With several open questions about the local impact of approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the State on new Race ToThe Top legislation, Lapeer Board of Education members Thursday night, January 7, decided to wait on voting on the issue.
Instead, as allowed by the State, Board members approved a motion to signal the “intent” to approve the Memorandum of Understanding at a special meeting next Monday. The “intent” motion will be sent to the Lapeer County Intermediate School District today, Friday, January 8th.
“It’s still a moving target,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson.
Recent legal opinions received by the District indicate that approving the Memorandum of Understanding could encumber the District with additional, long term financial commitments.
The action provides the District more time to get further opinions on the full impact of the Memorandum of Understanding before taking a final vote at the special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, January 11, at the Administration & Services Center, 250 Second Street in Lapeer.
Showing posts with label Lapeer Board of Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lapeer Board of Education. Show all posts
Friday, January 8, 2010
Elementary realignment plan approved by Lapeer Board of Education
New elementary school boundaries were approved by the Lapeer Board of Education at its regular meeting Thursday night.
Board members, as they did when the plan was presented in December, praised the administration for designing a plan that affected only three percent of the District’s 2,900 elementary school students.
State funding cuts, the previous closings of Attica, Irwin and Hadley Elementary Schools, and the upcoming closing of Elba Elementary School in June, coupled with the opening of two new sixth, seventh and eighth grade middles schools made the realignment a necessity.
The plan includes the option for parents of the small number of students scheduled for new schools to remain in their current building through the In-District Schools of Choice program. There also will be room for Out-of-District Schools of Choice. Both In-District and Out-of-District Schools of Choice parents must provide their own transportation.
Re-balancing the student populations, closing a building and designing more efficient bus routes all save money for the District which can be used for academics.
With the board’s approval Thursday night, all elementary parents will receive a letter about the changes and will 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.
Board members, as they did when the plan was presented in December, praised the administration for designing a plan that affected only three percent of the District’s 2,900 elementary school students.
State funding cuts, the previous closings of Attica, Irwin and Hadley Elementary Schools, and the upcoming closing of Elba Elementary School in June, coupled with the opening of two new sixth, seventh and eighth grade middles schools made the realignment a necessity.
The plan includes the option for parents of the small number of students scheduled for new schools to remain in their current building through the In-District Schools of Choice program. There also will be room for Out-of-District Schools of Choice. Both In-District and Out-of-District Schools of Choice parents must provide their own transportation.
Re-balancing the student populations, closing a building and designing more efficient bus routes all save money for the District which can be used for academics.
With the board’s approval Thursday night, all elementary parents will receive a letter about the changes and will 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.
Two Lapeer Board of Education members announce plans to run for re-election
Two Board members with expiring terms announced Thursday night that they would seek re-election to new four-year terms on Tuesday, May 4.Mrs. Peggy Bush and Mr. John Nugent are completing terms on the Lapeer Board of Education and made the announcement at Thursday night’s regular Board meeting.
Mrs. Bush, a 14-year veteran of the Board, currently serves on two Board committees; Finance and Operation, and Teaching, Learning & Technology, and is a partner with Turrill and Schickler Elementary Schools. Mr. Nugent is Board secretary and serves on two Board committees; Teaching, Learning and Technology and Policy and Strategic Planning, and is a partner with Lapeer West High School.
Both members cited the good working relationships on the current Board and a desire to continue to see the District move forward.
State Representative Kevin Daley presents "Tribute" to Lapeer Board of Education
Each member of the Lapeer Board of Education was honored with a Tribute of Recognition by State Representative Kevin Daley, R-Lapeer County, at its regular board meeting Thursday night.In presenting each member with a Tribute of Recognition, Representative Daley praised the commitment, work and dedication of the Board members.
January is School Board Appreciation Month in Michigan. In this photo Rep. Daley presents the Tribute to Board member Michael Keller.
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.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Board approves resolution for State demanding school funding issues be addressed
A strongly worded resolution demanding State leaders put in place a “fair and equitable” funding plan to finance Michigan’s educational system was passed unanimously by the Lapeer Board of Education Thursday, December 3.
The resolution called for the Board to do a complete evaluation of the State’s financial process and establish a fair method to tax citizens for needed services.
Additionally, the resolution demanded that the State establish a funding system that is in place before school districts must set their annual budgets on July 1st of each year.
The resolution is in response to the State’s recent record of passing along budget decreases long after the State required budget decisions are made by local public school districts.
“The long-term economic health of our state, and opportunity for our citizens is conditioned on meaningful structural reform to provide stable and fair funding for education,” the resolution said in part.
On July 1, the Lapeer Board of Education approved a balanced $56.2 million budget based on State funding projections at that time. To balance that budget the District used $1.2 million from its savings account to off set the projected loss of State money.
In mid-October after missing its own September 30 budget deadline, the State Legislature adopted a budget that cut $165 per student from those projections causing a shortfall of $1 million in the District’s budget. And beyond that, the governor added a $127 cut for an additional deficit of about $800,000, which is scheduled to take effect later this month.
“It is time for State leaders to put aside politics and deal with an issue that has long term consequences for the State’s most valuable resource, its children,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson.
Complete text of the resolution follows:
WHEREAS, education is the cornerstone of a successful economic turnaround and investment in education is the key to a new Michigan; and
WHEREAS, the children of Michigan deserve educational opportunities that allow them to compete on a national and international basis; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative to combine needed investments in education with meaningful, money-saving reforms in the delivery of educational programs; and
WHEREAS, the long-term economic health of our state, and opportunity for our citizens is conditioned on meaningful structural reform to provide stable and fair funding for education; and
WHEREAS, given the crippling effects on our citizens and our educational institutions of continuing short-term, temporary measures and budget impasses over education funding.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of Lapeer Community Schools demands that the governor and legislators make a commitment to this State and to the citizens to make the necessary budget decisions that allow for the education of our children;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education of Lapeer Community Schools demands that the governor and legislators do a complete evaluation of the State’s financial processes and create a financial system that funds the educational system in a fair and equitable manner. This system should ensure that the educational budget is in place prior to the start of the district’s fiscal year. Further, we urge the governor and legislators to review processes for funding of this State’s needs and to explore all options to stabilize the State revenues and to establish a fair method to tax citizens for needed services. This Board holds the governor and legislators responsible for creating these processes in a timely manner.
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The resolution called for the Board to do a complete evaluation of the State’s financial process and establish a fair method to tax citizens for needed services.
Additionally, the resolution demanded that the State establish a funding system that is in place before school districts must set their annual budgets on July 1st of each year.
The resolution is in response to the State’s recent record of passing along budget decreases long after the State required budget decisions are made by local public school districts.
“The long-term economic health of our state, and opportunity for our citizens is conditioned on meaningful structural reform to provide stable and fair funding for education,” the resolution said in part.
On July 1, the Lapeer Board of Education approved a balanced $56.2 million budget based on State funding projections at that time. To balance that budget the District used $1.2 million from its savings account to off set the projected loss of State money.
In mid-October after missing its own September 30 budget deadline, the State Legislature adopted a budget that cut $165 per student from those projections causing a shortfall of $1 million in the District’s budget. And beyond that, the governor added a $127 cut for an additional deficit of about $800,000, which is scheduled to take effect later this month.
“It is time for State leaders to put aside politics and deal with an issue that has long term consequences for the State’s most valuable resource, its children,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson.
Complete text of the resolution follows:
WHEREAS, education is the cornerstone of a successful economic turnaround and investment in education is the key to a new Michigan; and
WHEREAS, the children of Michigan deserve educational opportunities that allow them to compete on a national and international basis; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative to combine needed investments in education with meaningful, money-saving reforms in the delivery of educational programs; and
WHEREAS, the long-term economic health of our state, and opportunity for our citizens is conditioned on meaningful structural reform to provide stable and fair funding for education; and
WHEREAS, given the crippling effects on our citizens and our educational institutions of continuing short-term, temporary measures and budget impasses over education funding.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of Lapeer Community Schools demands that the governor and legislators make a commitment to this State and to the citizens to make the necessary budget decisions that allow for the education of our children;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education of Lapeer Community Schools demands that the governor and legislators do a complete evaluation of the State’s financial processes and create a financial system that funds the educational system in a fair and equitable manner. This system should ensure that the educational budget is in place prior to the start of the district’s fiscal year. Further, we urge the governor and legislators to review processes for funding of this State’s needs and to explore all options to stabilize the State revenues and to establish a fair method to tax citizens for needed services. This Board holds the governor and legislators responsible for creating these processes in a timely manner.
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Zemmer Junior High School renamed officially to Zemmer Middle School
Zemmer Junior High School officially became Zemmer Middle School in a vote by the Lapeer Board of Education Thursday night.Opened as Zemmer Junior High School in October 1969, the school is currently undergoing a major renovation to convert it into a 21st Century Middle School. Voters approved a bond in May 2007 that financed the construction of Rolland-Warner Middle School, Zemmer Middle School, District wide technology improvements and other facility improvements.
A ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony is planned for late summer 2010 with the first classes in the new school to begin in September 2010.
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