The latest Update from Rick Simonson,
Consultant for the Hold Harmless Districts
(As taken from Rick’s report)
Consultant for the Hold Harmless Districts
(As taken from Rick’s report)
As Rick predicted, all of the Lansing leaders he suggested last week would prevail did so this week in leadership elections. Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) will be the new speaker of the house. Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) will be new senate majority leader, Sen. Whitmer (D-East Lansing) and Rep. Hammel (D-Mt. Morris) will lead the democratic caucuses in the two chambers.
Our GOP friends in the senate have all expressed priorities other than chairing the K-12 appropriations subcommittee, so it appears the senator from Traverse City is likely to chair the committee -- not good news. Efforts are underway to convince our HH friends to seek appointment to the other positions on the subcommittee.
Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham) will be the new chair of the House Appropriations Committee. All of his districts are Hold Harmless (HH), so that should give some hope. It is highly unlikely an HH friend will chair the K-12 subcommittee there as well due to other priorities.
Initial movement may occur today on the federal funds issue at committee level. Oakland Schools' Judy Allen has been working with the appropriations leadership advancing the plan that HH leaders supported last week, i.e. go with the 2X formula for the fed funds ONLY if that measure is tied to a state supplemental to assure all districts receive $154 pp and the vetoed funds for ISDs are restored. Once again, the governor would be forced to take it or leave it and no artificial letter from D.C. could be used for cover.
The House and Senate are both expected to recess until after Thanksgiving when business is concluded this week.
Our GOP friends in the senate have all expressed priorities other than chairing the K-12 appropriations subcommittee, so it appears the senator from Traverse City is likely to chair the committee -- not good news. Efforts are underway to convince our HH friends to seek appointment to the other positions on the subcommittee.
Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham) will be the new chair of the House Appropriations Committee. All of his districts are Hold Harmless (HH), so that should give some hope. It is highly unlikely an HH friend will chair the K-12 subcommittee there as well due to other priorities.
Initial movement may occur today on the federal funds issue at committee level. Oakland Schools' Judy Allen has been working with the appropriations leadership advancing the plan that HH leaders supported last week, i.e. go with the 2X formula for the fed funds ONLY if that measure is tied to a state supplemental to assure all districts receive $154 pp and the vetoed funds for ISDs are restored. Once again, the governor would be forced to take it or leave it and no artificial letter from D.C. could be used for cover.
The House and Senate are both expected to recess until after Thanksgiving when business is concluded this week.
LAKER
The new edition of the Laker is online and also printed. It will be in the buildings on Monday, and will be in your mailboxes inside the Beacon on Wednesday, if you live in West Bloomfield. It’s packed with events and news that are just a part of what makes this such a great school district.
Check out the online version at:
MARCHING BAND
I wish our Marching Band the best of luck this weekend as they appear at the Bands of America Grand National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis! This will be their third consecutive appearance at nationals after finishing 17th and 21st IN THE NATION the last two seasons! I attended their performance at Ford Field last Saturday, where they placed fifth in the MCBA’s State Championship and they were phenomenal. This is the 5th straight year that the Laker Marching Band has finished in the top 5 at State Finals, thanks to the direction of Art Ebert, Sarah Ebert, Andrew Markworth and Andy Ebert.
THEATERI also saw the performance last week of Flowers for Algernon stage play at West Bloomfield High School starring Tom Lee and Rachel Brett along with over one hundred students who acted or participated in the technical crew for the show. The play was wonderful and the actors were first class professionals! Congratulations on a great show!
I want to extend my best wishes to all of the fall athletes who are competing in state competitions as well!
DON'T MISS THESE UPCOMING EVENTS!
Performing Arts on Thursday, November 18, 2010, 7:00 pm, OLMS 7th/8th grades will present their Musical Theater Show at the Orchard Lake Middle School cafeteria
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
HARRY POTTER - Thursday, November 18th
See the new movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, BEFORE it is released to the public! Support our district and the WBEF by attending this movie at the Emagine Theater in Novi. Limited tickets are available and can be ordered online at http://www.wbcommed.org/ or at the Community Education office at ACS.
UNITED WE WALK in STYLE, Fashion Show and Gold Event – Saturday, November 20, 2:00 pm
Come to the Orchard Mall next Saturday and exchange all of your old gold broken chains and single earrings and get the full market value from Tapper’s Jewelry. Gold is over $1400 an ounce right now, so this could give you some additional shopping money for the holidays! In addition, Tapper’s will donate 10% of the amount of your exchange to the West Bloomfield School District Fine Arts Program and United We Walk. Small flyers are available in the mall to bring in with you so be sure to mention West Bloomfield School District. Exchange any time on Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm.
Who’ll be West Bloomfield’s Next Top Model?
There will be a Fashion Show at 2:00 in the Center Court of Orchard Mall with students, teachers, and community members modeling fashions from Eleganza Boutique, Guys N Gals, Sally’s Designs, Maria’s Bridal and Bricker Tunis Furs, with tickets at the event for just $5. Come and see West Bloomfield Police Sgt. Tara Kane, OEC’s Gary Weisserman, Gretchko Principal Sally Drummond and many West Bloomfield High School students as they strut their stuff down the runway. Yours truly will also be promoting the lovely fashions from our local boutiques, so come and support our event and our schools!
Dine at Olga’s on November 16 from 10:30 am – 10:00 pm
Olga’s will donate a percentage of your bill to United We Walk. Contact us for a flyer to bring in to the restaurant. Olga’s is located at 6655 Orchard Lake Road, southeast corner of Maple.
Elementary Conferences
Parents mark your calendars. Conferences will be held on December 8th and 9th. Contact your child’s school for information.
National Honors Induction Ceremony will be held Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at West Bloomfield High School Auditorium at 7:00 PM.
SNOWMAN PINS ON SALE NOW!
The 2010 Snowman Pin has arrived through Our Children’s Fund Holiday Help program who has sponsored the 15th Annual Showman Pin contest. Ten Honorable Mentions, 3 Runners-up and one Winner were chosen from hundreds of wonderful entries sent in by 8 of our schools. Yuri Takubo, Green Elementary 4th grader submitted the winning watercolor design, that can be seen in the new edition of the Laker. Green Art teacher Sean Wightman helped to direct Yuri with her artistic endeavor! Snowman pins will be sold for $10 through December 17th, and the money raised will purchase Target gift cards to be given to needy WBSD families during the holidays. Last year over $15,000 in gift certificates were given to 225 students and their families the rough this great program. You can purchase a pin through any WBSD school office, ACS Special Services office and the WB Township cashier. Contact Randi Sakwa at randisb@yahoo.com for more information
Have a great weekend!
