districts from this year to next.  If the amount of foundation money a district is receiving remains at last year's level these changes are not a problem, but if not, again it sets up the public to not understand what is happening.
At these reduced funding levels you will continue to reduce programs and lay off staff while the public thinks you are better off this year.  Your costs continue to go up while revenue continues to go down or be placed in projects that are legislative initiative rather than locally driven programs.
Please contact your legislators and tell them to vote NO on HB 4227 until schools are funded at current levels.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

URGENT! WRITE OR CALL OUR LEGISLATORS TODAY!

Parents and Community Members:
We urgently need you to email or call the following legislators regarding the Education Achievement Authority!  This needs to be done this week (March 11-15) at the latest.  The bill is being taken up in committee on Wednesday, March 13 at 2:30, after which it is a near certainty that it will be referred to the floor.
PLEASE CALL:

Peter MacGregor
Phone: (517) 373-0218
Toll Free: (855) 347-8073
Email: PeterMacGregor@house.mi.gov

Mike Calton
Phone: (517) 373-0842
Toll Free: (855) 373-0842
Email: MikeCallton@house.mi.gov


Rob VerHeulen
Phone: (517) 373-8900
FAX: (517) 373-8697
Email: RobVerHeulen@house.mi.gov
   
Here are the main points to include in your call or email:

1.  Vote no on the EAA bill (HB4369)
2.  EAA is still experimental and we don't expand programs that are still in the experimental stage
3.  Although many schools in the state require urgent change, that change must be based on sound pedagogical principals, not ideas that the EAA currently espouses which are either unproven or have been proven ineffective or even detrimental to learning and student growth.
4.  The process is as important as the policy.  Do not allow this bill to be pushed through in the manner so many bills were pushed through during the lame duck session, with no opportunity for citizens to have their concerns heard.

Here is a sample letter that you may feel free to cut, in whole or in part, and paste into your own email:

Dear Representative  ______,

I am writing to urge you to vote against the education achievement authority bill (HB 4369). Even in its current form, this bill impermissibly wrests control of public education from local, democratically elected school boards. It amounts to nothing less than a giveaway to private charters, and it is premised on an unproven experiment. This bill undermines community schools and threatens the very communities themselves. It erodes the integrity of education by putting students in front of computers for the bulk of their learning and by authorizing charters to take public dollars to do no more than the community-governed schools could do with the same resources and support.

In addition to requesting that you oppose HB 4369, I urge you to ensure that the bill enjoy the full deliberative legislative process and not allow it to be "fast-tracked" as it almost was last session, so that the people have time to have their concerns heard.. Last session, over 40% of all the legislation that was passed was passed during the 10-day Lame Duck session. That process is an affront to the democratic principal of a legislature of, for, and by the people.  


Sincerely,

Name
Address
Phone number



--------------------------------------------------

But wait!  There's more!

The Governor is proposing that the state eliminate the gasoline tax.  The revenues generated from that tax that go to the school aid fund amount to $900 million.  While Senator Roger Kahn, the chair of the Senate Infrastructure Modernization Committee, assures us that they hope to have voter approval for a 1% sales tax increase to replace that money, there is no plan if voters do not approve a 1% sales tax increase.  (An interesting aside: Senator Kahn believes that people will vote for that sales tax increase if it is marketed as "for the schools," rather than "for the roads."  People clearly think highly of funding schools and Lansing knows it.  Nevertheless the Governor and the Legislature continue to defund and defund K-12 public education.)

 Here is a sample letter you can use to write to Senator Kahn (senrkahn@senate.michigan.gov) (or you can call him at 517 373-1760) and Senator Mark Jansen (SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov) (517-373-0797)











Dear Senator ____

In making your determination regarding the elimination of the gasoline tax, I urge you to strongly consider the fact that no real alternative to the gas sales tax has been proposed. If the $900 million that came from gasoline sales taxes in the last year is diverted to roads without alternative revenue, this will be yet another deep cut to our public schools that we can not weather. We know from the Center for Michigan conversation about education that most people do respect their local school system. We need to increase funding of our local, community public schools in order to support those very communities. This shell game with the School Aid Fund is counterproductive for our schools, further impairing them from getting to the important business of educating our children.

Sincerely,

Name
Address
Phone number 



_____________________________

 














Michigan Parents for Schools Legislative Update

Time to move in a new direction
Dear Friends,

After a welcome break over the holidays, our Legislature is back at work. Unfortunately, these days, that's not a good thing.

In this issue:
  • School Aid Budget - Magical numbers from the CPA-in-chief
  • EAA - We know how to turn schools around. Trust us.
  • A la carte school funding proposal not so popular on the menu
  • A parents' vision for public education

When is an increase really a cut? When it's the school budget!

First off, Governor Snyder introduced his proposed state budget for fiscal year 2013-14 early last month. As part of that, he claimed that he was increasing education spending by 2% Relief for our schools? Not exactly.

In fact, every school district will see a cut of at least $2 per pupil, and as much as $32 per pupil, under the governor's plan compared to what was available last year. The governor tries to claim that this is an increase, because some of last year's money was "one time." Well, "one time" or not, it was available for schools to use for educating students last year, and now there will be less. Gov. Snyder also tries to camouflage a cut as an increase by taking money out of the pension reform "cookie jar" that he had diverted money into over the last two years. In the private sector, they call these kinds of antics "earnings management."

The only bright spot is that the Snyder budget proposes a substantial increase in the number of preschool slots open to low-income children. It's a start, but we can certainly do more. And we should.


EAA, again?

The Education Achievement Authority bill, which was stymied in the frantic weeks of last year's lame duck session, is almost certain to make a second appearance. Gov. Snyder has announced that it's his top education priority, and he's had his advisers out singing its praises (for instance, at the Center for Michigan conference on education last month, which we wrote about here.)

The EAA also generously hosted a field trip for friendly legislators, giving them a guided tour of a couple of EAA schools with lots of one-on-one time with key officials. No lobbying going on there.

The smart money has it that a new bill will probably look like the last-ditch compromise from December. It wasn't as bad as the original, but that still doesn't make it good law. The "lite" version still made the EAA a state-wide school district, but limited it to overseeing 50 schools at one time and limited its authority to charter new schools to a 2-mile radius around EAA takeover schools (or in districts run by an emergency manager). There were also clearer standards for schools entering, and exiting, the EAA.

MIPFS is absolutely in favor of bringing extra resources to bear to help struggling schools, but we do not believe the EAA is the way to do it. The bill still smacked of empire-building rather than helping schools. Why on earth would you need to authorize a brand new charter within 2 miles of a school you are supposed to be "turning around"?

We also don't believe that state takeovers are the way to help struggling schools and create lasting change. Instead, the state should be working with the local community and school staff to make lasting changes in the schools and the communities they serve. That's not what the EAA is all about.

Finally, the curriculum used by the EAA - what they do in the classroom - is still experimental and doesn't seem to have been used anywhere else. Why should we be experimenting on any child, unless there is a voluntary agreement to try something new? And why should we be expanding a system that so far has a track record of one semester? None of this makes any sense.


"Oxford report": new name, same bad plan

Now billed as the "Public Education Finance Act Project", the proposal formerly known as the Oxford Foundation report is another bad proposal that won't go away. Authors of the proposal have been in the press touting its merits, not always diplomatically. Principal drafter Peter Ruddell participated in that Center for Michigan conference and got a very cool reception. A recent editorial he wrote keeps up the drum beat. Anyone who disagrees with their proposal is simply trying to defend the status quo and stop change, so the argument goes.

On the other hand, Gov. Snyder put off consideration of the proposal until late summer after an early draft was greeted with much skepticism. None of the provisions made it into the executive budget proposal for next year, as had originally been planned. This has apparently made project leader Richard McLellan grumpy; according to MIRS News he promised to "use some of [his opponents'] own research and stick it down their throat." The ultimate fate of the proposal is uncertain, but will not likely disappear without a fight.


If not this, then what? How about something completely different.

While working to block damaging legislation last term, MIPFS and other public school advocates were often asked what our alternative would be. Of course, it's hard to get alternatives any attention when the current "reform" juggernaut is filling the airwaves.

However, MIPFS, working with local parent groups from around Michigan and other people who care about public education, has been working on just such a positive proposal. We're just about ready to roll it out, but I'll give you a sneak peek. Our proposals focus on helping students rather than measuring them; providing resources and support for schools rather than punishing them; and promoting community governance and accountability to the public rather than state takeovers and privatization. Totally off-the-wall thinking, I know. But maybe, just maybe, it might actually help our children in the long run.

Steven Norton
Executive Director
Michigan Parents for Schools

KISD Lansing Advocacy Day--Roads and Schools

Well, a large group from Kent County went to Lansing yesterday for our Advocacy Day.  We heard from Pete Ruddell from the Oxford Foundation, from Michigan Senator Roger Kahn, from Mary Ann Cleary from the House Fiscal Agency and from Susan Broman from The Office of Great Start. 

A summary of these talks will be forthcoming, but I wanted you to know that the discussion of road maintenance funding is relevant to schools.  Senator Kahn reported that polling shows most people in Michigan admit that the roads are terrible but refuse to raise taxes to fund them.  What he and his colleagues are proposing is to eliminate the gas tax that brings $900 million to schools and raise the excise tax for road maintenance.  With this change, the tax on gas essentially moves from schools to roads.  While a tax on gas makes more sense funding schools, the plan to replace the $900 million for schools is through a ballot proposal to raise the sales tax and dedicate that to schools.  If this does not pass, however, schools will be out $900 million. Lucy

Governor's proposal
http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/02/snyder_backs_hike_in_gas_tax_r.html

Nobody wants to pay for roads.

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/02/snyder_tax_increase_roads.html

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/02/republican_senate_majority_lea_1.html

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Budget Impacts are Local, Statewide and National


Budget Issues have local, statewide and National Impact

1.       Local:  Our EGRPS Schools are again facing a budget deficit over $1 million.  Please attend the March 11, 2013 budget meeting at 5pm at the Morse Administrative Building 2915 Hall Street SE East Grand Rapids, MI 49506. www.egrps.org  Look for information coming from EGR NOW! To support our district.  Not from our district?  Get your district to be transparent about your budget crisis and educate your parents.  We can’t fund raise our way out of this problem.  Let’s all get on board!!

2.         State: How can there be a cut if the governor says there was more money in the School Aid Fund?  There are more entities taking money out of the pot, such as the community colleges and universities, which used to be funded through the State’s general fund.  Check out Michigan Parents for Schools Article http://www.miparentsforschools.org/node/187

3.       National: Sequestration will affect federal dollars to states.  Special education, Head Start and Title I dollars are at risk. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/sequestration-state-impact/

Nationally, people are waking up to the Civil Rights impact of Education Reform.  Check out: .
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/02/the-inconvenient-truth-of-education-reform/

 

Legislation

1.     (EAA) Education Achievement Authority.  Overreach.  Overkill.  Although it was capped at 50 schools in the lame duck session, it is still a bad law.  It is bad for urban schools.  It is bad for all schools.  Please read: http://www.miparentsforschools.org/node/184

2.     Oxford Foundation school financing revamp.  This unbundling of schools will take local control away.  We will have our districts become the ATM for children’s education while still being held responsible for test scores and other administrative costs.  This is a boon for cyber schools. 

3.     Expansion of choice.  We are revisiting the uncapping of charter and cyber schools with the ability of any entity to open a school.  These schools will be able to have entrance criteria.  Our local public schools take everyone.  These schools will take the least expensive students and our society will be ever more segregated.

Involvement

Educate yourself.  Join Michigan Parents for Schools http:www.miparentsforschools.org, Friends of Kent County Schools Facebook Page and the ERG Legislative Committee Facebook page or follow us on our blog, www.egrpseducationadvocates.blogspot.com.

Minutes from 3-4 2013


EGRPS PTA Legislative Committee Meeting

March 4, 2013

Present: Lucy Lafleur, Tina Murua, Louise Timkovich, Amy Turner Thole, Anne Grobel, Dr. Sara Shubel, Elizabeth Lykins, Bob Wolford, Tracy Wolford, Kevin Phillips, Steve Edison

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Shubel commented that the Friends of Kent County/KISD outreach to parents is very successful.  She thanked Elizabeth, who has done 10 of these events with Christie Ramsey from Rockford, and Lucy who did Thornapple-Kellogg schools this week.  This outreach seems to be paying off with more parent groups being initiated.

EGRPS is holding a budget meeting on Monday, March 11 at 5pm at the administration building, James E. Morse Administration Center at Woodcliff, 2915 Hall S.E., East Grand Rapids, MI 49506.  This meeting will highlight our budget shortfall and the political/state budgetary climate that caused it.

Legislative Committee Concerns:

1.      We are going to Lansing on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 to meet with our legislators, hear from the House Fiscal Agency, from an expert on Early Childhood Education and from a representative from the Oxford Foundation on revamping public school financing.  A report will follow that visit.  It is being organized by KISD.

2.     Tina recommends reviewing The Center for Michigan’s website the www.centerformichigan.org for work they have done asking Michigan residents their opinions about public education.  They are having a live Education Town Hall on Wednesday, March 6.  We will not have television broadcast in West Michigan, but we can stream it. Check it out.

3.     We continue to recommend Michigan Parents for Schools as an excellent site to get good information.  Steve Norton is an Ann Arbor stay at home dad who has become an education policy wonk and who is linking parent school advocates around the state.  Check out his latest http://www.miparentsforschools.org/. 

4.     We are continuing to work with the PTA to improve communication.  We are working hard to solve difficulties in communicating with high school parents.  Any suggestions would be welcome.  lucylafleur@sbcglobal.net. 

5.     Sequestration is a national issue which usually doesn’t affect local/state funded schools.  However, the Washington Post has published an article on the impact of sequestration on states and it looks like Head Start, Title I dollars and special education will be hit.  This is right when we are looking to expand early childhood education, our urban schools have been hit hard by state cuts and will be devastated by losing federal dollars.  Read for yourself.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/sequestration-state-impact/.

6.     Also, a movement is afoot to tie the attacks on public schools to civil rights.  Please view http://unitedoptout.com/ to see what is going on.  We are supportive of all public schools and support local control.  We support the right of all students to have an excellent education. 

7.     We continue our outreach to each school in our district with Legislative Coffees.  We are considering doing a larger event to remind everyone in the district about the issues of Proposal A, how that funding was undermined during our Great Recession and how we will be affected by the proposals being written by the Oxford foundation.  http://oxfordfoundationmi.com/

 

As usual, I will try to simplify the above into an easily readable three main points:

Please review and be ready when your Legislative Committee calls on you to act!

Budget Issues have local, statewide and National Impact

1.       Local:  Our EGRPS Schools are again facing a budget deficit over $1 million.  Please attend the March 11, 2013 budget meeting at 5pm at the Morse Administrative Building 2915 Hall Street SE East Grand Rapids, MI 49506. www.egrps.org  Look for information coming from EGR NOW! To support our district.  Not from our district?  Get your district to be transparent about your budget crisis and educate your parents.  We can’t fund raise our way out of this problem.  Let’s all get on board!!

2.         State: How can there be a cut if the governor says there was more money in the School Aid Fund?  There are more entities taking money out of the pot, such as the community colleges and universities, which used to be funded through the State’s general fund.  Check out Michigan Parents for Schools Article http://www.miparentsforschools.org/node/187

3.       National: Sequestration will affect federal dollars to states.  Special education, Head Start and Title I dollars are at risk. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/sequestration-state-impact/

Nationally, people are waking up to the Civil Rights impact of Education Reform.  Check out: http://unitedoptout.com/.

Legislation

1.     (EAA) Education Achievement Authority.  Overreach.  Overkill.  Although it was capped at 50 schools in the lame duck session, it is still a bad law.  It is bad for urban schools.  It is bad for all schools.  Please read: http://www.miparentsforschools.org/node/184

2.     Oxford Foundation school financing revamp.  This unbundling of schools will take local control away.  We will have our districts become the ATM for children’s education while still being held responsible for test scores and other administrative costs.  This is a boon for cyber schools. 

3.     Expansion of choice.  We are revisiting the uncapping of charter and cyber schools with the ability of any entity to open a school.  These schools will be able to have entrance criteria.  Our local public schools take everyone.  These schools will take the least expensive students and our society will be ever more segregated.

Involvement

Educate yourself.  Join Michigan Parents for Schools http:www.miparentsforschools.org, Friends of Kent County Schools Facebook Page and the ERG Legislative Committee Facebook page or follow us on our blog, www.egrpseducationadvocates.blogspot.com.

 

Legislation that is Returning


Legislation

1.     (EAA) Education Achievement Authority.  Overreach.  Overkill.  Although it was capped at 50 schools in the lame duck session, it is still a bad law.  It is bad for urban schools.  It is bad for all schools.  Please read: http://www.miparentsforschools.org/node/184

2.     Oxford Foundation school financing revamp.  This unbundling of schools will take local control away.  We will have our districts become the ATM for children’s education while still being held responsible for test scores and other administrative costs.  This is a boon for cyber schools. 

3.     Expansion of choice.  We are revisiting the uncapping of charter and cyber schools with the ability of any entity to open a school.  These schools will be able to have entrance criteria.  Our local public schools take everyone.  These schools will take the least expensive students and our society will be ever more segregated.

Local, State and National Budget Impacts


Budget

1.       Local:  Our EGRPS Schools are again facing a budget deficit over $1 million.  Please attend the March 11, 2013 budget meeting at 5pm at the Morse Administrative Building 2915 Hall Street SE East Grand Rapids, MI 49506. www.egrps.org  Look for information coming from EGR NOW! To support our district.  Not from our district?  Get your district to be transparent about your budget crisis and educate your parents.  We can’t fund raise our way out of this problem.  Let’s all get on board!!

2.         State: How can there be a cut if the governor says there was more money in the School Aid Fund?  There are more entities taking money out of the pot, such as the community colleges and universities, which used to be funded through the State’s general fund.  Check out Michigan Parents for Schools Article http://www.miparentsforschools.org/node/187

3.       National: Sequestration will affect federal dollars to states.  Special education, Head Start and Title I dollars are at risk. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/sequestration-state-impact/

Sequestraton Impact on Schools

Sequestration is a national issue which usually doesn’t affect local/state funded schools.  However, the Washington Post has published an article on the impact of sequestration on states and it looks like Head Start, Title I dollars and special education will be hit.  This is right when we are looking to expand early childhood education, our urban schools have been hit hard by state cuts and will be devastated by losing federal dollars.  Read for yourself.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/sequestration-state-impact/

Center for Michigan Education Town Hall Online March 6


Tina recommends reviewing The Center for Michigan’s website the www.centerformichigan.org for work they have done asking Michigan residents their opinions about public education.  They are having a live Education Town Hall on Wednesday, March 6.  We will not have television broadcast in West Michigan, but we can stream it. Check it out.

Budget Meeting Monday, March 13 at Administrative Building


EGRPS is holding a budget meeting on Monday, March 11 at 5pm at the administration building, James E. Morse Administration Center at Woodcliff, 2915 Hall S.E., East Grand Rapids, MI 49506.  This meeting will highlight our budget shortfall and the political/state budgetary climate that caused it.