Contents of this issue:
- Utah governor signs universal school voucher bill
- Carrollton schools ask taxpayers to evaluate performance
- U.P. charter school teachers consider breaking ties with union
- Grand Haven area charters see enrollment increase
- Howell seeks health benefits options
UTAH GOVERNOR SIGNS UNIVERSAL SCHOOL VOUCHER BILL
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. signed a bill to
create the nation's first universal voucher program, according
to The Salt Lake Tribune.
The new law will provide Utah parents with a voucher worth $500
to $3,000 based on their annual household income. Any student
enrolled in public schools qualifies for a voucher, which can be
used at eligible private schools. Low-income students currently
enrolled in private schools may also receive vouchers, according
to The Tribune.
The law stipulates that private schools must comply with certain
requirements to receive students using vouchers. To be eligible,
schools must hire college-educated teachers, operate outside of
a residence, enroll at least 40 students and not discriminate on
basis of race, color or national origin. The schools must also
present the results of a standardized test to parents and
undergo a financial audit every four years, The Tribune
reported.
SOURCE:
The Salt Lake Tribune, "Guv quietly signs school voucher bill,"
Feb. 13, 2007
http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_5216385
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Getting the Teachers Union
on Board for Reform," Jan. 23, 2007
https://www.mackinac.org/8177
Michigan Education Report, "The school choice movement's
greatest failure," Nov. 21, 2006
https://www.educationreport.org/8041
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Watkins Debacle Shows Need
for Basic Education Reforms," Mar. 7, 2005
https://www.mackinac.org/6997
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Vouchers or Tuition Tax
Credits: Which is the Better Choice for School Choice?"
July 27, 2004
https://www.mackinac.org/6710
CARROLLTON SCHOOLS ASK TAXPAYERS TO EVALUATE PERFORMANCE
SAGINAW, Mich. — The Carrollton public school district is asking
residents, parents and staff members to participate in an
electronic survey to grade its performance, according to The
Saginaw News.
Participants will be asked about, among other things, overall
quality of education, strengths and weaknesses, and
participation in the schools of choice program. Parents were
able to participate during conferences, and the board of
education is looking to establish other dates for surveying so
members can discuss the results at their goal-setting meeting in
March, according to The News.
SOURCE:
The Saginaw News, "Carrollton parents evaluating school leaders
with survey," Feb. 15, 2007
https://www.mlive.com/news/sanews/index.ssf?/base/news-21/117155111494190.xml&coll=9
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Thousands of parents exercise
limited school choice rights," July 5, 2006
https://www.educationreport.org/7807
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Case for Choice in
Schooling: Restoring Parental Control of Education,"
Jan. 29, 2001
https://www.mackinac.org/3236
U.P. CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHERS CONSIDER CUTTING TIES WITH UNION
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — Teachers at the Joseph K. Lumsden
Bahweting Anishinabe School in Sault Ste. Marie will vote on
eliminating their one-year affiliation with the Michigan
Education Association school employee union, according to
Education Week.
Local Chippewa Indian tribal leaders are concerned the
affiliation will promote the unionization of its casinos and
will affect tribal sovereignty. The leaders have also stated
they would rather see the school operate without charter school
status than have the union present, Education Week reported.
"Teachers have an understanding of what's at stake and what
would be jeopardized if they did allow the union to remain in
the school," Superintendent Nick Oshelski told Education Week.
However, some teachers believe union representation is necessary
at the school.
"We are entitled to a union under our own tribal constitution,"
teacher Chris Gordon told Education Week, "and (our union)
doesn't affect casinos."
Oshelski commented that teachers may be worried about staffing
and pay cuts because of declining enrollment, but they already
have protections worked into their contracts.
"I strongly felt enough people would vote the union out in order
to save the school," kindergarten teacher Troy McBride told
Education Week. "Honestly, I don't see any other choice."
SOURCE:
Education Week, "Mich. Charter Awaits Vote on Union,"
Feb. 14, 2007
https://www.edweek.org//ew/articles/2007/02/14/23tribal.h26.html?print=1
(Subscription required)
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Upper Peninsula charter school
unionizes," Oct. 25, 2005
https://www.educationreport.org/7391
Michigan Education Digest, "A Looming Charter School Re-Union?"
May 25, 2005
https://www.educationreport.org/7121
Michigan Education Digest, "Charter School Ousts MEA Union In
Historic Vote," Oct. 29, 2001
https://www.educationreport.org/3834
GRAND HAVEN AREA CHARTERS SEE ENROLLMENT INCREASE
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — Public schools in the Grand Haven area have
seen an enrollment decrease while their charter school
counterparts have seen an increase, according to the Grand Haven
Tribune.
Spring Lake Schools have seen a decrease of 20 students since
this fall and have five fewer students than last year. Fruitport
Community Schools has seen a similar trend. Their count is down
12 students from the fall and seven from one year ago. Spring
Lake Superintendent Larry Mason is not surprised, according to
the Tribune.
"A lot of families are moving out of state," he told the
Tribune. "(A lower student count) is not as surprising with how
the economy is here."
However, West Michigan Academy of Arts & Academics, in
Ferrysburg, saw an increase of four students from the fall and
15 from last year. Walden Green Montessori School in Spring Lake
also saw enrollment increases. Their count has remained the same
since this fall, but the school has seen an increase of 50
students since last year, according to the Tribune.
SOURCE:
Grand Haven Tribune, "Students counted; Numbers down in local
public schools, up in charter schools," Feb. 15, 2007
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/paid/288211448021717.bsp
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Wait lists for charter schools grow
as enrollment soars," Jan. 9, 2007
https://www.educationreport.org/8167
Michigan Education Digest," Children flee Detroit Public
Schools," Jan. 23, 2007
https://www.educationreport.org/8179
Michigan Education Report, "State charter schools see enrollment
increases," Mar. 7, 2006
https://www.educationreport.org/7621
HOWELL SCHOOLS SEEKS HEALTH BENEFITS OPTIONS
HOWELL, Mich. — The Howell Public Schools board is seeking to
lessen the influence of the Michigan Education Special Services
Association on the district's health insurance costs, according
to the Livingston Daily Press & Argus.
A recent resolution passed 7-0 by the board made the district
its own health insurance policyholder and said it would work
with MESSA, a third-party health administrator affiliated with
the Michigan Education Association school employee union, as
long as MESSA acknowledges the district as the policyholder. If
it doesn't, the district will remove MESSA from its benefits
plan, the Daily Press & Argus reported.
"It's absurd. It's illegal," Doug Norton, president of the
Howell Education Association told the Daily Press & Argus. "They
do not have any legal foundation to take that action."
The district cited the Public Employment Relations Act, which
allows a district to designate a policyholder. The law states a
district may do this because it is considered a managerial right
and may make this decision without bargaining with the union,
the Daily Press & Argus reported.
Deputy Superintendent for Labor Relations and Personnel Lynn
Parrish is responsible for contacting MESSA regarding the school
board's resolution.
SOURCE:
Livingston Daily Press & Argus, "Schools move to control
benefits," Feb. 13, 2007
http://www.dailypressandargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070213/NEWS01/702130303/1002
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Howell custodians abandon MESSA,"
Sep. 5, 2006
https://www.educationreport.org/7919
Michigan Education Report, "Growing number of districts seek
solutions to costly health insurance," Dec. 15, 2005
https://www.educationreport.org/7479
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Six Habits of Fiscally
Responsible School Districts," Dec. 3, 2002
https://www.mackinac.org/4891
MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education
Report (
https://www.educationreport.org),
a quarterly newspaper
with a circulation of approximately 150,000 published by the
Mackinac Center for Public Policy (
https://www.mackinac.org),
a
private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational
institute.