June, 2009

We need you!

The State Board of Education (SBE) is seeking nominations to fill vacancies on the Professional Standards Commission for Teachers (PSCT) to assist the Office of Professional Preparation Services.

Nominations are requested for the following:

--Read more by downloading the PDF below--

June 26, 2009
Supreme Court Says Child’s Rights Violated by Strip Search By ADAM LIPTAK, New York Times

WASHINGTON — A strip search of a 13-year-old girl by officials at her middle school violated the Constitution, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday in an 8-to-1 decision.

The student, Savana Redding, had been suspected of bringing prescription-strength ibuprofen to the school, in Safford, Ariz.

Justice David H. Souter, writing for the majority, said a search of Ms. Redding’s backpack and outer garments did not offend the Fourth Amendment’s ban on unreasonable searches. But the pills in question, each no stronger than two Advils, did not justify an “embarrassing, frightening and humiliating search,” Justice Souter wrote.

A member shared this story with MASSP. It has been seen by the Governor, State Superintendent, and the Legislature. Do you have a similar story? Would you please share it with us?
-----
Jim,

I wanted you to get a little feedback from the “trenches” after year-three of the transition to the Michigan Merit Curriculum and Exam. As you know Croswell-Lexington High School is average. Average size - 800, average family income, and most importantly our students performance … average. I have seen an incredible transformation over the last three years in our students’ success and more importantly their aspirations. Quite frankly the bar was raised and my kids jumped it. Here are just a few antidotal stories to paint a picture of what the MMC has meant to my students.

Dear Representative Bauer and Committee Members:

Today, Michigan Legislators are facing many difficult, unpopular
decisions. As high school principals who are put between ‘a rock and a hard place’ each day, we empathize with what you are going through.

In 1999, MASSP provided testimony to the Senate as to the critical need for an award system that would provide an incentive for students to take the HS MEAP. MASSP has not wavered in our support of the

Last spring MASSP members were asked, "If you were King/Queen for a day, what would you do with the MME and MEAP?" This information was shared with Senators Swialski and Jelinek. They must have been impressed by what they learned. There is a significant section in the Senate version of the School Aid Act dealing with assessment.

MASSP members took action last week explaining to legislators why EXPLORE is important for all students entering high school. Their work was successful!

The Senate embraced member support with the following in the Senate version of HB 4447:

"MEAP and Merit Exam Changes. The Senate added language prohibiting exam funding to be spent on an expanded social studies exam, pattern scoring, or any assessments developed by the Department for the purposes of Sections 1278a and 1278b of the Revised School Code. Intent language also was added that the Department replace its current MEAP for grades 3-8 with the Iowa Test or a similar exam, and the allocation was included for the "Explore" exam in grades 8 or 9. (Sec. 104 and 104b))"

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today released a comprehensive report entitled "Reclaiming Michigan’s Throwaway Kids: Students Trapped in the School-to-Prison Pipeline," which documents a trend amongst school districts to enforce severe disciplinary policies and practices that push children permanently out of the classroom without regard for the long-term impact. The school-to-prison pipeline refers to the national trend of criminalizing, rather than educating, our children.

POSITION SUMMARY

To provide leadership in developing a K-12 library media services for St. Johns Public Schools.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

(These duties and responsibilities are judged to be “essential functions” in terms of the Americans With Disabilities Act or ADA)

1. Develop, implement, and evaluate long and short range district library media goals, objectives, policies, procedures, programs, and services.

2. Develop, implement and monitor board endorsed policies, regarding selection, challenges and copyright as related to library media materials.

3. Plan and direct the centralized acquisition, processing, maintenance, and repair of all district library media materials.

4. Prepare and distribute, as needed, information on library media services.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under direction, is responsible for administering and supervising the total middle school program and providing educational leadership for the students and staff members consistent with the educational goals of the community. Functions include establishing a climate conducive to learning, defining roles, planning and coordinating programs, effecting change and decision-making.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

(These duties and responsibilities are judged to be “essential functions” in terms of the Americans With Disabilities Act or ADA)

1. Analyze, share and use school and student achievement data to develop and implement the school improvement management plan.

2. Implement systematic procedures to assess program effectiveness. .

POSITION SUMMARY

Provides secretarial services to the principal and serves as facilitator for the school/public being served in communicating information, problem solving, material acquisition, cash handling, record keeping and functions of office manager. This position also has the responsibility to prepare and report various State and Federal reports. Work is subject to inflexible deadlines.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

(These duties and responsibilities are judged to be “essential functions” in terms of the Americans With Disabilities Act or ADA)

The attached worksheet is a model document for school improvement teams. We use the document to outline the team's needs, identify the plan of improvement, and the results. In Grand Blanc Community Schools, this is the first step in developing a plan of action. At the end of each school year, we conduct internal audits of our school improvement plans utilizing this document, detailed story boards, and individual presentations.

The attached chart outlines the penalities for students who violate our Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. The three assistant principals and two student advisors regularly consult this document to maintain consistency when disciplinary our student body. We review this document annually and make adjustments when necessary.

CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES

High School Policy Only

Cell Phones, pagers, CD/MP3 players, radios/headsets, or other related electronic devices may only be used before school, after school, passing time, and during a student’s lunch period. The items may not be used at any time during a class period without permission of the building principal or designee.

From the President

by Mark Palmer
St. Johns High School Principal
MASSP President 2009-10

How often do you get on this site? When you do, what do you want to be able to learn, find and or do? Let me know, and I will see what I can do to help. Doni Pummell Region 2 Board Member! It is a goal of the board to make this site better and better for YOU! So what can I do? ( for YOU)

My middle school currently has an "outdated" tardy policy/system. After two classroom tardies, a student is issued an after school 30 minute detention. We do not have a big problem with tardies, but this system is not effective and seems punitive in nature. Any suggestions?

380.1507 (5)(c) requires a sex education advisory committee to make a report: "At least once every 2 years, evaluate, measure, and report the attainment of program goals and objectives established under subdivision (a). The board of a school district shall make the resulting report available to parents in the school district."

124 Magruders American Government (Prentice Hall)

181 Modern American History (Prentice Hall)

88 Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach (Allyn/Bacon)

89 Psychology (Addison Wesley)

126 Economics (Prentice Hall)

206 World Geography: Building a Global Perspective)

VERY REASONABLE PRICES.............

June 24, 2009

MEMORANDUM

TO: Local and Intermediate School District Superintendents, Public School Academy Directors, Nonpublic School Administrators, FROM: Sally Vaughn, Ph.D.
Deputy Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer

SUBJECT: 2009-2010 Teacher and Administrator Shortage Areas for Employment of Retirants

Attached for your information and reference is the list of teacher and administrator shortage areas identified by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) for the employment of retirees in accordance with MCL 38.1361.

We're seeing a significant increase in requests to test out of courses this year. The volume requires additional secretarial and administrative hours to process requests, prepare exams, organize test site as well as correcting tests and sending results out to students.
I'd like to know if anyone is assessing a fee to cover the administrative 'services' needed to deliver the required option to students.