Search
Login
Register
Michigan Education Daily

Flint Schools pink slip another 28 employees

Tue., May 13, 2008

FLINT, Mich. – The Flint board of education voted to send 28 more lay-off notices to the district’s parent facilitators and behavioral specialists, according to The Flint Journal.

Superintendent Linda Thompson said the pink slips are precautionary and, more than likely, temporary. The layoffs go into effect on June 13, but will be rescinded before next school year when the district receives $16 million in federal Title I aid, The Journal reported.

Community member Belinda Mack isn’t too worried about the layoffs.

"It's sad some people don't see the big picture of what's going on," Mack told The Journal. "We don't have the money and we have to do what we can to keep the children we have. Everyone should take a business class to understand."

The 28 pink slips are in addition to the 240 layoff notices sent to teachers and administrators in April. The district will also close four schools to help alleviate a budget that is $12 million over expected revenues, according to The Journal.

SOURCE:
The Flint Journal, "Flint schools send 28 more lay-off notices, hope to bring staff back," May 7, 2008

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "School District Budgeting," in "A Michigan School Money Primer," May 30, 2007

MACKINAC CENTER ANALYSIS:
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s book, "A Michigan School Money Primer," gives an overview of the school district budgeting process.

Michigan Education Daily
Fri., October 10, 2008
"Clinton Community Schools is polling residents on whether to change the name of the school mascot to something other than 'Redskins.'" >>
Thu., October 9, 2008
"Wayne-Westland Community Schools officials were expected to ask a judge Thursday to require striking teachers to return to work." >>
Wed., October 8, 2008
"The Bloomfield Hills school district is refusing to release the names of all the members of a school-closing committee, and the public may not attend its meetings." >>
Tue., October 7, 2008
"Detroit Public Schools has sent layoff notices to more than 300 employees as part of a plan to address a $408 million budget deficit." >>
Mon., October 6, 2008
"Students in the Wayne-Westland Schools were denied instruction and had to be sent home Monday morning after members of the teachers union failed to report to work." >>
Sat., October 4, 2008
"With enrollment down to one student, Rapson School near Bad Axe has closed for good." >>
Fri., October 3, 2008
"Howell Public Schools will make about $120,000 in a deal allowing Parker High School to be used as a movie location." >>
User Comments
samuel
$400 K, try $400 million >>
terrym2442
Thank you to Lorie Shane and Marcie Lipsitt for blowing off the cover, exposing one of Michigan's "dirty secrets."

As the parent of a child with special needs in Michigan, it's been an uphill battle since day one to get the APPROPRIATE services for my child. Sadly, the bar is held too low for our kids. Upon graduating, if the student is not capable of attending college, he/she is warehoused into post-secondary settings where formal academics are not offered. Perhaps if students had gotten proper academics when younger- taught by highly qualified teachers- many would have had the opportunity to move on and continue formal academics like their non-disabled peers, rather than be expected to dust shelves and bag groceries their whole lives.

Michigan's special eduation has and continues to fail our children.

>>
frick@mackinac.org
As a parent I see the value of a teacher with knowledge of both special ed methods and the subject matter. Do enough of them exist to go around? My guess is that many teachers who concentrated their schooling and training on special ed took fewer courses in subject matter (English, Mathematics, Science, etc.). There are limits on course load, number of years in college, and student finance.

As much as we want the best for every person, we are not going to have six teachers each an expert in their subject matter per one pupil. So in this world of limited resources, each person and our society have to decide how to use the resources we have. Hopefully a successful balance of flexibility and accountability can produce the desired results: educated children with the capacity to think and the ability to learn. >>
Carol
Michigan High School & the University deliver quality education to its
students & has maintained its standard with good caliber. The courses offered by the Michigan institutes are versatile and for future progress of the society and the students, it further enhances them to become excellent citizens!!
---------------------------
Carol
<a href="http://http://www.treatmentcenters.org/michigan">Michigan Treatment Centers</a>
>>
drgrenan
Thank you for your comments. I would be honored and proud to go to any school district or meeting to stand up for your/our children!! Just EMail me and I will be there or call me anytime at 616-8474282
Thank You, Dr Jack Grenan Educator and Cancer Survivor >>
ilifflij
Parents and teachers have not had a voice. The waivers used have allowed administrators of various Michigan schools to plunk in 20 - 25 students in a classroom of students with learning disabilities. As a special education teacher, I find it very difficult to meet the individual learning objectives of that many students. >>
rlboogren
This article presents excellent information. As the parent of a child with a disability I advocate for my son. Currently, there is no one to speak for all the children with disabilities in Michigan. There is no transparency of government. The position of State Superintendent is a dictatorship with the power to make all the decisions. As a parent, I cannot voice my concerns by voting. >>
Ferndale Eagle
Ferndale High School in Ferndale, Michigan succeeded in correcting the mistaken reporting of the Johns Hopkins University report that had included it as a "dropout factory" with poor "promoting power." The University researchers have acknowledged that Ferndale High School does not belong in this category and removed the school from the list because of the school district's high outward mobility (more students move out than move in during high school.). The high school has a three-year promoting power ration of 77% rather than the 50% reported in the Associated Press in October 2007, with the Class of 2006 having a 91% promoting power. Please visit Johns Hopkins' website for more clarification to see the "Schools Removed from the List of Weak Promoting Power High Schools: http://web.jhu.edu/CSOS/images/Removed_from_List_5_14_08.pdf .

Also, visit www.ferndaleschools.org for info about the school district. >>
From Mackinac Blog
So you're not going to admit an anti-MESSA bias?

*wink* >>
From Mackinac Blog
The links to the sources used in MED are so that people can read the entire article. MED provides a summary of what the media reports. A "further reading" is then included for those readers who wish to read more on a related topic. >>