At the request of the Lapeer Community Schools Board of Education, the Lapeer Transportation Association, which represents the District’s 59 bus drivers, reopened their current Master Agreement and agreed to wage concessions that will save the District $37,000 this school year.
The revised agreement was ratified by the Association on Thursday, December 17 and approved by the Board of Education at a meeting also on Thursday, December 17.
The LTA agreed to a two percent wage reduction applied retroactive to July 1, 2009. The agreement also extends the current contract through June 30, 2011. The contract was set to expire this June.
A formula in the contract addresses any potential wage adjustments for the next school year, but most likely will result in a pay freeze due to Michigan’s current economic climate.
“We appreciate the LTA working with us during these difficult economic times,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson. “The union did not have to re-open the contract, but did so in the best interests of our District and the children it serves. It is a significant step that helps us address this year’s difficult budget.”
Friday, December 18, 2009
Elementary realignment, new boundaries discussed at Board of Education meeting
Only three percent of the District’s 2,900 elementary school students will be impacted by a proposed realignment of the District’s elementary schools boundaries for 2010.
With continued State funding cuts, the previous closings of Attica, Irwin and Hadley Elementary Schools, the future closing of Elba Elementary School in June and the opening of two new sixth, seventh and eighth grade middle schools, the need to realign and rebalance student population among the remaining buildings was a necessity.
In designing new bus routes and boundaries, the District’s elementary principals, central office administration and transportation department were able to keep all but 101 students within their current school boundaries.
Even with the realignment, there will be room for In-District Schools of Choice that will allow parents flexibility in keeping their students in a particular school even if it is outside the particular boundary for their children. In those cases parents will have to provide transportation to the selected school. There will also be room for Out-of-District Schools of Choice.
“We expect every student will be able to remain in his or her current school if parents choose Schools of Choice,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson.
“Our administration and transportation department should be commended for proposing boundaries that affect only three percent of our elementary population. Through Schools of Choice, all of our students have the opportunity to remain at the schools they now attend for the 2010-2011 school year,” said Board of Education President William Laidlaw. “This decision illustrates the District’s commitment to providing a stable learning environment for our students and families within the community.”
In January, all elementary parents will receive a letter about the changes and be invited to meetings where the changes will be discussed. The In-District Schools of Choice will open in February and close in March. Staffing for each school will be determined in March and tentative teaching assignments announced in April.
With continued State funding cuts, the previous closings of Attica, Irwin and Hadley Elementary Schools, the future closing of Elba Elementary School in June and the opening of two new sixth, seventh and eighth grade middle schools, the need to realign and rebalance student population among the remaining buildings was a necessity.
In designing new bus routes and boundaries, the District’s elementary principals, central office administration and transportation department were able to keep all but 101 students within their current school boundaries.
Even with the realignment, there will be room for In-District Schools of Choice that will allow parents flexibility in keeping their students in a particular school even if it is outside the particular boundary for their children. In those cases parents will have to provide transportation to the selected school. There will also be room for Out-of-District Schools of Choice.
“We expect every student will be able to remain in his or her current school if parents choose Schools of Choice,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson.
“Our administration and transportation department should be commended for proposing boundaries that affect only three percent of our elementary population. Through Schools of Choice, all of our students have the opportunity to remain at the schools they now attend for the 2010-2011 school year,” said Board of Education President William Laidlaw. “This decision illustrates the District’s commitment to providing a stable learning environment for our students and families within the community.”
In January, all elementary parents will receive a letter about the changes and be invited to meetings where the changes will be discussed. The In-District Schools of Choice will open in February and close in March. Staffing for each school will be determined in March and tentative teaching assignments announced in April.
Lapeer East grad, Rebecca Spalding hits the 'big leagues' with new management position
A part-time college job at Chicago’s Soldier Field has led Rebecca Spalding, a 2003 Lapeer East High School graduate, into a big league stadium management career.The daughter of Wanda and Rodger Spalding of Mayfield Township, Spalding went to the University of Illinois in Chicago after graduation. An English major with a Chemistry minor, Spalding was headed to a pre-med program when she started working part-time at Soldier Field in May 2006.
Her job then was in the suites department and involved stocking, cleaning and serving in two of the luxury boxes at the stadium during events and training new employees.
Ms. Spalding’s timing was pretty good as the Chicago Bears headed to two home playoff games and eventually went to the Super Bowl that year.
After her manager transferred to a different department, Ms. Spalding approached her general manager at Delaware North Companies Sportservice and was promoted to Suites coordinator at Soldier Field with the responsibility of overseeing the luxury boxes.
Sports and entertainment venues subcontract with Delaware North Companies Sportservice for their concessions, fine dining, Suite and retail operations. The company handles concession and food service for the Chicago White Sox, Comerica Park, the Milwaukee Brewers, Soldier Field, the Buffalo Bills and a number of national parks, among others.
As the Suites coordinator, Ms. Spalding was responsible for satisfying the special requests of 133 suite holders and gathering their game day food, beverage and retail orders. Some of those requests involve avoiding peanuts or other foods that suite holders have allergies to or accommodating high profile executives and celebrities.
Her performance at Soldier Field led to a promotion as Suites assistant manager and last July, she was promoted to Suites Manager at the New Target Field in Minneapolis, the new home of the Minnesota Twins.
“The strong relationships I made at Soldier Field definitely led me to where I am today,” said Ms. Spalding.
At the age of 24, Spalding is now the youngest Suites manager in the company and is responsible for creating the experience that the new Suite holders will have at the new field, which is currently under construction. The stadium officially opens for business with the 2010 Minnesota Twins baseball season.
“This is a great opportunity to work hard and excel. I’m really excited,” said Ms. Spalding. “I’m part of a fantastic organization, and I am able to build the entire Suites department by implementing ideas that I had while with the Bears.”
Creating the experience means she is responsible for hiring the 75-person staff, creating the menu, designing and buying uniforms, serving utensils, platters and more.
Ms. Spalding started her education in Lapeer at Lynch Elementary School in the second grade. She attended Zemmer Junior High School and then East.
Her love of sports comes naturally. At East she participated in tennis, competitive cheerleading, softball and track.
At East, she was a High Honors student and participated in the National Honor Society. She said her Advanced Placement courses and teachers at East well prepared her for her college courses.
East Assistant principal Joe Shoopman, who was one of Ms. Spalding’s English teachers when she was at East, Spanish teacher Duane Machesney and West principal Tim Zeeman, who also taught English at East, and Mrs. Sharon Namenye, who taught math, were among her favorite instructors.
In college, she saved her Spanish notes from Mr. Machesney and used them instead of the college materials she received to complete her Spanish courses at the University of Illinois.
“Mr. Machesney was a fantastic teacher,” Ms. Spalding said. “The teachers absolutely make a huge difference. The AP courses get you in the mindset for college.”
Her teachers remember her as well.
“Rebecca was always kind to her classmates and made East a better place with her smile and friendly nature,” said Mr. Shoopman. “Combine that with the fact that she worked incredibly hard, and the pieces were all in place. I know everyone at East is proud of her accomplishments, but I don’t think they come as a surprise. With some young people, you just know they have the right qualities to take them as far as they aspire. She’s definitely in that group.”
Although she loved Lapeer, she is a “City girl at heart,” she said.
Ms. Spalding has a sister, Melissa, who graduated from Lapeer East in 2002.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Handmade scarves, a gift from Murphy students to Lapeer Count ISD students
Second and third-graders in Mrs. Traci Chouinard's Murphy Elementary School classroom worked on scarves for special needs students at the Lapeer Intermediate School District's Education and Technology Center on Friday, December 11th.Material for the hand made scarves were obtained by Mrs. Luann Best, who also volunteered to help students make them.
"We thank Mrs. Best very much," Said Mrs. Chouinard.
Additional photos are available at the District's photo gallery.
Suspicious incident prompts letter to elementary parents
The following letter is being sent home to parents with elementary school students. The information is also being provided to the high schools and junior high school.
December 16, 2009
Dear Parents,
The Lapeer County Sheriff’s Department has made us aware of a suspicious incident involving a Lynch Elementary School student waiting for a bus this morning, Wednesday, December 16, 2009, on Vernor Road.
A man driving a green Chevrolet four-wheel drive pick up truck with running lights on the roof and a long bed parked in the middle of the road and began talking to the girl about being out of fuel. When the father of the girl yelled at her to come back to the house the man jumped back in the truck and drove off west on Vernor Road.
The only other description of the man was that he was wearing a black baseball cap. The police were notified immediately.
In addition to a warning to children about the incident, we are asking if you have any information regarding this man or the vehicle that you contact Lapeer County Dispatch at (810) 667-0292.
We are committed to protecting our students and know that you, as parents, will continue to teach your children how to best protect themselves and seek assistance if necessary. Please reinforce with your children the lessons about interacting with strangers and, of course, immediately notify the police or sheriff’s deputies if you see or hear anything out of the ordinary.
Sincerely,
Debbie Thompson
Superintendent
December 16, 2009
Dear Parents,
The Lapeer County Sheriff’s Department has made us aware of a suspicious incident involving a Lynch Elementary School student waiting for a bus this morning, Wednesday, December 16, 2009, on Vernor Road.
A man driving a green Chevrolet four-wheel drive pick up truck with running lights on the roof and a long bed parked in the middle of the road and began talking to the girl about being out of fuel. When the father of the girl yelled at her to come back to the house the man jumped back in the truck and drove off west on Vernor Road.
The only other description of the man was that he was wearing a black baseball cap. The police were notified immediately.
In addition to a warning to children about the incident, we are asking if you have any information regarding this man or the vehicle that you contact Lapeer County Dispatch at (810) 667-0292.
We are committed to protecting our students and know that you, as parents, will continue to teach your children how to best protect themselves and seek assistance if necessary. Please reinforce with your children the lessons about interacting with strangers and, of course, immediately notify the police or sheriff’s deputies if you see or hear anything out of the ordinary.
Sincerely,
Debbie Thompson
Superintendent
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Holiday hours set for Administration & Services Center
Holiday office hours for the Administration & Services Center, 250 Second Street, will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday December 21, Tuesday, December 22; and Wednesday, December 23. The offices will be closed on Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25.
The same hours will be in place for Monday, December 28, Tuesday, December 29 and Wednesday, December 30. The administration offices will be closed on Thursday, December 31 and Friday, January 1, 2010.
Regular office hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. will resume on Monday, January 4, 2010, the same day classes resume in the District from the holiday break.
The same hours will be in place for Monday, December 28, Tuesday, December 29 and Wednesday, December 30. The administration offices will be closed on Thursday, December 31 and Friday, January 1, 2010.
Regular office hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. will resume on Monday, January 4, 2010, the same day classes resume in the District from the holiday break.
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