Headlines a News Report for Michigan Education Leaders Superintendent Evaluation Tool Based on Requirements of Law, Including Requirement for Teacher Evaluations
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March 20, 2012 Headlines A News Report for Michigan Education Leaders Superintendent evaluation tool based on requirements of law, including requirement for teacher evaluations ASB is pleased to provide a evaluations, here are some lessons room that matters. new superintendent evalua- from the March issue of the American • Measure student engagement. tionM tool that's based on the evalua- School Board Journal that can help Teachers who initiate and sustain tion requirements of Section 1249 of guide you: student engagement are those the Revised School Code. Not only • Know what and how to evaluate. who are helping students learn. does the law require school boards to You must have a map that defines As the American School Board Jour- annually evaluate their superinten- what teacher effectiveness looks nal writes, “policymakers and teach- dent’s job performance taking into like. account student data, but also teacher • It’s all about student learning. If Evaluation, continued on page 10 evaluations. Developing a teacher students aren’t learning, nothing evaluation tool and completing evalu- else matters. ations for all teachers and adminis- • Measure teaching. Teachers must trators must be considered as part of be observed. It’s not who teach- your superintendent evaluation. ers are or what their backgrounds As your district considers its teacher are, but what they do in the class- Strategic leader appointed to MASB Board t the recent meeting of the memberships in many state and MASB Board of Directors, the national organizations and has been INSIDE THIS ISSUE: BoardA voted to appoint Tim Detwiler, involved at the local, state and national Northview Public Schools to fill the levels. Senate bill will stifle school vacancy representing Region 3. Tim sought this position to use construction for 30 years . 3 Tim is an experienced board leader his experience and knowledge to Districts may soon wave goodbye to having held the help boards of education in their seat-time waivers . 4 positions of governance role and to work for the board president, good of all Michigan communities. Tool provides best practice guidance vice president “It’s my passion to assist boards of for layoff and recall . 5 and legislative education in their decision-making Board members conquer challenge to liaison on his responsibilities,” said Tim. become more effective . 6 local board. Tim In addition to welcoming a new has achieved the member to the team, the Board also Use best practices to avoid fatal Master Platinum said goodbye to a long-time director, flaws in strategic planning . 10 Tim Detwiler Award in MASB’s whose term ended. Earl Rickman III, Northview certification Mount Clemens Community School Public Schools program and has District, served MASB since 1996. At Download a Smartphone app written about and the time of his election in 1984, Earl to scan the QR code and learn presented on assessment, curriculum was the youngest person to be elected more about MASB. development and institutional to the Mount Clemens Board. research. Committed to his own Earl is very active in many continuous development, he holds Appointment, continued on page 4 NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS! SUMMER LEADERSHIP CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS The SET SEG Educational Foundation will present a total of $22,000 in scholarship awards to Michigan public high schools to help student leaders attend the MASC/MAHS Summer Leadership Camp at Albion College, July 22–27. HOW TO Visit www.setseg.org and select Foundation, Scholarship Application to apply. The deadline for applications to be submitted APPLY online or postmarked is Friday, April 6. APPLY TODAY! Leadership Camp Photography by Dwight Cendrowski Photography, LLC 415 W. Kalamazoo Street Lansing, MI 48933 | 1-800-292-5421 | www.setseg.org 2 www.masb.org • MASB Headlines • March 20, 2012 Legislative Update Senate bill will stifle school construction for 30 years Puts students in outdated and unsafe buildings he Senate Appropriations age rate to a school district based tained by the legislature; capping Committee took testimony this on their belief as to whether borrowing violates the constitu- weekT from supporters of SBs 770, 771, a district will have difficulties tional provision that requires the 772 and 870. These bills, sponsored paying off their loan on time. state to lend to districts for the by Sen. John Pappageorge (R-Troy), This includes districts already in purpose of school construction. amend the School Loan Revolving the fund with bonds that passed • Limits refunding or refinancing Fund (SLRF) in an attempt to stop years ago. This authority could of bonds. Even though this nor- so-called “abuse” by districts. A more result in significant tax increases mally saves taxpayers dollars and accurate depiction of these bills is to property owners without a causes loans to be paid earlier that they’re meant to end any state vote, and in many cases, rates than expected, Treasury wants to assistance for school infrastructure. based on flawed taxable value limit this area by imposing pos- We’re already one of only eight states tables that Treasury uses. sible millage changes on districts. that offer no direct subsidy for school • Impacts jobs. School construc- infrastructure and this would further Michigan is already one of tion in Michigan creates nearly reduce our assistance to nearly zero. only eight states that offer no 50,000 jobs each year and by Our current system is helping more direct subsidy for school ending borrowing in the fund than 130 districts by keeping their infrastructure and this legislation plus creating higher millages, millages at an affordable level for vot- would further reduce our it’s expected that the number of ers. More than 300 districts also use assistance to nearly zero. construction projects will see a the fund to qualify their projects so precipitous decline. they can borrow at the state’s higher • Allows Treasury to use taxable • Prevents districts from reenter- bond rating. The districts using the value tables that will result in ing the fund for five years after fund change regularly as some dis- millage failure or unnecessarily repayment. This means that many tricts pay off loans/bonds and others high millage rates. The language districts would only have access pass new bonds. allows Treasury to use taxable to the SLRF once every 41 years; There are a number of elements value tables from the past five clearly insufficient to meet the about the legislation that should con- years as the indicator for what construction needs of districts. cern schools: millage will be needed for a 30 This legislation will relegate many • Caps total borrowing in the fund year bond. Based on the taxable districts to outdated and unsafe build- at $1.8 billion. This would close value data for many districts, this ings that aren’t appropriate for our the fund to additional borrowers would result in a declining tax- school children. Please contact your in about two years, and remain able value rate for the 30 years of Senators and urge them to oppose this closed to borrowing for 30 years. a bond and a higher than needed package of bills. We may not have a This will prevent a number of millage rate. Using five years of perfect system in Michigan, but this districts from constructing much negative growth as a projection isn’t the solution. Ask them to support needed buildings or result in sub- for 30 years is just poor public creating a legislative taskforce to look stantial tax increases for voters policy that will prevent many at best practices in other states and that approve millages. school districts from building. come up with an appropriate solution. • Allows Treasury to dictate mill- • Violates Michigan’s Constitution. For questions, contact Don Wotruba, age rate through the life of a The bills transfer authority to the [email protected], 517.327.5912 or bond. This will give Treasury the Department of Treasury when Peter Spadafore, pspadafore@masb. authority to dictate a new mill- the fund is meant to be main- org, 517.327.5913. www.masb.org • MASB Headlines • March 20, 2012 3 Districts may soon wave goodbye to seat-time waivers t’s expected that the House In order to qualify for the new al- changes will proposed to the legisla- Education Committee will pass lowance, each online course or other tion as work on the details continues. HBI 5392 on March 22. Rep. Margaret credit-bearing activity must meet all MASB will work with House and O’Brien (R-Portage) introduced the of the following: Senate leadership, as well as the bill legislation after several districts in the 1. Be facilitated by a highly qualified sponsor. state testified in front of the House teacher. Education Committee on the limita- 2. Be approved by the district’s tions of the current seat-time waiver board of education or directors. process. Although this is the first step 3. Generate credit toward the pu- of many, it seems the bill is on a fast pil’s high school diploma or grade track, at least in the House. progression. The intent of the legislation is to 4. Must be aligned with the Michi- allow for more flexibility in allowing gan Grade Level Content Expec- districts to offer online and blended tations or the Michigan Merit learning options. Curriculum. When the bill was originally intro- Students enrolled in the aforemen- Appointment, from front page duced, it eliminated the requirement tioned program must construct a that days and hours be calculated in schedule that details the credits antici- civic, social, political, fraternal online instructional delivery. MASB pated to be earned. These schedules organizations, and other activities flagged this as very problematic be- must be developed in consultation in his local community as well as cause it presented enormous potential with a mentor or a school counselor.