DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 02-12-07 A 9 CDB 2/9/2007 11:27 AM Page 1 February 12, 2007 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Page 9 MARY KRAMER: Tough choices should favor good schools There are 232 schools in the De- and other such mea- practices and work lieve there are really no successful younger teacher right out of the troit Public Schools, and the dis- sures. rules that have proven urban school systems, but there building. trict is planning to close 52 of them But what if the dis- successful in the best- are a lot of individual urban Some lucky principals operate because, as the district’s facilities trict used a different performing schools? schools that work. with a no-bumping waiver. A top director told The Detroit News re- yardstick? What would that say What makes a difference? DPS official told me recently that a cently, the district has about 60,000 What if high-perform- to principals, teachers, The size of the school matters. grand total of seven schools in the empty seats. ing schools went to the unions, parents and How involved parents are does, city system have that waiver. Angry students and parents are top of the “save” list, children about what it too. But the ability of the princi- That’s out of 252. lining up at meetings to argue that even if they moved, en takes to have a school pal, as CEO of that building, to We know what makes a differ- their school should remain open. masse, to a newer build- that survives? help shape the school’s perfor- ence. Do we have the guts to use You can be sure no one — in- ing nearby, and schools Schools like Chadsey mance culture by infusing teach- the school closings to make a state- cluding school administrators and with the lowest test High School, a high- ers and staff with a common vision ment on what will be rewarded? board members who are part of the scores would close? And performing school in is important, too. Unfortunately, Mary Kramer is publisher of closing decisions — is happy about what if the board told southwest Detroit that work rules under union contracts Crain's Detroit Business. Her weekly closing schools. They say the deci- parents and teachers: OK, we’ll has, I understand, 22 nationalities allow “bumping,” which can upset take on the latest business news airs sions are based on housing pat- have a moratorium on some of the represented among 700-plus stu- that team approach. Too often, a at 6:40 a.m. Mondays on the Paul W. terns, demographics, the age and marginal but improving schools, dents, would survive. more-senior but less-effective Smith show on WJR AM 760. E-mail condition of the school buildings providing we agree on programs, Some education advocates be- teacher can bump an energetic but her at [email protected]. LETTERS CONTINUED ■ From Page 8 You can stop waiting now. short term.” I’m not sure if three or four years would be considered short term, but one only need to look at federal receipts (not expen- ditures) and our national unem- ployment rate of 4.5 percent to see “real solid proof” that the Bush tax cuts are doing exactly what they were expected to do. S. Rose Detroit Leave my food alone Editor: I do not think the residents of Michigan elected State Rep. Lee Gonzales or any other member of our state government to legislate what we eat (“State joins war on use of trans fats,” Jan. 29). Estate tax repeal is dead. As a libertarian, I think that our government robs us of our right to make our own decisions regarding Now, moremore thanthan ever,ever, estateestate planningplanning our habits. The U.S. was founded on the idea of an individual’s right and wealth transfer planning are critically important! to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Where do you think the At the Advanced Strategies Group, Inc. we can assist you in planning government will draw the line if At the Advanced Strategies Group, Inc. we can assist you in planning we continue to give it the power to forfor youryour lovedloved ones,ones, basedbased onon today’stoday’s factsfacts notnot tomorrow’stomorrow’s what-ifs.what-ifs. legislate away our rights? Tytti Newton Vice president of operations Office Star L.L.C. Join us to learn more! Westland Saturday, February 24, 2007, 8:30 a.m. Seeking top CFOs The Townsend Hotel, Birmingham Crain’s is seeking nominations for its first-ever CFO Awards. Winners will Call us to reserve your spot at this important event. You don’t want to miss it! be recognized at a May 17 dinner and featured in the May 28 issue. Estate values of $4 million or more required. Please, no financial advisors. To be eligible, nominees must be CFOs, or hold an equivalent job, who have displayed excellence in financial or other corporate operational management. Nominees will be considered for these categories: public companies, private companies and nonprofits; as well as a community service category that recognizes CFOs or treasurers whose leadership has led to significant financial or organizational improvement for a nonprofit. Wealth Preservation & Transfer Specialists To nominate someone, go to crainsdetroit.com and click on “Surveys and Forms” in the left-hand bar. Nominations are due by March 2. 1-877-ASG-Ø-TAX (1-877-274-0829) Presenting sponsor of the event is Marsh. Clark Hill plc, DaimlerChrysler New York • Boston • Detroit • Florida • Los Angeles Financial Services, Interior Dynamics, Financial Executives International and www.AdvancedStrategiesGroup.com the Michigan Association of CPAs are also sponsoring the event. DBpageAD.qxd 10/13/2006 10:52 AM Page 1 With over 60,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, 512 luxurious rooms, a full-service spa, exciting gaming and decadent dining, your group will always experience more at Soaring Eagle. Mt. Pleasant, MI 1-888-7-EAGLE-7 Ext. 55385 www.soaringeaglecasino.com DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 02-12-07 A 11 CDB 2/9/2007 11:43 AM Page 1 February 12, 2007 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Page 11 REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK Shiny and new Jennette Smith writes about Influx of glitzy new real estate and hotels in Detroit could hospitality. Call spell trouble for older (313) 446- 0414 or write lodgings. Page 16. jhsmith@crain. com meetings/conventions Jennette Smith Bureau to go after smaller conventions A new branding campaign for the region isn’t the only thing going on to boost Detroit’s odds of attracting visitors — including meetings and conventions prospects. Crain’s readers: We need a bigger convention hall, While the new campaign and its brushed-metal “D” logo were the big news in late January, there are some other tactics in play by the Detroit but do it economically and run it better Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. Chief among them is a plan to shift resources around to go after BY JENNETTE SMITH es were new suggestions, big and small, about not only big citywide conventions, CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS how to drastically make over Cobo and how it but small and medium-size events. is run. major expansion for Cobo Center has Carla Conner-Penzabene, director Recurring themes in the survey results of sales for the bureau, said the lingered on the region’s “to-do” list for were recommendations to tap private exper- bureau has added two new sales A nearly a decade, but new ideas about tise whenever possible, and to demand im- executives and shifted resources so how to pull it off resonate with provements to not only the that more people are working on the business community. building, but to customer ser- bringing corporate meetings and A group of Crain’s readers MORE COBO OPINIONS vice and event costs. Survey re- smaller conventions to Detroit. For participated in a January sur- Read more of what Crain’s spondents wanted to hear how example, two staff members were vey about Cobo and the majori- readers said about Cobo previously based in Washington. the center could be renovated ty supported the most recent Center, how to improve it and Now, there will be one based there, affordably and operate with a how to pay for those and the other person will be focused plan unveiled by Wayne Coun- renewed mission. improvements at on corporate business. ty Executive Robert Ficano in Cobo’s expansion has been YOUR THOUGHTS ON COBO December. And we conducted crainsdetroit.com/cobo. Why the change? For many hotels, slow to start largely over dis- Until Oakland County Executive L. Brooks a good small convention is just as an informal survey after Oak- agreement about the scope of Patterson rolled out five new options valuable as a big blockbuster event. land County Executive L. CONVENTION LIST ONLINE the project and how to pay for Wednesday evening, there were two main Getting 100 hotel rooms filled, or Brooks Patterson rolled out it. Proponents argue an ex- proposals for renovation of Cobo Center. even fewer, can make a big impact See a list of upcoming five new options to finance a panded convention center The first, proposed by Wayne County for a single property. conventions in the Detroit Cobo expansion. area at crainsdetroit.com/ would help the city ensure the Executive Robert Ficano, calls for “A group of 20 to 50 rooms is just Admittedly, neither survey conventions. North American International Auto demolishing Cobo Arena and converting as important to a Holiday Inn in was scientific. Crain’s e-mailed Show keeps its clout, and could Cobo Center’s Riverfront Ballroom into an Livonia as a huge citywide about 6,000 subscribers a series help bring more events.