Talk Sup’t. - 2/24/2011
NEGOTIATIONS
The Administration met with the West Bloomfield Education Association (WBEA), the Union that represents the Teachers of the district, yesterday, Thursday February 24 for 5 hours.
Concepts discussed still do not generate the level of savings the district needs to assist in addressing our current financial status. Correction from last week’s Talk Sup/t: They will meet again on March 8 and NOT on March 3 as reported last week.
You may view the Deficit Elimination Plan at http://www.westbloomfield.k12.mi.us/files/filesystem/DeficitEliminationPlan.pdf
COFFEE TALK
Yesterday at our Coffee Talk at Scotch Elementary, Tom Goulding presented our current financial status and what the Governor’s budget proposal will mean to our funding.
The Governor’s K-12 Budget Proposal will have disastrous consequences for Michigan’s K-12 school districts if approved by the state legislature.
The Governor’s K-12 Budget Proposal will have disastrous consequences for Michigan’s K-12 school districts if approved by the state legislature.
His plan reduces the 2011-12 foundation grant by $470 per pupil and increases the retirement rate from 20.66% to 24.46% for 2011-12, $230/pupil impact, and to 27.37% for 2012-13. Total reduction per pupil and including the pension rate increase is approximately $700.00 and represents over $4.7 million for West Bloomfield.
His plan maintains funding for special ed., at-risk, adult education, voc. ed., and early childhood but eliminates $85 million in categorical grants including bilingual ed. For 2012-13, sets aside $300 million that will be available for districts whose employees share in health insurance costs comparable to that of state employees.
This proposal is a direct hit on K-12 education and the original intent of Proposal A which voters approved to adequately fund their public schools. Now the governor has disinvested in K-12 to aid community colleges and universities. It is estimated that $196 million of state aid will go to community colleges and $700 million to universities for a total of $896 million if his budget proposal is approved.
Please contact your legislators and the governor and do not give them a free pass to once again deplete the school aid fund at the expense of K-12 education.
Senator Mike Kowall
517-373-1758 Phone 517-373-0938 Fax
Post Office Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
State Representative Lisa Brown
517-373-1799 Phone 517-373-8361 Fax
Representative Gail Haines
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
517-373-0615 Phone 517-373-7512 Fax
e-mail: gailhaines@house.mi.gov
Representative Chuck Moss
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
517-373-8670 Phone
e-mail: chuckmoss@house.mi.gov
You can view Tom Goulding’s PowerPoint presentation at
The next Coffee Talk will be held on March 10 at 7:00 pm at OLMS. Please join us as this is a chance to share your concerns with us to take to the Board for decisions regarding drafting our final budget. After this last Coffee Talk, we will have an online survey opportunity to weigh in on reductions for the 2011-12 school year. We will look for feedback on the programs that will be selected, staff reductions and consolidations that may have to occur. We will make you aware of the results of the survey in the latter part of March.
PCN
The next PCN (Parent Communication Network) meeting will be held at West Bloomfield High School. Thisa a Meet and Greet Your Legislators. Senator Mike Kowall and Representative will be here to hear your opinions on the state of our budget. The severity of the proposed cuts from Lansing could devastate school districts like West Bloomfield. If a difference is to be made it will be at the legislative level.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Dreams Really Do Come True! Through the generosity of BestSource Credit Union, one teacher from each of our buildings has won a gift card for their classroom.
Thank you to all who entered their wishes for Teacher Appreciation! We appreciate all you do every day for our youth. The following wishes were selected from each school:
Claudette Daniels - Doherty Elementary
Lisa Earley - Green Elementary
Tricia Bairski - Gretchko Elementary
Julie Baeten - Roosevelt Elementary
Annalisa Franks - Scotch Elementary
Hannah Hanschu - Abbott Middle School
Kimberly Rose - Orchard Lake Middle School
Josh Barclay - West Bloomfi eld High School
Lisa Maddalena - Oakland Early College
BestSource Credit Union has two locations in West Bloomfield and Waterford. We want to thank them for their generosity to our teachers and their classrooms.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Sophomore Allison Kohl and Junior Ashley Lustig, competed in the synchronized skating Spring Cup Competition in Milan, Italy last week and they won a Silver Medal for Team USA! Kudos to both of you and thank you for making us proud!
MARCH IS READING MONTH AT EALY
Ready, get set, read! Ealy Elementary School students will celebrate March is Reading Month by participating in activities keeping with the theme of "Run With a Good Book ... Exercise Your Mind!”. Each week, students will log their daily reading and earn "classroom miles" for time spent reading at home. On Friday, March 11, at 2:00 pm, Daren DeCavitte, motivational speaker from the New Balance Footwear store in Farmington Hills, will address the importance of fitness and its connection with reading. Other highlights of the month include PTO sponsored Pajamas and Cookies Read-in, Spirit Days, All School Reading Bingo, a classroom door decorating contest, and a USED book sale.
Ealy will also host a Read-a-thon Marathon from March 15 - March 17, from 8:30 - 2:30, where students, staff and guests can make a small donation and read on the Ealy Reading Throne during this 72 hour event! Ealy students and staff hope to keep the throne occupied at all times during the school day.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Tuesday, March 1
Junior and Senior Students will be taking the MERIT Exams and are the only students to report to class. There will be NO SCHOOL for all other students. This will be a Professional Development Day where teachers will be working on Common Core Standards and Teaching Strategies with Oakland Schools.
DISTRICT ENTERTAINMENT
TONIGHT AND TOMORROW: “13 – THE MUSICAL”
Abbott Middle School Musical Theatre will present the local premiere of the only all teenage show ever to hit Broadway at West Bloomfield High School February 25 & 26, 2011.
With an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown, "13" is a high-energy musical for all ages about discovering that cool is where you find it, and sometimes where you least expect it.
With an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown, "13" is a high-energy musical for all ages about discovering that cool is where you find it, and sometimes where you least expect it.
The Abbott Musical: 13 The Musical performances will take place:
Friday February 25 - 7:00PM
Saturday February 26 - 2:00PM
Saturday February 26 - 7:00PM
The musical will be held in the WBHS Auditorium. Tickets are now available at the door.
Seats are reserved, and tickets are $11.
SOS CAMPAIGN – YOUR DONATION MATTERS
In 2010, the campaign’s initial year, parents and supporters sent a strong message of how important our schools are by contributing thousands of dollars to the WBEF. These funds were used to purchase technological equipment, musical instruments, textbooks and science kits.
This year the foundation is asking for the same commitment of $1/day for each student or any amount with which you are comfortable. Your donation can be made yearly by check or credit card or monthly by credit card. The WBEF focus for the 2010-2011 academic year is on the purchase of specific textbooks, adding technology and supporting the Arts. The goal is 100% participation and this year you may earmark your donation where you feel the need is greatest.
If you have any questions regarding the campaign, please contact the foundation at info@wbef.org.
Donations are tax-deductible and can be made online at http://www.wbef.org/ or by sending checks payable to the West Bloomfield Educational Foundation, 5810 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield, MI. 48324.
EARLY CHILDHOOD OPEN HOUSE AND OPEN ENROLLMENT
The West Bloomfield Preschool Academy is hosting their annual Open Enrollment and Open House on March 16, 2011 from 4:00-6:30 PM at ACS and Ealy Elementary. Parents may choose from a variety of programs to meet the needs of three and four year olds: Junior Kindergarten, Stepping Stones, new 5-half days morning class for 4 year olds only, and our traditional half-day preschool programs. There will be registration on site, a model classroom, drawings, refreshments and fun activities for little ones to participate in.
Next fall, we are increasing the traditional preschool day from two and half hours to three hours a day. This additional thirty minutes will provide extra, valuable time for children to experience all the components of a quality preschool day: large group time, small group time (centers), free play (the work-time of a preschooler), snack, and large-motor movement time. Students will enjoy a non-rushed learning experience in our nurturing preschool environment. Parents should also know that our preschool program enjoys a thirty-five week school year as compared to programs in neighboring districts that run for only thirty weeks.
If you would like a personal tour of our program, contact the Community Education office at 248-865-6460.
LAKER NEWSLETTER!
The New February Laker should have been in your mailbox on Wednesday tucked inside the Beacon newspaper. Check out our Arts celebration throughout this issue along with news on students’ accomplishments and happenings in our school district. We continue to shine!
The New February Laker should have been in your mailbox on Wednesday tucked inside the Beacon newspaper. Check out our Arts celebration throughout this issue along with news on students’ accomplishments and happenings in our school district. We continue to shine!
