City PTSA - Welcome

On our fiscal year and we still do not have a school aid budget. WE NEED YOU to attend the May 13 Grassroots Legislative meeting to learn what we can do to get a state school aid budget that will not severely punish children with deep cuts requiring further layoffs. Join our special guest BRAD BILADEAU of the Michigan Association of School Administrators in a conversation about what we can do in West Michigan, and what is being done elsewhere across the state, to get our message across. We have also invited other special guests, so we need your attendance. Please invite everyone in your district who is interested in achieving a stable and equitable source of funding for schools. This meeting will help us set an agenda for action as legislators get down to business on the school aid budget before they return home to campaign in the summer. Our meeting will be Thursday, MAY 13 at 7 p.m. in the Kent ISD Educational Service Center, 2930 Knapp NE. See you there!

Posted by sj1potyraj@comcast.net at 08:50 PM | Permalink

was lightly attended, around 40 people, but very informative. All 5 candidates gave the audience a bit more insight into how each would handle various education issues, disagreements with GRPS administration, representation of GRPS' interest at the state legislature and other areas. Thanks to all the participants and to the Education Advocacy Committee for bringing this to City. The forum was taped and will air on GRTV's LiveWire Channel 24 at these times:

Fri 04/30 @ 7:00 PM
Sat 05/01 @ 10:00 AM
Sat 05/01 @ 7:00 PM
Sun 05/02 @ 10:00 AM
Mon 05/03 @ 9:00 PM

Watch and VOTE May 4!!!

Posted by Wayne Glatz at 07:14 PM | Permalink

Children who have been educated in GRPS for the past 13 years have had their entire academic careers plagued by budget cuts. Are you tired of this? Are you happy with the educational path the legislators have set our children on? If you aren't, you must ask your legislators some questions. Ask them why they have allowed the funding of education to deteriorate to this level. Ask them why, in 2007, Bloomfield Hills received $12, 200 in per pupil funding, while today, GRPS will receive $7389 per pupil. Tell the legislators your child's educational story.

Continue reading "Don't Like What's Going On? TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS" »

Posted by sj1potyraj@comcast.net at 11:51 PM | Permalink

Please participate in the Education Advocacy's Committee's upcoming Candidate Forum to be held Wed. April 28, 7 p.m. in the City Multi-Purpose Room. It is a CRITICAL time to evaluate candidates for the May 4th election.
WE NEED YOUR QUESTIONS NOW to effectively moderate the forum - please email them as soon as possible to Wayne Glatz at wayneaglatz@comcast.net

And please plan to attend!

Posted by Kate at 01:13 PM | Permalink

As many of you know, the School Board meeting from Monday, April 17 was canceled after 250 people showed up to protest plans for change next year. (See the story in the Press at http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/04/grand_rapids_school_board_meet.html)

The meeting has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at Ottawa Hills High School, 2055 Rosewood SE.

Staff, parents and students were hoping to engage the board on proposed changes in instruction. Individuals who wish to make public comments on non-agenda items must register to speak by 4 p.m. Thursday by contacting board secretary Tara Rietberg at 819-2197 or rietbergt@grps.k12.mi.us.

Individuals who wish to speak on agenda items can submit a comment card the day of the meeting. Meeting agendas are posted online at grpublicschools.org/paperlessboe.
Kudos to City student Mary VerDuin, who raised the issue during a press interview that universities such as Michigan have told her they would probably require freshmen to repeat high school classes taken via E2020, which is what the board uses, before allowing them to proceed with college work. This possible issue will have a strong implications for college-bound city students that warrants investigation.

Posted by Kate at 01:02 PM | Permalink

The proposed software GRPS is considering introducing to the core curriculum next year has been the subject of complaints, according to the website "Rip-off Report." We have no way of verifying this information, but did want to share what could be germane intel. It should also be noted the company has apparently been attempting an IPO...a disgruntled shareholder also has a report filed at the website below. The point is that our expenditures as taxpayers for education should directly benefit students, and that we should inform ourselves where possible who the vendors are who may 'end up' responsible for the content that 'educates' our children. Here is the first pp of the complaint we found, which was authored by a self-reported teacher with a masters degree :

Education 2020 misleads customers with false information about the company. The website claims that their teachers are content area experts with Master's Degrees. However, the majority of the employees are young people in their early to mid twenties with barely a bachelor's degree (some do not even have that). There are two curriculum managers that oversee all curriculum areas - even in areas that they are not educated for, much less an expert in. As a result, a lot of the content in the courses is inaccurate.

Continue reading "Interested in who benefits from online instruction?" »

Posted by Kate at 08:13 AM | Permalink

I know these are trying times for all of us and that the proposed changes to the curriculum are at the district level. I know that all the money in the world will not help a district if its most important stake holders, the students, do not feel respected by the district.

But I would ask that you remember inconsistent, inequitable and inadequate funding of schools lies with our state legislature. The budget cuts that our children experience in their academic careers are a direct result of the state freezing or reducing per pupil funding over a period of years.

Continue reading "Don't Let Our Children's Educational Future Be Destroyed" »

Posted by sj1potyraj@comcast.net at 09:11 PM | Permalink

Here is the issue:
On Wednesday, March 24, 2010, the Senate passed a school aid budget that would give the richest schools in the state an increase in the foundation grant next year, while cutting our schools by $100 or more per student .

Continue reading "OUR OWN SENATORS SEND MONEY TO OTHER DISTRICTS" »

Posted by sj1potyraj@comcast.net at 05:48 PM | Permalink

Parents, Students, Lovers of Education, Urgent Notice Board Meeting Monday

It's a Brave New World! Please help GRPS understand YOUR feelings about movement to replace in-class human instruction with online instruction in the core curriculum. This might be one of those pivotal moments where the horse it out of the barn and all bets are off for future ADEQUATE public education as promised in Michigan's constitution. We may not have another opportunity to express ourselves, so please DEMONSTRATE your commitment to HUMAN education at the Franklin Campus, 5 p.m. Monday April 5th and then attend the meeting to submit comments and questions!

Food for Thought:
This issue needs to be approached for ALL the students in the district, not just City kids, who could likely survive and excel in any adverse environment! So think of all our neighbors and friends when you're considering your position!

Ask yourself:

• Do you think that a school district where fewer than 35% of the regular high school students who took the MME in 2009 at the four main comprehensive high schools are "proficient" at reading and fewer than 16% are proficient at writing will benefit from core ONLINE instruction, which favors fluency in visual scanning/reading and comprehension?

• Do you think students learn more from mentors who discuss ideas among student peers than from a computer screen? Do you think "at risk" kids can be observed and assisted by a computer program?

• It is fair to move to a delivery system that favors "executive function" from the prefrontal cortex of the brain, an area notoriously under-developed in children with ADHD, depression, nutritional issues, drug use and more? Experts agree that full executive function is not achieved until age 25. In many children with disabilities, it is never achieved.

• Do you agree with pedagogy experts who say that FORM trumps CONTENT when it comes to learning? If so, what does the uni-directional, pre-programmed information flow and FORM of online tutelage mean for students? Is this an environment that would foster innovation? Has the research ACTUALLY addressed this?

Consider the Source:

• Do you dislike the fact that a PUBLICLY PAID leader of a PUBLIC INSTITUTION barred the media and violated the freedom of the press at the Central meeting last week?

• Do you think GRPS has either the money, time or talent to actually deploy an effective online delivery system that can prevent fraud and error by forensic IP tracking in real time? Do you remember how long it took to get its idiot-proof new website populated? Further, do you want your money going to the pockets of hardware and software providers, or to humans dedicated to your child?

• Are you aware that errors in online delivery have, in the past, negatively affected the GPAs of talented students and, as such, can affect subsequent admissions to rigorous universities?

• Do you believe this move represents INNOVATION, as Bernard Taylor has told the press? Or do you believe this is just one more take-away in a decade of decimation?

• Will you want your grandchildren educated in the GRPS district? Maybe not? Maybe you can change that, by changing THIS move. If they get this through unopposed, every future budget rollback could conceivably be on the backs of staff. Where does it stop?

Please understand we feel that there are circumstances and individual students who can benefit enormously through some types of online instruction, preferably of a SUPPLEMENTAL nature, and with appropriate levels of staffing, interaction and technical support. We simply do not believe the current intent or fiscal environment at GRPS makes the optimal delivery of content in this way either beneficial or even viable for the majority of students served in this district or viable.

Whether you agree with these positions or not, we invite you to participate in shaping the future of GRPS. In the event you strongly disagree, we share the following tongue in cheek sign suggestions for those interested in expressing a dystopian viewpoint ;)

Signs could be:

No Free Press at GRPS?
Big Brother Bernard is Watching You (jk)
Keep the Humans in Humanity
Form over content = leaders over losers
Form > content
Teachers > Instructors
Teachers lead, Computers feed
Online learning bytes
The Cylons are coming
Brave New Wurld?
Heck 0110111001101111 we won't go : ) (the numbers are binary for the word NO)
GRPS=404 Error. (We cannot find the leadership you seek.)
GRPS=Full System Failure
Spend on Wetware not Software (wetware=geek for human brain)

Posted by Kate at 03:02 PM | Permalink

The Tuesday registration for classes is akin to a 'pre-registration' to determine how much interest there is in each elective so a decision can be made on whether or not to carry that elective. ( i.e. not enough enrollment-a class of 5-10 probably wouldn't make it)

Next, staffing for each class has to be determined. According to Helmholdt, no student will absolutely be held to their choice. He apologized for the mass of misinformation, and accepted a good part of the responsibility. We also have to take into consideration that Dale Hovenkamp was out Wednesday through Monday, so none of this information was able to come down through him, if indeed he even had many details.

Whether or not you agree that this is a workable plan (and certainly opinion is running against it) the process has been very poor, to say the least. Hopefully, we'll have more details from City's Tuesday session, 7pm in the Multipurpose Room.

We need to keep our eyes on the prize: International Baccalaureate World School certification, and what that will mean to our students and staff. Budget cuts are a reality. We know they are coming, courtesy of Michigan's financial crisis, and the lack of will to fix the structural deficit in funding education. While we should never let up lobbying for what's best for City, it is truly up to Lansing to create a more stable environment for all primary, secondary and post-secondary education.

Wayne Glatz
City PTSA President, 2009-10

Posted by Wayne Glatz at 06:32 PM | Permalink

Mark your calendars for Monday, February 8, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. to attend a joint Education Town Hall Meetingin the East Grand Rapids High School Little Auditorium, 2211 Lake Drive, SE, EGR, MI 49506

Together with the EGRPS Legislative Committee, we invite you to bring your questions regarding all of the changes related to K-12 education to a Town Hall Meeting moderated by EGRPS Superintendent, Dr. Sara Shubel.
• Do you wonder about all of the budget cuts?
• Do you want to know more about the huge changes brought about by the Race to the Top incentives?
Representative Dave Hildenbrand, Senator Mark Jansen, Representative Robert Dean, Senator Bill Hardiman, and others will be there to address your concerns and answer your questions.
Meet your legislators and let them know that strong public schools are important to you!
For background information, review material at http://www.cityptsa.com/NEWS/resources/from_lac/ or visit EGRPS's legislative site at http://egrpseducationadvocates.blogspot.com/

Posted by Kate at 10:00 AM | Permalink

The City High Middle Education Advocacy Committee is urging parents to participate in communicating with the state in person or by email and phone call Nov. 10. Here's the skinny from our local KISD:
It is the fourth quarter, with four minutes left in the game. We are behind by ten points. Our first objective is to score a field goal for three points and solve the short-term problem of the additional cut of $127 from our foundation allowance. This needs to happen before November 23, according to Governor Granholm. If we are successful in resolving the short-term problem, a long-term solution to the structural deficit must then be found after November 23. In other words, following the field goal, we must score a touchdown and the extra point before April 2010 just to TIE the game.

A very important activity planned for next Tuesday, November 10, is the first step in resolving our short-term problem. We are asking members of the Friends of Kent County Schools, along with the Kent County superintendents, parents, and school employees to go to the Capitol in Lansing to meet with their legislators, asking them to find solutions that would eliminate the proposed additional $127 cut to our foundation allowance.

The following schedule has been set for November 10:

10:00 a.m. - Capitol steps to hear a speech from Governor Granholm

Following the Governor's speech, meetings will be scheduled with state senators and representatives.

Attached is a memo with the Governor's talking points. Please bring this with you on Tuesday.
The time is now. There will be no second opportunity, so please make every effort to attend this important meeting.
Download file
Thank you,

Dr. Mike Shibler

Posted by Kate at 02:39 PM | Permalink

On Monday, Nov. 2, the City High Middle Education Advocacy Committee appeared before the Grand Rapids Public Schools District board to ask it to take leadership in fighting cuts and to call on us parents for support.

Follow the link below to read one of the parent presentations and ideas of how parents can get legislators attention.
Also read the City High Middle resolution requesting that the state solve the structural deficit.

Continue reading "EAC Asks GRPS to Take Legislative Leadership" »

Posted by Kate at 02:46 PM | Permalink

If not, write or call EACH of the House Legislators and tell them:
"NO RECESS FOR LEGISLATORS UNTIL NEW REVENUE FOR EDUCATORS" and request that they immediately close the structural deficit in education, reverse the cuts, and take a stand to protect your children.

Here's a complete list of legislators.
http://house.michigan.gov/replist.asp?lstcounty=&txtdistrict=&txtzip=&sortby=6

Posted by Kate at 12:11 PM | Permalink

From your Education Advocacy Committee: Peter Luke authored this incisive analysis that was published in the Grand Rapids Press on Oct. 29th. Luke maps out the history of our education funding crisis, and points to clear solutions despite the imminent recess of legislature. Before you WRITE A LETTER, make sure you understand what's happening. Time is running out! Follow the link below for the article, reprinted with permission courtesy of the Grand Rapids Press.

Continue reading "Read This Article to Understand Education Funding Crisis!" »

Posted by Kate at 08:13 AM | Permalink

Because of your enthusiastic efforts on behalf of children, Governor Granholm chose to visit Kent ISD today (Oct 23rd) to pursue her agenda of short and long term reform of school funding in Michigan. With her support of the 2x formula and her line-item veto of 20J funding for the richest schools in the state, she demonstrates clearly the influence of our efforts in Lansing. Now we just need to join her in putting pressure on our legislators. The Governor shared with some 30 school board members, superintendents, parents and teachers the dire circumstances in the school aid fund. There is, as we point out, a structural deficit that must be addressed. All of us want a long-term solution.

Continue reading "Legislative News from KISD Grassroots Initiative" »

Posted by Denise Blair at 03:44 PM | Permalink

Steal These Letters!
The City Education Advocacy Committee is URGING parents and students to contact their legislators THIS WEEK to avert a deepening crisis in education funding.
The issues are not simple -- for example, the news today made it seem like Granholm is CUTTING more funds via a veto designed to pressure legislators to pass new revenue-generating bills -- but in actual fact those vetos were to what's called J-20 funding that enables some districts to receive a lot more money than the others and that we consider to be socioeconomically unjust under Proposal A. It's messy, and the process has been full of partisan hijinx.

There are lots of different ways to resolve the well-documented and exponentially growing structural budget deficit in education, but most involve unpopular increases in taxation, whether it's personal income or services, which legislators are reluctant to make before a major reelection year (or ever). Yet what few people seem to realize is that we've had 30 tax cuts in the last 10 years; and that taxes were higher 30 years ago than they are today. Once you've cut to the bone, where do you go? There's no "there there." Does Michigan seem like a better place to live today, with all these cuts and lower taxes?

The reality is that the education funding situation is like a balloon mortgage where the taxpayer isn't even paying the minimum. The EAC would rather pay less now than pay more later, and some of us even say "Raise our Taxes so we can Raise our Child..."

However YOU feel, we URGE you to let our legislators need to know what's important to YOU.

When you follow the link, you will see an assortment of very opinion-based letters we offer as samples. Steal what you like! Ignore what you don't! Of course, you are welcome to write your own, containing your own unique position.

But please, use your voice NOW to let Senators know what they need to do in regard to the State Budget. Then send it to the following three senators;

Bill Hardiman District 29 (GR, Lowell, Kentwood, Cascade area)
Office Phone: (517) 373-1801
Office Location: 305 Farnum Building
To email go to: http://www.senate.michigan.gov/hardiman
(Go to the right side of his home page, click on 'contact Senator Hardiman' and follow the instructions.)

Mark Jansen District 28 (Mostly Kent County except Kentwood, GR, Lowell--which is Bill Hardiman)
Office Phone: (517) 373-0797
Office Location: 520 Farnum Buildingl
E-mail Address: SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov

Gerald Van Woerkum District 34 (Muskegon, Mason County, Newaygo area--he is on the Senate Ed. Committee)
Office Phone: (517) 373-1635
Office Location: 605 Farnum Building
E-mail Address: SenGVanWoerkom@senate.michigan.gov

Continue reading "Urgent Request - 7 Days Only to Save Our Schools" »

Posted by Denise Blair at 01:57 PM | Permalink

Our legislators were working on a K-12 budget last night that contains a reduction of more than $165 per student while holding on to $254 million in federal stimulus dollars for next year (an election year). The Kent ISD Grassroots group and City High/Middle PTSA's Education Advocacy Committee is asking you to call or email your Senators and Representatives TODAY and tell them that isn't acceptable. Contact the Governor and tell her to veto any bill they send to her that does not apply all the stimulus funding. Tell them all to do it now and then get to work immediately on fixing the structural deficit in next year's budget.

Background and Possibilities for Closing the Gap for Good:
And in case you don't know, a structural deficit occurs when you have a core service, such as education, that is assigned a revenue source that CONTINUALLY fails to meet the need, causing a self-perpetuating gap that grows exponentially. Education funding has NOT kept pace with costs and needs for several years because it is tied to a sales tax on GOODS other than food and does not tax the SERVICES upon which most people today spend their disposable income.

If Michigan Legislators weren't so afraid of not being re-elected, how could they close the ever-growing gap that is eroding education in Michigan?

There are several ways, but they all take a little moxy and public will...and some are controversial. For example:

1. They could tax all services in an equitable way, reapportioning the retail sales tax percentage into a lower combined percentage that applies to all goods and services. Opponents say this would dampen the economy. So, would you pay an extra quarter when you, say. buy a ticket to an entertainment event to educate our children? If you would, TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS!

2. They could reduce the $39 billion spent on corporate/economic development incentives by 4.1% and fund the entire K12 budget with the difference. The problem with this idea is that some people feel that although these corporate incentives haven't generated sufficient revenue to rationalize them, it could be hard to measure the economic impact in terms of retention of business in Michigan and the capacity to compete with other states to attract new business. But if you don't believe a 5% or less decrease in corporate incentives will stall the economy or that those funds are not administered efficiently, TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS!

3. They could increase the personal income tax rate BACK UP to the place it was at 10 years ago (from 4.35 to 4.6) acknowledging that to freeze taxes causes a REDUCTION in services or EROSION of infrastructure over time due to inflation and delivery costs. Better still, we could decide as a society that is would be okay to pay 5% in personal MI income tax, a full 1.4% less than former governor Blanchard's move to save services in Michigan during the recession of the early 1980s, when interest rates were 19%, in order to PRESERVE OR IMPROVE the quality of life and services available in Michigan. If you see the value in this, the necessity to pay as we go, TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS TO RAISE YOUR TAXES SO YOU CAN RAISE YOUR CHILD IN MICHIGAN.

Whatever your opinion or position, now is the time to get vocal and draw a line in the sand. Many of these same legislators are up for reelection next year. Do you have any power over them? We think you do. Please use it to save our schools.

Thank you. Your phone calls and emails are working. Keep it up.

House Members: http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp

Senators: http://senate.michigan.gov/FindYourSenator/michiganfys.asp?lookup=

Governor Granholm: http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995---,00.html

Follow the link to see the latest news on the Legislature's hijinx.

Continue reading "Legislative Update, Cuts Still Deep, Tell The Governor to Veto!" »

Posted by Kate at 10:02 AM | Permalink

Thank you to those parents and students who called or wrote to Michigan State to oppose cuts. In the end, it worked. We're still without a budget, but they're back at the drawing board trying to apply federal stimulus funds to reduce the cuts they had previously proposed. All of our House members, with the lone exception of Justin Amash (he represents the Caledonia area and unfortunately is on the House Ed. Committee-Republican), finally voted no on the cuts.
Call or email and thank them and encourage them to minimize the cuts as much as possible. Remind them that our children are our future. Remind them that we've been asked to meet the highest graduation requirements in the nation. Remind them that many of our high school students need additional help to meet these goals and that we cannot do that without sufficient resources.

One more thing: Please come to our Grassroots meeting at KISD, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 8 to begin planning our next steps. This budget shortfall isn't going away, and we must work collectively to find a solution.

Posted by Kate at 03:16 PM | Permalink

Please contact your legislator (follow links below) and tell them cuts totaling nearly a half a billion dollars to our schools are irresponsible and devastating to school districts that passed their budgets in June with the expectation there would be no reduction in the per-pupil foundation grant.

The budget formula being considered today would reduce per-pupil funding by $110 (roughly over $2 million for Grand Rapids Public Schools!) and eliminate funding for virtually all early childhood education and other essential programs for children. These cuts could mean the loss of more than 500 classroom teachers in Kent County alone.

Pick up the phone. Send an e-mail. Tell them to maintain funding for public education to ensure our long-term economic recovery by producing the graduates Michigan needs to build a new future.

Click on the links below for:
The House of Representatives http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp (your Rep is either Robert Dean -east side or Roy Schmidt -west side)
The Senate http://senate.michigan.gov/FindYourSenator/michiganfys.asp?lookup (Bill Hardiman)
Governor Granholm http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995---,00.html

Posted by Denise Blair at 12:08 PM | Permalink

Thursday, April 16, 2009
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Reverend Lyman S. Parks Administration Building - 1331 Franklin Street S.E.

Join us for the 2009 Candidate Forum, a nonpartisan, informational event offered free to the community. Learn more about how the candidates view their role with the Grand Rapids Public Schools and their ideas for improving the district as a board member.

Hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., City High-Middle School PTSA Education Advocacy Committee, Community Research Institute, Grand Rapids Community College Media Center, Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, League of Women Voters Grand Rapids, PROACTIVE, and the White House Project.

Find event and background information by visiting http://www.wevotegr.org/.

Posted by Kate at 04:55 PM | Permalink

Our schools matter. Our community matters. We Vote.

By supporting our schools, we can build a stronger community. Yet in some Grand Rapids neighborhoods, less than 15 percent of residents vote in school board elections.

Let's get more people talking about and voting in the May 5, 2009 Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education election.

We Vote is a nonpartisan community effort to start the conversation.

The Voter Guide PDF can be accessed directly at: http://budurl.com/VoterGuide

A link to the PDF, as well as other We Vote links, is also available on the We Vote website at: http://www.WeVoteGR.org.

Posted by Kate at 04:49 PM | Permalink

The countdown to the election has begun and the Wall Street crisis continues to dominate the political conversation. What about the education of our future work force? How can you tell which candidates will REALLY support our kids? The National PTA has circulated an excellent set of questions for ALL candidates at all levels of government. Your City Legislative Action Committee (which is now named Education Advocacy Committee) asks you to please take a moment to read them, share them, and if you get a chance, ASK OUR CANDIDATES where they stand. Continue reading to see the questions.

Continue reading "Great Questions to Ask Political Candidates From Your PTA" »

Posted by Kate at 11:07 AM | Permalink

Real-Life Stories About Improving Schools
Read these real stories from Once Upon a School, a Web site created by best-selling author Dave Eggers to encourage citizens to get involved in their local schools.
By Marian Wilde, GreatSchools Staff
A citizen in Mississippi creates a community mentoring program. A librarian launches a book drive for a New Orleans school. A San Francisco mom organizes the first PTA at her daughter's school. In Georgia, a mom starts a filmmaking club in an elementary school. These are a few of the many innovative ways ordinary people -- parents and community members just like you -- are digging in to improve education for children in their communities. Read the article at Great Schools. Make sure you visit Eggers' site to see the fantastic project wishlist. Let's think about one for City!

Posted by Kate at 06:35 PM | Permalink

Please take immediate action.
City's Legislative Action Committee needs YOUR help to let legislators know how the structural deficit and continuing education funding cuts are hurting our kids. We will collect specific, personalized, 1-sentence examples from parents and students to include in the longest resolution ever for submission to the State at a rally in Lansing June 18. We need to put human faces to the numbers they're crunching. PLEASE PARTICIPATE by adding a simple example in the comment section of this post by following the READ MORE link.
Here's an example:
"Whereas our school board can not fund transportation to state music festivals which are critical to our son's development as a musician, or provide sheet music, instruments or repair..."

The solution to our resolution will be to take action to remedy the structural deficit, equalize education funding, and to keep the promises made of an increase for 2008. Your voice counts! Don't miss this chance to help!

Continue reading "Where's Your Whereas? Help Us Save Our Schools With Your Examples!" »

Posted by Kate at 10:58 AM | Permalink

It's time to go to Lansing!!! (see related article, "Where is your whereas?" ) If you thought our school budget problems were over following last year's budget battles, think again. A shortfall in the state budget for next year will make it difficult, if not impossible, for the state to finance the $70 to $140 increase in the per-pupil foundation grant promised in the Senate School Aid Budget.

And while the budget is falling short of promised increases, legislators are considering a summer tax holiday on fuel that could siphon $260 million from the school aid fund and a proposal to eliminate the Michigan Business Tax surcharge, which also provides revenue to schools.

To make our voice heard, we propose a Grassroots gathering in Lansing Wednesday, June 18 to meet with legislators, legislative staff, Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and others to communicate our desire for them to keep education as their No. 1 priority.

We need an RSVP to know how many people plan to attend. If you can join the Kent ISD Grassroots group in the State Capitol in Lansing from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, please email karendailey@kentisd.org to reserve your opportunity to communicate the importance of education!

Ronald Koehler, APR
Assistant Superintendent,
Organizational and Community Initiatives
Kent ISD
616-365-2292

Posted by cityviews at 10:20 PM | Permalink

This news came in on Friday, March 21 from Ron Koehler of the KISD Grassroots Legislative Committee:

Please contact your Senator and thank them for continuing to support the 2x formula for funding equity. The Senate bill that moved out of committee yesterday retained the 2x formula and eliminated the additional cost of living appropriation for 20J districts. As reported out of the Senate, the foundation grant (a.k.a. per pupil funding amount) would be a minimum of $71 per student and as much as $142 per student for districts at the base foundation. I've been told Sen. Hardiman deserves significant attention for his fight to retain the 2x formula, so please let him know you appreciate his efforts on our behalf. You can use the links below.

Ronald Koehler, APR
Assistant Superintendent,
Organizational and Community Initiatives
Kent ISD
616-365-2292

Continue reading "More news on 2X formula..." »

Posted by cityviews at 10:12 AM | Permalink

The Governor's proposed 2X formula for the 2008-09 State School Aid Budget is in jeopardy! Her proposal includes the continuation of the 2X formula used in 2007-08. However, on March 11, 2008, a Senate K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee recommended the following changes in the Governor's proposal for 2008-09:

** The Governor's $216 per-student increase for base school districts be reduced to $140 per student

** The Governor's $108 per-student increase for the higher revenue school districts be increased to $110 per student

This is unacceptable and an insult to the lower-funded school districts! PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE and let them know how you feel. (You can refer to last week's Pegasus Pulse for an article on the 2x formula.)

Thank you.

Links below:

Continue reading "2x Formula Still in Jeopardy!" »

Posted by cityviews at 04:20 PM | Permalink

From the PTSA Legislative Action Committee:

Dear City Community,

It is imperative that legislators hear from you. It is time legislators eliminate the disparities in school funding that exist from one district to another. There have been school funding inequities for too long in this state. How can one child be worth $12,388 to the state and another child worth only $7204? One answer to this question is because of where the first child lives.
Each school district in Michigan is paid an "allowance" for each pupil attending school in their district. This is referred to as the "per pupil foundation allowance". Michigan citizens were lead to believe Proposal A would eliminate the inequities in the foundation allowance when they voted it into law in1994. In 1993-94 there was a $7532 gap between the lowest paid districts and the highest paid. In the 14 years since Proposal A, the gap has only been reduced to $5,183!

Continue reading "WHAT ARE GRPS CHILDREN WORTH? WELL, THIS IS WHAT THE STATE THINKS" »

Posted by Denise Blair at 09:10 AM | Permalink

Join us for hot coffee and donuts and "CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION....."

The EGRPS PTA Legislative Committee is hosting a legislative coffee with Representative Dave Hildenbrand and Senator Mark Jansen on December 10 at 9:00 a.m.
We want to extend a special invitation to school districts that are represented by both these legislators: Byron Center, Lowell, Rockford, Forest Hills, Caledonia, Grandville, and Northview.

Monday, December 10th
9:00 a.m.
East Grand Rapids Community Center
750 Lakeside Drive SE East Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Coffee and donuts will be provided!

Let’s discuss:

· Sustainable School Funding

· The New Graduation Requirements

· School Safety

· Healthy Lunches

All interested students, parents, & city residents are welcome! Join us in welcoming our neighboring school districts who share constituency with these representatives! If these legislators are not from your district, you are welcome to join in the discussion too!

Posted by Denise Blair at 11:15 AM | Permalink

The PTSA Legislative Action committee is asking parents to take action this week on two fronts. First, attend the public interviews of board replacement candidates at the GRPS Franklin Campus Monday, Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m. Second, contact your legislators before the Oct. 31st revised budget deadline to let them know you support tax increases if the money is used to support education and bring underfunded schools up to par with the "2X" formula...the show isn't over yet!
Read more for a list of contact links:

Continue reading "Legislative Action Committee - Take Action Week" »

Posted by Kate at 10:50 AM | Permalink

The Kent ISD Grassroots committee met last Thursday to urge parents, teachers, students and other community stakeholders to contact their state legislators BEFORE the Sept. 30th budget deadline. They reported that four of our legislators recently were targeted for potential recall: Sens. Hardiman and Jansen and Reps. Dean and Green.
The City Legislative Action Committee would like to encourage our City family members to
ask these and all of our legislators to support new revenue and avoid cuts in the foundation grant.
Follow these links to send an email to your legislators.

http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp

http://senate.michigan.gov/FindYourSenator/michiganfys.asp?lookup=
http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995---,00.html

Posted by Kate at 12:19 PM | Permalink

Due to technical difficulties and an incorrect email link, the LAC's Powerword Essay contest has been extended. PLEASE NOTE that If you submitted an essay, you need to resubmit by following the correct link below. The deadline has been extended to this Friday, June 8, midnight.

Submit your 800 word essay on one of the education funding topics to powerword@cityptsa.com Students who enter will have a chance to win tickets to this summer's Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago's Grant Park Aug. 2-5. All submissions will be sent to your state legislators!

Continue reading "POWER WORD CYBER RALLY STILL OPEN" »

Posted by Kate at 03:05 AM | Permalink

Your L.A.C. wants you to know that what you DON'T know CAN hurt you...The following is provided by the Michigan Fiscal Responsibility Project, which has an informative website at: http://www.MiTaxTruth.com

"For too long Michigan citizens have been kept in the dark about our state's fiscal scrisis. The Michigan Fiscal Responsibility Coalition believes that the more facts people hav ,the better they will understand the decisions being made in lansing by their elected representatives...." Read the top 10 facts.

Continue reading "10 Facts MI Citizens Need to Know..." »

Posted by Kate at 02:47 PM | Permalink

There's no time like the present to get the facts of how tax cuts are affecting the education deficit in Michign. The City PTSA Legislative Action committee is proud to present a forum featuring keynote speaker Dr. Charles L. Ballard. Admission is free.

Michigan's Future: the Budget Crisis, the Education Crisis and You.

What: City High/Middle School PTSA will host Charles Ballard speaking on his recent book Michigan's Economic Future: Challenges and Opportunities (July, 2006)

When: Thursday, April 26, 2007 @ 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Where: GRPS Franklin Campus auditorium, 1331 Franklin Avenue, SE.

Why: Charles Ballard will help us gain perspective on Michigan's budget challenges and the increased public school funding crisis as they affect broader aspects of our state and our lives as a whole. Mike Pumford, legislative liaison for GRPS and KISD, will help citizens understand what actions they can take to influence legislators in making critical decisions for our future. Learn the significance of the renewable millage that will be on the ballot May 8, and meet the school board candidates.

For information, contact
Anne Marie Bessette
249-9241
ambessette@iserv.net
Keep reading to learn more about Dr. Ballard or visit the Education Funding Action category to read all about the issues.

Continue reading "Don't Miss the LACs Funding Forum April 26!" »

Posted by Kate at 09:11 AM | Permalink

Please help the City Middle High PTSA Legislative Action Committee help spread the word about our upcoming forum: Michigan's Future: the Budget Crisis, the Education Crisis and You by distributing this flyer. The forum is scheduled fro Thursday, April 26, 7 p.m. at the GRPS Franklin Campus auditorium, 1331 Franklin Ave. SE and offers the views of Dr. Charles Ballard. Admission free. Click on the link to download and print. Thanks for your assistance.

Download file City Funding Forum

Posted by Kate at 01:45 PM | Permalink

Get informed and take action to preserve education in Michigan. With a millage vote coming May 8 and sweeping cuts afoot in state legislature by May 1st, it's urgent parents and students arm themselves with information to have a say in our future. The City High Middle Legislative Action Committee is hosting a forum about the funding crisis in Michigan April 26, 7 p.m. at the GRPS Franklin Campus auditorium 1331 Franklin Ave. SE. But before you join us, bone up on the issues. LAC Chairwoman Anne Marie Bessette has prepared a comprehensive backgrounder to help parents and students understand the issues...before it's too late. READ ON!

Continue reading "AN URGENT MESSAGE FROM YOUR LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE" »

Posted by Kate at 12:42 PM | Permalink

On Tuesday, May 8, 2007, the Grand Rapids Public Schools will ask for permission to levy the Non-Homestead property tax rate for three years. This Non-Homestead millage currently generates approximately $30 million of the revenue needed to operate our schools each year. This is what it will cost homeowners . . . NOTHING. Read on for frequently asked questions. And make sure you vote to support our students!

Continue reading "FAQ ABOUT THE MILLAGE RENEWAL MAY 8" »

Posted by Kate at 11:18 AM | Permalink

GRPS board member Lisa Hinkel wrote this incisive op-ed for the Grand Rapids Press March 31, 2007. Ms. Hinkel has graciously offered it for posting. Please read on for a local perspective on the funding crisis our children face.

Continue reading "Board Member Speaks Out on Education Funding Crisis" »

Posted by Kate at 11:12 AM | Permalink

We are at a critical time in Michigan. The state budget has been cut by $3 billion in the past seven years. The 2007 General Fund revenues are lower than those in 1996. The state's reserves are used up and almost $7 billion in one-time resources have been exhausted. For fiscal year 2007, the General Fund will have a shortfall in revenues of $607 million and the School Aid Fund will see a revenue shortage of $377 million. Facing a nearly $1 billion in revenues shortfall, our legislators and governor have the responsibility of balancing the state budget. The Single Business Tax must also be replaced or leave a $1.9 billion hole in the General Fund revenues for fiscal year 2008 and beyond. READ MORE TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP!

Continue reading "APRIL BUDGET CRISIS SUMMARY from the LAC" »

Posted by Kate at 10:59 AM | Permalink

Use this handy list of local state representatives to tell legislators you DO NOT SUPPORT MID YEAR TAX CUTS. Time is of the essence. There is a "body copy" for a suggested letter you can copy and paste into an email, or you can use your own words to get your message across. If you don't know which member is your representative, send it to them all. They need to hear your VOICE. READ MORE.

Continue reading "Take Action on Funding Cuts Now!" »

Posted by Kate at 10:51 AM | Permalink

From the Kent Intermediate School District's (KISD) Grassroots Legislative Group:

Governor Granholm's office contacted us last week and asked to be on the agenda for our Grassroots meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 15th at the Kent ISD Educational Service Center.

This is our time to demonstrate how committed we are to securing stable funding for education. It's also our time to demonstrate there is power in numbers, so PLEASE INVITE YOUR BOARD MEMBERS, PARENTS AND STAFF TO ATTEND THIS MEETING. Please also forward to anyone who may be interested in joining us on behalf of kids.

We need to get as many people as possible there to show support and demonstrate to the governor's office that our grassroots group is a force to be reckoned with! If you plan to attend, please let karendailey@kentisd.orgknow so we can book a larger room.

Ronald Koehler, APR
Assistant Superintendent,
Organizational and Community Initiatives
Kent ISD
616-365-2292

karendailey@kentisd.org

Posted by cityviews at 10:04 PM | Permalink

Save The Date!
The Michigan Budget Crisis: The Impact On Our Schools

Please join the Grand Rapids Education Reform Initiative for a timely leadership briefing to better understand the potential impact of the Michigan budget crisis on our schools.

This meeting is possible thanks to the generous support of The Frey Foundation, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, and Steelcase Foundation

Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Please mark your calendar to attend the next Leadership Briefing for the Grand Rapids Education Reform Initiative on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the downtown campus of Western Michigan University [200 Ionia Ave SW]
Featured presenters include:

Tom Clay, Director of State Affairs, Citizens Research Council of Michigan
Lou Glazer, President, Michigan Future, Inc.

If you care about our schools and how they are funded, this is a presentation not to miss!
Lunch provided

Space is Limited. RSVP to:
email: jtiefenbach@grfoundation.org
phone: (616) 454-1751
web: http://www.goodschoolsforgr.org

Posted by Kate at 04:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

On April 26th, the City LAC will host a School Board Candidates Forum at Franklin Campus, just prior to the local school board elections and district wide millage vote on May 8th. Mark your calendars so you can participate!
At this date, there are two incumbents running for the Grand Rapids Public School Board, Lisa Hinkle (Vice-President) and Cathryn Mueller (Treasurer). They are running for four year terms which will expire on June 30, 2011. If you are considering running you will need to visit the City Clerk's office in the City Hall (300 Monroe NE--ph 456-3010). They have a packet for all interested persons. Completed packets need to be in the Clerk's Office by 4:00 p.m., February 13th. More details on the the Forum coming soon.

Posted by cityviews at 08:32 AM | Permalink

Proposal 5, which sought to amend school funding, was not passed by voters on November 7, 2006. But the issues that were the basis for the proposal are still facing Michigan and how these issues will be resolved by our legislature remains to be seen. For us as concerned parents, students and citizens, it is helpful to know the history of these issues in order to try and affect change through our legislators. But, finding the history of issues can be tricky and very time consuming.

Continue reading "Proposal 5 - The Issues Still Remain" »

Posted by cityviews at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As of November 2006, it is a great misfortune that the Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) Board is facing even further building closures after the decision to close other facilities just this past year to save a mere $2.2 million in annual operating funds by 2008. If state funding were equal statewide we wouldn’t even imagine this situation. To avoid this disastrous cycle and upset to hundreds impacted, it is crucial to understand and fix the structural funding problems now—time is running out.

Continue reading "The Adverse Impact of Proposal A" »

Posted by cityviews at 11:47 AM | Permalink

Many PTA leaders have questions about what election-related activities they and their PTAs can and cannot engage in.

Continue reading "P's and Q's for PTAs at Election Time" »

Posted by cityviews at 11:11 AM | Permalink

The Legislative Action Committee focuses on the local and state level regarding legislative policies that affect public education

Continue reading "Legislative Action Committee" »

Posted by cityviews at 11:09 AM | Permalink