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Home > Update message: Important meetings on public education

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 — Steven Norton

Update message: Important meetings on public education

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Important meetings on education
Dear Friends,
 
There are a number of important developments I'd like to share with you, but for now I wanted to call your attention to some important opportunities to talk about the future of public education in Michigan. Members of the State Board of Education have organized a number of forums around the state to discuss some of the key policy issues facing public education, including proposals to create an "a la carte" system for funding schools (known as the "Oxford Foundation report"). If you have the opportunity to attend one of these, we would strongly encourage you to make the trip.
 
The next one coming up is in Ann Arbor, and it promises to be very interesting. The speakers include:
  • State Board of Education President John Austin (D-Ann Arbor);
  • State Board of Education member Eileen Weiser (R-Ann Arbor);
  • Peter Ruddell, Lansing attorney and primary author of what's come to be known as the Oxford Foundation report;
  • Prof. David Arsen, Michigan State Univ., who is an expert on school finance and who recently wrote a strong critique of the Oxford proposal.
Monday, March 11, 6-8 pm, Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor: Little Theater, 601 W. Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Hosted By: Washtenaw Alliance for Education. Contact: Liz Margolis, Ann Arbor Public Schools: margolis@aaps.k12.mi.us
See the meeting flyer here.
 
More upcoming events:
 
Wednesday, March 20, Macomb, 6-8 pm, Macomb Intermediate School District , Room 100,44001 Garfield Rd Clinton Twp, MI, Contact Judy Pritchett, 586-228-3470, jpritchett@misd.net
 
Monday, April 29, Port Huron, 6-8 Pm, St. Clair Community College , Room 150, Citizens First Michigan Technical Center, Erie St. and Glenwood Avenue, Port Huron. Contact: Shawn M. Starkey.Executive Director of Public Relations, (810) 989-5767, sstarkey@sc4.edu
 
Monday, May 6, Marquette: Hosted by Marquette Regional Education Service Agency, Location TBD - 1-3 pm K-12 Educators, administrators, teachers representatives 6:30-8:30 Parents, community, civic organizations and education stakeholders
 
We hope to see you at one of these events!
Best regards,
 
Steven Norton
Executive Director
Michigan Parents for Schools
New hearing videos available!
 
We've just uploaded video of the House Education Committee hearings on the EAA bill (HB 4369) from Wednesday, 6 March 2013.
 
The video is available here.
 
Available testimony:
  • Introduction of the bill by Chair Lisa Lyons (R-Alto)
  • William Rustem, representing Gov. Snyder, supporting the bill
  • Dr. John Covington, Chancellor of the EAA
  • Dr. Mary Esselman, Director of Accountability of the EAA
  • Steven Norton, Executive Director of Michigan Parents for Schools, opposing the bill
  • Harrison Blackmond, State Director of Democrats for Education Reform, supporting the bill with revisions
These hearings are not always televised and are generally only available for live streaming if they are. MIPFS will attempt to make recordings of important hearings available to the public for later viewing.
Departments: 
Speaking out
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