Faced with a $3.9 million budget shortfall the Board of Education put 12 members of the District management staff and 7 deans of students on notice that their jobs could be eliminated in the 2010-2011 budget process.
The vote Thursday to approve these notifications to management staff was required by State law to allow the Board to consider elimination of management positions later in the budget process.
In addition to these nineteen staff members, who were part of this Board action, 6 other management staff members are contract employees whose employment immediately can be terminated at any time. Also, 4 central office administrators were not part of this board action because they are in the first year of a two-year contract. These 4 administrators have received notice that their positions could be eliminated and that they could be reassigned in 2010-2011, the final year of their contracts.
In January, Board members emphasized that “everything was on the table this year” when considering how the District would balance its budget in the face of shrinking State education support.
“Again this year we are faced with extremely difficult choices,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson. “We need to be true to the promise that we will examine every part of the budget for places to cut.”
Friday, March 5, 2010
District Innovative Grants awarded
Software to help increase student achievement in math, speech, science and English at Lapeer West and an after-school support program to help students struggling with mathematics at Lapeer East are the newest recipients of 2009-2010 Innovative Instructional Programs grants.
The Board of Education recently announced the two grants totaling $7,702. Funds for the programs come through Michigan grants.
“Turning Points” software will assist Lapeer West High School teachers in making immediate changes in teaching decisions based upon student success and comprehension of data in math, speech, science and English.
“On the spot” assessments will also be used to improve comprehension through the use of the software.
The $3,600 West grant was proposed by teachers Ted Tomczyk, Andy Roberts and Erica Niemi.
At Lapeer East a $4,102 grant was awarded to “Project Success” an after-school support program twice a week to help at-risk students stay on track for graduation through the help of highly qualified math teachers. The teachers will front load new math concepts to prepare students to handle those as they are introduced in the math classroom.
Project Success was proposed by East counselors and teachers: Susan Wilmers, Dennis Warner, Jeff Lorenz, Jan Ciaramella, Devin Palmer, and Susan Wheatley.
In 2006, the Board of Education decided to commit outside grant funding annually to support the use of Innovative Technology and Instructional programs in classrooms through a competitive application process. This year the program was expanded to include other innovative instructional ideas not related to technology.
“The Board of Education is proud that we established the grants to improve the educational opportunities for our students,” said Board President William Laidlaw. “Our faculty is to be praised for integrating technology into our classrooms. We also thank the community for passing the bond that allows new technology to be a major part of the educational process at Lapeer Community Schools.”
The Board of Education recently announced the two grants totaling $7,702. Funds for the programs come through Michigan grants.
“Turning Points” software will assist Lapeer West High School teachers in making immediate changes in teaching decisions based upon student success and comprehension of data in math, speech, science and English.
“On the spot” assessments will also be used to improve comprehension through the use of the software.
The $3,600 West grant was proposed by teachers Ted Tomczyk, Andy Roberts and Erica Niemi.
At Lapeer East a $4,102 grant was awarded to “Project Success” an after-school support program twice a week to help at-risk students stay on track for graduation through the help of highly qualified math teachers. The teachers will front load new math concepts to prepare students to handle those as they are introduced in the math classroom.
Project Success was proposed by East counselors and teachers: Susan Wilmers, Dennis Warner, Jeff Lorenz, Jan Ciaramella, Devin Palmer, and Susan Wheatley.
In 2006, the Board of Education decided to commit outside grant funding annually to support the use of Innovative Technology and Instructional programs in classrooms through a competitive application process. This year the program was expanded to include other innovative instructional ideas not related to technology.
“The Board of Education is proud that we established the grants to improve the educational opportunities for our students,” said Board President William Laidlaw. “Our faculty is to be praised for integrating technology into our classrooms. We also thank the community for passing the bond that allows new technology to be a major part of the educational process at Lapeer Community Schools.”
District management staff, deans of students put on notice of potential job cuts
Faced with a $3.9 million budget shortfall the Board of Education put 12 members of the District management staff and 7 deans of students on notice that their jobs could be eliminated in the 2010-2011 budget process.
The vote Thursday to approve these notifications to management staff was required by State law to allow the Board to consider elimination of management positions later in the budget process.
In addition to these nineteen staff members, who were part of this Board action, 6 other management staff members are contract employees whose employment immediately can be terminated at any time. Also, 4 central office administrators were not part of this board action because they are in the first year of a two-year contract. These 4 administrators have received notice that their positions could be eliminated and that they could be reassigned in 2010-2011, the final year of their contracts.
In January, Board members emphasized that “everything was on the table this year” when considering how the District would balance its budget in the face of shrinking State education support.
“Again this year we are faced with extremely difficult choices,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson. “We need to be true to the promise that we will examine every part of the budget for places to cut.”
The vote Thursday to approve these notifications to management staff was required by State law to allow the Board to consider elimination of management positions later in the budget process.
In addition to these nineteen staff members, who were part of this Board action, 6 other management staff members are contract employees whose employment immediately can be terminated at any time. Also, 4 central office administrators were not part of this board action because they are in the first year of a two-year contract. These 4 administrators have received notice that their positions could be eliminated and that they could be reassigned in 2010-2011, the final year of their contracts.
In January, Board members emphasized that “everything was on the table this year” when considering how the District would balance its budget in the face of shrinking State education support.
“Again this year we are faced with extremely difficult choices,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson. “We need to be true to the promise that we will examine every part of the budget for places to cut.”
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Lapeer East Cake Decorating Club puts frosting on fund raising event
Lapeer East High School students are turning their interest in cake decorating to put the frosting on a couple recent fund-raising events to help others.On Saturday, February 27, the students decorated cakes for a fund raiser for Ruth Wolski, the mother of East teacher Rejean Wolski. Ruth Wolski recently underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat her leukemia. Orange is the color for leukemia in the same way pink is the color for breast cancer. The club made, decorated and donated the cakes to the event.
The Lapeer East Cake Decorating Club has about 20 members, with senior Tiffany Turner as founder and president. The Club is on Facebook at Lapeer East Cake Club. The club also donated a cake to the Family Literacy Center of Lapeer.
The cake decorators can always use donations or a bakery willing to donate “naked” cakes to help fund their benevolent work. The Club has raised money for supplies and cake mixes through returnable bottle and can drives and bake sales at school events.
For now, Club advisor, Mrs.Terrie Hazard, the students and one mother, Lynn Turner, Tiffany Turner’s mother, have been doing the baking at home.
To help the students call Mrs. Hazard at Lapeer East High School at (810) 667-2418 or at thazard.lapeerschools.org.
Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch?
Who says there is no such thing as a ‘free’ lunch?
A challenge from the Board of Education to the District’s food service department to find ways to help students and their parents during difficult economic times has resulted in an additional 613 students receiving free lunches at school.
Beginning last Monday, March 1, the District’s Food Service Department extended free lunches to the 613 students who had been receiving reduced cost lunches. The free lunch program continues through the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
In addition to the 613 reduced lunch students, the District already provided 2,149 students with free lunches. The District has an enrollment of 6,387. Before Monday, lunches cost 40 cents a day for students in the reduced lunch program.
The District previously opened up a free breakfast program to all students, regardless of income, at all District elementary schools and the students at Zemmer Junior High School attending at Rolland-Warner Middle School.
“In addition to saving reduced cost lunch students up to $2 a week, the free lunch program is really aimed at encouraging children to eat a nutritious hot lunch every school day,” said Mr. Scott Smith, Director of Food Services in the District. “The Board of Education is committed to helping our families during this difficult economic time. A good breakfast and lunch contributes to better learning.”
A challenge from the Board of Education to the District’s food service department to find ways to help students and their parents during difficult economic times has resulted in an additional 613 students receiving free lunches at school.
Beginning last Monday, March 1, the District’s Food Service Department extended free lunches to the 613 students who had been receiving reduced cost lunches. The free lunch program continues through the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
In addition to the 613 reduced lunch students, the District already provided 2,149 students with free lunches. The District has an enrollment of 6,387. Before Monday, lunches cost 40 cents a day for students in the reduced lunch program.
The District previously opened up a free breakfast program to all students, regardless of income, at all District elementary schools and the students at Zemmer Junior High School attending at Rolland-Warner Middle School.
“In addition to saving reduced cost lunch students up to $2 a week, the free lunch program is really aimed at encouraging children to eat a nutritious hot lunch every school day,” said Mr. Scott Smith, Director of Food Services in the District. “The Board of Education is committed to helping our families during this difficult economic time. A good breakfast and lunch contributes to better learning.”
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
New 2010 State immunization requirements
New State immunization requirements will require new kindergarten students, all sixth grade students and all children changing school districts to show proof of two doses of Varicella vaccine or a history of chickenpox disease for the 2010-2011 school year.
In addition, all students ages 11 to 18 years of age who are changing school districts or who are enrolled in the sixth grade are required to have one dose of meningococcal vaccine and one dose of tetanus/diphtheria/accellular pertussis vaccine if five years have passed since the last dose of the tetanus/diphtheria vaccine.
The new rules were passed by the Michigan Legislature in October 2009.
Varicella vaccine is for the prevention of chickenpox, tetanus/diphtheria/accellular pertussis vaccine is a combination vaccine for the prevention of tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. The meningococcal vaccine is for the prevention of meningitis.
Students enrolling in the District after January 1, 2010 are required to comply with the new immunization rules.
The Lapeer County Health Department expects to receive additional school required vaccines through the federal stimulus funds. This will allow LCHD to expand eligibility for additional children. Please call the Health Department at (810) 667-0448 for more information.
In addition, all students ages 11 to 18 years of age who are changing school districts or who are enrolled in the sixth grade are required to have one dose of meningococcal vaccine and one dose of tetanus/diphtheria/accellular pertussis vaccine if five years have passed since the last dose of the tetanus/diphtheria vaccine.
The new rules were passed by the Michigan Legislature in October 2009.
Varicella vaccine is for the prevention of chickenpox, tetanus/diphtheria/accellular pertussis vaccine is a combination vaccine for the prevention of tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. The meningococcal vaccine is for the prevention of meningitis.
Students enrolling in the District after January 1, 2010 are required to comply with the new immunization rules.
The Lapeer County Health Department expects to receive additional school required vaccines through the federal stimulus funds. This will allow LCHD to expand eligibility for additional children. Please call the Health Department at (810) 667-0448 for more information.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Congratulations to Turrill Elementary School Spelling Bee contestants and winners
Congratulations to Turrill Elementary School Spelling Bee winner, Nathan Jasper (left) and runner-up Kane Sweet. Both are 4th grade students.
The competition was hosted in January. To see photos of the entire group go to the photo gallery.
Students compete in 10th annual Spanish IV piñata contest at Lapeer East High School
The 10th annual Spanish IV piñata contest in Mr. Duane Machesney’s class is complete.The piñatas are displayed in the East Media Center where teachers vote on their favorite designs. To see all the creations go to the District photo gallery.
First place was a traffic light made by Mike Bates, Aaron Marietta, Dylan Rowley and Clayton Tomczyk. Second place was a cactus done by Ian Komisak, Mike Puskar, Rebecca Tencza and Chris Whiting. The Space Shuttle and Yoshi piñatas tied for third place. The Space Shuttle was done by Juniors Josh Hockstad, Zach Nolan, Mike Sawchuk and Steve Tadazak. Yoshi was done by the trio of Danica Crouch, Taylor McGuffie and Shelby Saelens.
The event is one that Spanish IV students look forward to every year and can be interesting and creative in a class with no running water to work with paper maché or a lot of space to store wet piñatas to dry. Students have three weeks to complete the piñatas in and out of class.
The piñata contest is one of the reasons students look forward to taking Spanish IV at East.
“This year’s students did a great job with their piñatas,” said Mr. Machesney.
Mayfield Elementary School hosts Mom 2 Mom sale, crafters and more March 20
Table vendors for the Mayfield Elementary School PTC Spring Craft Bazaar and Mom 2 Mom Sale scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 20, 2010 are being sought. The March 9 deadline is rapidly approaching.
The popular Mom 2 Mom sale offers great bargains on new or gently used clothing and other children’s items. Crafters, home-based businesses, such as Pampered Chef or jewelry, candle or purse sales, are also invited to the event.
The cost of an 8-foot table for the event is $25. Mom 2 Mom participants may also bring one small clothing rack. Concessions and a bake sale will also be offered.
Cost of admission is $1 per person.
For additional questions or to rent a table call Mayfield Elementary School at (810) 667-2442.
Money raised at this fundraiser will support ongoing educational opportunities for students, including field trips, literacy events, classroom supplies and much more.
The popular Mom 2 Mom sale offers great bargains on new or gently used clothing and other children’s items. Crafters, home-based businesses, such as Pampered Chef or jewelry, candle or purse sales, are also invited to the event.
The cost of an 8-foot table for the event is $25. Mom 2 Mom participants may also bring one small clothing rack. Concessions and a bake sale will also be offered.
Cost of admission is $1 per person.
For additional questions or to rent a table call Mayfield Elementary School at (810) 667-2442.
Money raised at this fundraiser will support ongoing educational opportunities for students, including field trips, literacy events, classroom supplies and much more.
Nominations sought for 2010 LCS Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor program
Nominations for candidates for the fifth annual Lapeer Community Schools Distinguished Alumni Award program are being sought for the fall induction program.
The Distinguished Alumni Award program is sponsored by the District and the Lapeer High School Alumni Association.
To be eligible for the award, a person, living or dead, must have graduated from the Lapeer Community Schools at least ten years ago and be noted in his or her field of endeavor or recognized for expertise and good works.
The person must be considered a role model for youth and demonstrated positive leadership and outstanding achievement, service or contributions to society. Honorees will attend the Distinguished Alumni Induction Ceremony scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, November 7, 2010 in the Lapeer East High School Auditorium.
Four previous classes of Distinguished Alumni Award winners included pillars of the education community; a U.S. Navy Blue Angels pilot and other distinguished military men and women; local business owners and executives, a women’s basketball team head coach, a former high altitude balloon test pilot killed testing flight suit equipment for the fledgling astronaut program in the 1960s and a police chief, among others.
Applications are available in District buildings or by calling Mary Linn Voss at (810) 538-1634.
Deadline for applications is Friday, April 30, 2010.
The Distinguished Alumni Award program is sponsored by the District and the Lapeer High School Alumni Association.
To be eligible for the award, a person, living or dead, must have graduated from the Lapeer Community Schools at least ten years ago and be noted in his or her field of endeavor or recognized for expertise and good works.
The person must be considered a role model for youth and demonstrated positive leadership and outstanding achievement, service or contributions to society. Honorees will attend the Distinguished Alumni Induction Ceremony scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, November 7, 2010 in the Lapeer East High School Auditorium.
Four previous classes of Distinguished Alumni Award winners included pillars of the education community; a U.S. Navy Blue Angels pilot and other distinguished military men and women; local business owners and executives, a women’s basketball team head coach, a former high altitude balloon test pilot killed testing flight suit equipment for the fledgling astronaut program in the 1960s and a police chief, among others.
Applications are available in District buildings or by calling Mary Linn Voss at (810) 538-1634.
Deadline for applications is Friday, April 30, 2010.
Professional soccer player takes over Lapeer West boys' varsity soccer, girls' jv program
Kenny Uzoigwe, a forward with the Michigan Bucks professional soccer team in Pontiac, is the new Lapeer West High School boys’ varsity and girls’ junior varsity soccer coach.Uzoigwe, a prolific scorer with several professional soccer teams, is a graduate of the University of Toledo.
At a high school known for its American football, Uzoigwe wants to bring a level of excellence to the other “football.”
“What I want to do is build the program and it’s not going to happen overnight,” Coach Uzoigwe said. “It’s a development process.”
With a retired professor as a father, Uzoigwe understands the term “student-athlete.”
“Education is very important, you play the sport, but you have to make sure you have a good education and a degree to fall back on,” Coach Uzoigwe said. “I am very excited about this opportunity.”
In 2007, Uzoigwe was the Most Valuable Player on the Michigan Bucks team. He has also played for the Major League Soccer Colorado Rapids Reserve team, the United Soccer League Division 1 Charleston Battery and the Toledo Slayers of the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League. He was a goal scoring finalist, member of a PDL Championship team, selected to the PDL All Conference Team, All-Star, All-American teams in consecutive years and was the PDL Conference Leading Goal Scorer in 2006.
He has helped coach at Lake Orion High School, at the Lake Orion Soccer Club and is employed by the Michigan Bucks to conduct youth summer camps as well as play.
“We are very excited to welcome Coach Uzoigwe to the Lapeer West athletic team,” said Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Mary Haslinger. Uzoigwe is married. He and his wife, Melissa Wright, live in Auburn Hills with their twin son and daughter.
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