Superintendent’s Message
February 26, 2010
INCORRECT OAKLAND PRESS ARTICLE
Amendment to Bond Resolution
Please note that in Thursday’s Oakland Press on page 2, an article ran that INCORRECTLY stated that WBSD is eyeing a $15 million bond issue. This implies that the Board of Education is going to ask voters to approve $15 million for capital improvements and technology. THIS IS NOT TRUE.
At Monday night’s board meeting, the Board of education DID AMEND the November 2009 bond resolution proposal regarding the hoped for sale of $15 million in ARRA Federal Qualified School Construction Bonds through the Michigan Municipal Bond Authority.
The Oakland Press will be running a correction to this article in the Friday, February 26, 2010 edition.
Budget Amendments
At Monday night’s board meeting, the general operating budget was amended and we are preparing to go into deficit spending. As required by law, we have submitted a letter to the Michigan Department of Education notifying them that we anticipated ending the fiscal year, June 30, 2010, with a $3.1 million true budget deficit. As a result, we are preparing a deficit elimination plan that by law must be submitted to the state.
Culver’s and Pistons Game Event
The Culver’s and Pistons Game event this past Sunday was amazing! I want to thank all the parents, students, staff, and community members who came out to support us. Culver’s Restaurant was PACKED with enthusiastic Butter-Burger lovers, served by all of the Principals, Administrators as well as myself! We got MOST of the orders right! This one-day event was very lucrative for us in that we were able to raise over $500 from Culver’s and approximately $12,000 from the Pistons Organization. This is all for the benefit of the West Bloomfield Educational Foundation. We hope to make this an annual event.
American Idol Raffle Tickets
We are getting ready to kickoff the American Idol Raffle. This will be our biggest and best fund-raiser yet! The prize includes airfare, hotel accommodations for three nights, and tickets for four people to the American Idol Finale in Los Angeles, May 25-26, 2010. If you are interested in purchasing a raffle ticket, please go to the foundation’s website www.wbef.org Tickets are $50 each or 3 for $100.
Abbott Musical
Abbott Students will be performing “Big River” this weekend (Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.)at West Bloomfield High School. Senior citizens are reminded that they can use their “Gold Card” to get into this event for free. If you do not have your card yet, you can obtain one from any of our school offices.
Phone Bank
Parents will be calling to solicit donations through our Phone Bank this Sunday for the West Bloomfield Educational Foundation. This was made possible through the generosity of Quicken Loan and Todd Lunsford who arranged for us to use the Quicken Loan facility.
It’s not too late to volunteer! Please call Heidi Tischer at 248-225-7037 or email at heidi.tischer@gmail.com and let her know that you are available to help out this Sunday, February 28, from 5-8 pm.
Quicken Loan is located at 20255 Victor Parkway, Livonia, MI 48152, on the third floor.
Enrollment
Throughout the district, we are planning for next year’s schedule of classes as we begin to look at enrollment numbers. In the next few weeks, you will be hearing radio ads for School of Choice openings for next school year. Due to the increase of resident student enrollment, it appears that we will have openings primarily in kindergarten and first grade.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
February 19, 2010
Budget
Learn more about our proposed budget adjustments at the Board Meeting on Monday, February 22 at the West Bloomfield High School at 7:00 pm. We will amend the 2009-2010 budget into deficit as well as the resolution for the 2010 school building and site bond. The school will also be showcasing many of their unique programs that make it a premier high school, contributing to what makes us a high caliber school district.
A budget presentation will also take place at Ealy Elementary at their PTO Meeting on March 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Our dedication to education is very clear - you see it in everything we do, every day. It starts with one small seed... We plant those seeds all over the district. We’re growing our school district with new ideas, collaboration, partnerships and support from parents, business members and residents.
We want to help our schools and teachers build connections - no matter how hard the economy has hit the budget. That is why we want to give everyone the opportunity to share their ideas and suggestions for our budget issues. We welcome your input on all aspects of our budget issues and encourage you to attend this presentation at Ealy’s PTO meeting.
Legislation
On March 10 the SOS Save our Students, Schools and State (www.sosmichigan.org) will be gathering at the Capitol in Lansing at 1:30 p.m. for a rally to send another strong message to Lansing – we need actions, not words! We may want to consider going to Lansing for this rally. If we do, we want parents, school supporters and ALL SOS members to join us that day. It will occur at a crucial time, just as the legislature is considering the state budget. We will keep you informed.
Finally, SOS is planning a postcard campaign to help get parents and communities involved and allow them to express their frustrations to Lansing. We’ll send you more on that later. In the meantime, we'll be doing editorial board meetings in communities across the state.
At this time there is discussion with a few of our surrounding communities including Walled Lake to invite our legislators to speak in our community so that you may share your concerns before they vote on a final budget.
Pistons Tickets
JOIN US for a great night!
There is still time to purchase tickets to the Pistons game for this Sunday, February 21 at 6 pm at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Tickets can be ordered on our website www.wbsd.org . Join us for a fun dinner before the game at Culver’s Restaurant between 4 and 6 pm, and our own principals and superintendent will be your servers! Proceeds from the game and the dinner will go towards the Educational Foundation.
Phone Bank
The foundation is looking for volunteers to make calls to solicit donations at their phone bank on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at
Quicken Loan, 20255 Victor Parkway, Livonia, MI 48152, on the third floor.
Training will be provided before your shift starts. Please recruit as many people as possible.
Call Heidi Tischer at 248-225-7037 or email heidi.tischer@gmail.com by 02/24/2010 to let us know if you can help out.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Todd Lunsford for making it possible to use the Quicken Loans facility.
American Idol Raffle Tickets
Beginning at the end of February, the foundation will be selling raffle tickets to win a trip for four to the American Idol finale on May 25-26 in Los Angeles.
This includes airfare and hotel accommodations for FOUR people. American Idol Finale tickets are not available to the general public, so this is a great opportunity to buy a chance on a very exclusive event.
Tickets can be purchased starting February 28 at all West Bloomfield schools, JAX Kar Wash, and Buddy’s Pizza locations, or by calling 1-888-WIN-IDOL.
Tickets are $50 each OR 3 for $100. Buy a ticket and help support the West Bloomfield Educational Foundation.
Learn more about our proposed budget adjustments at the Board Meeting on Monday, February 22 at the West Bloomfield High School at 7:00 pm. We will amend the 2009-2010 budget into deficit as well as the resolution for the 2010 school building and site bond. The school will also be showcasing many of their unique programs that make it a premier high school, contributing to what makes us a high caliber school district.
A budget presentation will also take place at Ealy Elementary at their PTO Meeting on March 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Our dedication to education is very clear - you see it in everything we do, every day. It starts with one small seed... We plant those seeds all over the district. We’re growing our school district with new ideas, collaboration, partnerships and support from parents, business members and residents.
We want to help our schools and teachers build connections - no matter how hard the economy has hit the budget. That is why we want to give everyone the opportunity to share their ideas and suggestions for our budget issues. We welcome your input on all aspects of our budget issues and encourage you to attend this presentation at Ealy’s PTO meeting.
Legislation
On March 10 the SOS Save our Students, Schools and State (www.sosmichigan.org) will be gathering at the Capitol in Lansing at 1:30 p.m. for a rally to send another strong message to Lansing – we need actions, not words! We may want to consider going to Lansing for this rally. If we do, we want parents, school supporters and ALL SOS members to join us that day. It will occur at a crucial time, just as the legislature is considering the state budget. We will keep you informed.
Finally, SOS is planning a postcard campaign to help get parents and communities involved and allow them to express their frustrations to Lansing. We’ll send you more on that later. In the meantime, we'll be doing editorial board meetings in communities across the state.
At this time there is discussion with a few of our surrounding communities including Walled Lake to invite our legislators to speak in our community so that you may share your concerns before they vote on a final budget.
Pistons Tickets
JOIN US for a great night!
There is still time to purchase tickets to the Pistons game for this Sunday, February 21 at 6 pm at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Tickets can be ordered on our website www.wbsd.org . Join us for a fun dinner before the game at Culver’s Restaurant between 4 and 6 pm, and our own principals and superintendent will be your servers! Proceeds from the game and the dinner will go towards the Educational Foundation.
Phone Bank
The foundation is looking for volunteers to make calls to solicit donations at their phone bank on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at
Quicken Loan, 20255 Victor Parkway, Livonia, MI 48152, on the third floor.
Training will be provided before your shift starts. Please recruit as many people as possible.
Call Heidi Tischer at 248-225-7037 or email heidi.tischer@gmail.com by 02/24/2010 to let us know if you can help out.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Todd Lunsford for making it possible to use the Quicken Loans facility.
American Idol Raffle Tickets
Beginning at the end of February, the foundation will be selling raffle tickets to win a trip for four to the American Idol finale on May 25-26 in Los Angeles.
This includes airfare and hotel accommodations for FOUR people. American Idol Finale tickets are not available to the general public, so this is a great opportunity to buy a chance on a very exclusive event.
Tickets can be purchased starting February 28 at all West Bloomfield schools, JAX Kar Wash, and Buddy’s Pizza locations, or by calling 1-888-WIN-IDOL.
Tickets are $50 each OR 3 for $100. Buy a ticket and help support the West Bloomfield Educational Foundation.
Friday, February 5, 2010
February 5, 2010
Last night we held our fifth and final Budget Coffee Talk at Orchard Lake Middle School where there were approximately 50 people in attendance. It was an extremely productive evening where those who intended listened to an informative presentation on finances provided valuable feedback and input. Community input is an extremely important element of this process as the Board of Education looks to make important decisions regarding our school district.
In addition, we will be making a brief presentation at these upcoming PTO meetings. They will take place at the following schools:
· West Bloomfield High School on February 8
· Green Elementary February 9th
· Ealy Elementary on March 2
Please remember that Count Day is on February 10th. It is imperative that all students are in class that day, so please understand the importance of their attendance.
Our educational foundation has been incredibly active over the past few months. The SOS campaign is in full swing. They have a very informative website at WBEF website, www.WBEF.org where you can find out about all of the activities that are in the works. There is also an FAQ page that responds to the important questions being asked regarding the Save our Schools campaign. Please refer to it often as new things are happening every day!
Last Sunday the WBEF conducted a phone bank for the SOS campaign. I want to thank the many volunteers who devoted their Sunday afternoon to helping to raise nearly $10,000 for our school district. The next phone bank is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 28 from 12 to 5 pm. We need volunteers, so if you can donate a couple of hours of your time to help this worthwhile cause, please contact Heidi Tischer at 248-225-7037.
Watch for the next issue of the Laker newsletter inserted into next Wednesday, February 10 edition of the West Bloomfield Beacon. It contains information on the great student programs that are taking place in our schools as well as hundreds of donors to the WBEF are listed also.
This edition of the Laker also announces the next very exciting fundraiser sponsored by the WBEF. We think that this will be our best fundraiser yet, because it promises some great fun for four lucky people!
In addition, we are asking all of our basketball fans to join us at the Detroit Pistons game on Feb. 21, where proceeds will go towards the WBEF. The Detroit Pistons have been extremely supportive of the WBEF and its efforts to help us raise $2 million. The Pistons have not only discounted the tickets to the game but are donating 50% of all sales towards the SOS Campaign. Go to the WBSD website and watch our incredible, entertaining You-tube video on the homepage, taped right in the Pistons locker room with Coach John Koessler, Rip Hamilton, Austin Daye and our own principals and myself encouraging your support of the WBEF. In addition, our own Laker Express will be singing the National Anthem at the game.
As a bonus, of the principals and myself have volunteered to staff the Culver’s Restaurant just north of the Palace before the game, from 4-6 pm, and will be serving you your meals! Join us as Culver’s has graciously offered to donate 25% of all receipts to the SOS campaign. We also accept TIPS!
Congratulations to the following WBHS students who signed National Letters of Intent for scholarships at the Press Conference on Wednesday February3: Christian Bilkovic, Wayne State University – Baseball; Lawrence Brown, Saginaw Valley State University – Football; Cameron Fields, Grand Valley State University – Football; Aaron Foster, Bowling Green (Ohio), Football; Matt Judon, Grand Valley State University –Football; Vince Simpson, Western Illinois University – Football; Jenn Topor Winona State – Softball.
Another congratulations goes to Sheryl Hauk, Vocal Music Director and the WBHS Choral students who will be singing several numbers at the New York City Jazz Festival at Lincoln Center on February 28!
Life on a college campus seems to be agreeing with our Oakland Early College students who are performing well academically. In the fall 2009 semester, OEC students took nearly 300 college courses, ranging in subject from Calculus III and Linear Algebra to Guitar and Yoga. Our students had an exemplary college course pass rate of approximately 92% , a transfer rate of 87%, and carried an aggregate course grade of 2.8 GPA. Several of our students served as officers in the college’s Phi Theta Kappa academic honors society.
In addition, we will be making a brief presentation at these upcoming PTO meetings. They will take place at the following schools:
· West Bloomfield High School on February 8
· Green Elementary February 9th
· Ealy Elementary on March 2
Please remember that Count Day is on February 10th. It is imperative that all students are in class that day, so please understand the importance of their attendance.
Our educational foundation has been incredibly active over the past few months. The SOS campaign is in full swing. They have a very informative website at WBEF website, www.WBEF.org where you can find out about all of the activities that are in the works. There is also an FAQ page that responds to the important questions being asked regarding the Save our Schools campaign. Please refer to it often as new things are happening every day!
Last Sunday the WBEF conducted a phone bank for the SOS campaign. I want to thank the many volunteers who devoted their Sunday afternoon to helping to raise nearly $10,000 for our school district. The next phone bank is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 28 from 12 to 5 pm. We need volunteers, so if you can donate a couple of hours of your time to help this worthwhile cause, please contact Heidi Tischer at 248-225-7037.
Watch for the next issue of the Laker newsletter inserted into next Wednesday, February 10 edition of the West Bloomfield Beacon. It contains information on the great student programs that are taking place in our schools as well as hundreds of donors to the WBEF are listed also.
This edition of the Laker also announces the next very exciting fundraiser sponsored by the WBEF. We think that this will be our best fundraiser yet, because it promises some great fun for four lucky people!
In addition, we are asking all of our basketball fans to join us at the Detroit Pistons game on Feb. 21, where proceeds will go towards the WBEF. The Detroit Pistons have been extremely supportive of the WBEF and its efforts to help us raise $2 million. The Pistons have not only discounted the tickets to the game but are donating 50% of all sales towards the SOS Campaign. Go to the WBSD website and watch our incredible, entertaining You-tube video on the homepage, taped right in the Pistons locker room with Coach John Koessler, Rip Hamilton, Austin Daye and our own principals and myself encouraging your support of the WBEF. In addition, our own Laker Express will be singing the National Anthem at the game.
As a bonus, of the principals and myself have volunteered to staff the Culver’s Restaurant just north of the Palace before the game, from 4-6 pm, and will be serving you your meals! Join us as Culver’s has graciously offered to donate 25% of all receipts to the SOS campaign. We also accept TIPS!
Congratulations to the following WBHS students who signed National Letters of Intent for scholarships at the Press Conference on Wednesday February3: Christian Bilkovic, Wayne State University – Baseball; Lawrence Brown, Saginaw Valley State University – Football; Cameron Fields, Grand Valley State University – Football; Aaron Foster, Bowling Green (Ohio), Football; Matt Judon, Grand Valley State University –Football; Vince Simpson, Western Illinois University – Football; Jenn Topor Winona State – Softball.
Another congratulations goes to Sheryl Hauk, Vocal Music Director and the WBHS Choral students who will be singing several numbers at the New York City Jazz Festival at Lincoln Center on February 28!
Life on a college campus seems to be agreeing with our Oakland Early College students who are performing well academically. In the fall 2009 semester, OEC students took nearly 300 college courses, ranging in subject from Calculus III and Linear Algebra to Guitar and Yoga. Our students had an exemplary college course pass rate of approximately 92% , a transfer rate of 87%, and carried an aggregate course grade of 2.8 GPA. Several of our students served as officers in the college’s Phi Theta Kappa academic honors society.
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