We've received dozens of e-mails in the last 24 hours asking for more information on Governor Jennifer Granholm's proposed budget cuts and their affect on Dearborn's schools. Many questions center around the state's 31a 'At Risk' funding. David Mustonen, Communications Coordinator for Dearborn Public Schools, generously provided information that we think will shed light on why Dearborn qualifies for these funds and how they're used to help Dearborn students. Our schools began to receive full 31a funding after former State Representative Gary Woronchak, working with district officials, convinced legislators in Lansing that Dearborn had a significant 'At Risk' student population. Section 31a funds must be used for services that help kids who meet the 'At-Risk' criteria specified by the state. Students may be identified as 'At Risk' if they fall into one of the following categories:
-Low achievement on MEAP tests in mathematics, reading or science
-Failure to meet core academic curricular objectives in English/language arts or mathematics (K-3 pupils only)
-Failure to meet core academic curricular objectives in English/language arts or mathematics (K-3 pupils only)
Students may also be considered 'At Risk' if two or more of the following conditions apply:
-Victim of child abuse or neglect
-Below grade level in English language and communications skills or mathematics
-Below grade level in English language and communications skills or mathematics
-Pregnant teenager or teenage parent
-Eligible for free or reduced-price lunch
-Atypical behavior or attendance patterns
-Family history of school failure, incarceration or substance abuse
-Atypical behavior or attendance patterns
-Family history of school failure, incarceration or substance abuse
Section 31a funds may only be used to directly help those children most in need of additional instructional support beyond what is provided in the classroom. Thousands of students across our district benefit from staff or programs funded by 31a. Summer school, tutoring and reading programs all rely on 31a monies.
Dearborn Public Schools officials fear Governor Granholm's suggested cuts to this funding would have a devastating spiral effect on the operation of the district, and eliminate many of the valuable programs and services that help our most academically challenged students.
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So riddle me this, a then Representative Gary Woronchak and district officials found this to be a necessary demographic of Dearborn that has only attracted more of the same? In addition, suddenly Dearborn is upset with the results of its school districts decline?
ReplyDeleteBoy, I just hate those bird droppings all over my car and on the side of my garage! Uh-oh gotta run, I noticed my birdfeeders need to be filled.
As much as it pains me to write this, Granholm actually may be doing Dearborn a huge favor if these cuts really do ever materialize.
LX, why are you assuming that 31a serves only a specific demographic? From reading what makes a child eligible for this funding, I would think it helps disadvantaged students from all over Dearborn.
ReplyDeleteI agree with LX: TAKE DOWN THE BIRDFEEDER!
ReplyDeleteMichael Adams, you really did answer your question of me didn't you.
ReplyDeleteThink about it...
Sorry, LX. I don't see it. Can you please point it out for me?
ReplyDeleteI see some validity to the 'birdfeeder' comments and understand that in some cases this kind of state help can perpetuate a problem instead of solving it. But I would guess that agood portion of this money goes to kids who need a helping hand. My fear is if these kids don't get the help we need, Dearborn schools will get even worse than they are already.
ReplyDeleteDon't kid yourselves! Losing this money will negatively effect ALL Dearborn students. If you are a homeowner or have kids in Dearborn schools you should call Governor Granholm and urge her to reconsider the cuts she wants to make. They are unfair to Dearborn!
ReplyDeleteSo Dearborn has been feeding from this trough for almost 10 years and what has the state's largesse bought us? Are we seeing better grades and better scores on state tests? Have English and communication skills drastically improved? Has attendance gone up? Can the district answer 'yes' to any of these questions since we started getting 'At Risk' money?
ReplyDeleteLove to know.
I don't know the answer J. But all of these funds go directly to helping dearborn kids so I think they must be doing some good for our city. They're not paying for football fields or company cars. It says the money can only be used on programs for the kids so I would think its worth saving.
ReplyDeleteJ. Galt, if we hadn't gotten that money don't you see that we would've had even WORSE grades and WORSE scores on tests? ELL programs would've likely been downsized thus causing more trouble with communication skills. And since WHEN does ANY amount of money given to a school district cause PARENTS to bring their own kids to school??????? As a teacher, I'm telling you right now--attendance has NO correlation to state funding. Nor do the categories for the money insinuate attendance would be helped---it means that these kids are AT RISK and are going to need extra help to make it. Extra help=extra $$$$. So unless you're going to open your wallet and pass out the cash to help these at risk kids or get your own self in the classrooms to assist (how often do you volunteer?), then QUIT complaining.
ReplyDeleteAnd just a note---if you're not in the classrooms and schools HELPING and being a part of the SOLUTION (volunteers are always welcome!), then do NOT complain about the state of our school district. You sitting and whining isn't helping ANY of the children of this community.
Caring Dearborn Resident - I am not asking this to be a smartass but just what are the teachers prepared to give up to help our children?
ReplyDeleteDonna, I agree with your question. I have both elementary and middle school age children and have been very involved with both schools. My kids are doing very well and I've been impressed with most of their teachers but.. so many say what great benefits they have. We are a "big three family" and I dread this time of the year knowing that next year we have to pay more for our benefits. I think it's over due that our school district employees need to make cuts.
ReplyDeleteI think the schools are going to have to do more belt tightening, and that includes teachers. The 11 millions bucks they're already cutting back will pinch everyone and I'm not sure the district can suck up another 6 or 7 million they hadn't planned for. Across the board, this city is going to have to make some very tough choices when it comes to our schools. Maybe trimming back and focusing on basic education will help in the long run. Although I'm sure it's going to hurt like hell in the short term.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to write every legislator and the Governor of Michigan about this travesty in state funds being further cut for Dearborn go to:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.michigan.gov/
It takes some time and effort but it was much faster than calling and playing phone tag with all of them. I included my comments above a copy of the letter that Superintendent Whiston is sending to Dearborn residents. If you don't have a copy I've copied and pasted it below as well.
Greetings, Please call the Governor’s Office and “forward” this email to Dearborn Public School supporters………. The district received disconcerting news of Governor Granholm’s 2010 executive budget recommendations. The Governor’s proposal included the following cuts for the Dearborn Public Schools:
1. $59 per Pupil Cut = $1,064,411
2. 20j Cut = $616,928
3. Bilingual (Sec 41) = $381,000
4. At Risk 31a = $5,875,000
Total Cuts for the Dearborn Schools = $7,937,339
We had projected a $1.8M cut when we developed our $11M budget shortfall.
With the Governor’s proposal we would have to cut $17M or an additional $6M.
In this tough economy we surely understand the need for cuts in funding, as long as they happen across all districts equally. In essence we are the only district that will receive a double whammy, since we are the only district that is being cut both the 20j and 31a funds. With the present recommendations we will endure much more than most other districts in the State of Michigan. In addition, Dearborn Public Schools is one of several districts in the state that is considered a “Donor District.” This means that more local tax dollars are sent to Lansing to fund public education across the state than the district receives from the state. Currently, taxpayers in Dearborn send $14 million more dollars to Lansing than the district gets back. Please call Governor Granholm’s office at (517) 373-3400 and ask her to treat all districts the same. If cuts need to be made then all districts across the state should be cut the same per-pupil amount. Cutting more funds from some districts and less from others is not equitable and pits school district against school district. Our own State of Michigan House and Senate Representatives understand the devastating impact these cuts will have on Dearborn. At this time, sharing your concerns directly with the Governor will have the most impact to prevent these targeted cuts from happening. In your own words let the Governor know how devastating her recommendations will be to our district. Attached you will find talking points for you and your constituency groups to use for background information.
Thank you.
Brian Whiston
Superintendent Dearborn Public Schools
Thanks Michael. This looks the same as the letter posted here yesterday? I already cut and pasted that one and sent emails to the governor and state reps. I have not heard back from anyone as of yet.
ReplyDeleteSorry Karen I guess I missed that letter being posted here yesterday and I still haven't located it. But perhaps my previous posting may help somewhat induce others to take some action.
ReplyDeleteAnother issue I want to address is the one pertaining to special ed students. At the Little Cafe school board nominee forum last year, former DHS Board President Sharon Dulmage stated that DPS has such an outstanding special education/handicapped program that DPS is a magnet school district for these type of children. Many come from surrounding communites that have either no such programs or programs not as well rounded as Dearborns.
So while perhaps DPS is not doing very well with regular students, I've heard nothing but praise for their programs with DPS's special ed programs. Therefore cutting funding to these programs would just be devastating not only to DPS, but devastate the students that are significantly helped by these programs. If the state cannot continue to fund those less fortunate than most others, then that tells us that the state of Michigan is a sorry state.
I've heard that too Michael. I know Dearborn Schools have a lot of issues, but it's funny because you rarely hear any parents complain about their child's education. At least I don't. I could be wrong, but I don't think the Granholm funding cuts would effect special ed kids but I could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteHow about we quit catering to special-interest groups that ultimately bring down the scores and prestige of the district. Maybe if we weren't sucking so much at the state teat for extra dollars we wouldn't be attracting all of these kids who need so much special care. Not that they don't deserve an education, but with the huge language barrier issue that the district deals with do we need a bunch of mentally retarded or emotionally disturbed students compounding matters even further? Me thinks not.
ReplyDeleteMichael, Karen- You're right and you're wrong. 31a funds are set aside for at-risk kids and that's all they can be used for. However with such a huge cut to those programs, presumably some of that impact would be felt through cuts in gen ed curriculum.
Ron,
ReplyDeleteNo disrespect meant towards you Ron as you write well and make valid points. However, if these special education children cannot obtain the help they so desperately need, as long as the state fully reimburses DPS for it, I think it at least that Dearborn is a city that cares about those less fortunate than most of us regardless of where they live and I see no issue with it. Therefore, I guess we just disagree on this issue.
Another point to consider is that special education children comprise only 11% of our total DPS student body. Therefore I believe the biggest issue we face that affects our rankings based upon MME and MEAP scores we should be addressing and resolving is the one involving an overwhelming DPS student body that are not English proficient and therefore not becoming mainstream Americans anywhere near as soon as previous generations. If we can see some resolution in this area, everyone involved in this will be all the better for it and our MEAP and MME scores will raise significantly and so will our DPS school rankings. This might not ever happen due to budget cuts and some serious cultural and/or religious differences between mainstream residents and recent immigrant residents, but nonetheless most would agree this has far more negative impact on our schools than well deserving special education children have ever had...
Well said, Mr. Albano. Hopefully our school board will develop some teeth and start preparing ALL Dearborn students to be able to contribute to the future of our city, state and nation. This can't even begin to happen until kids learn English.
ReplyDeleteI really think some may be missing what 31a funds are. From above as explained.
ReplyDeleteStudents may be identified as 'At Risk' if they fall into one of the following categories:
- Low achievement on MEAP tests in mathematics, reading or science
- Failure to meet core academic curricular objectives in English/language arts or mathematics (K-3 pupils only)
Students may also be considered 'At Risk' if two or more of the following conditions apply:
- Victim of child abuse or neglect
- Below grade level in English language and communications skills or mathematics
- Pregnant teenager or teenage parent
- Eligible for free or reduced-price lunch
- Atypical behavior or attendance patterns
- Family history of school failure, incarceration or substance abuse
There is nothing describing a defined 31a qualification as any sort of a Special Education qualified student as Michael now tries to suggest. Matter of fact, if anything the opposite is true from what Mr. Albano writes of Special Ed concerns as stated from definition above.
Teen pregnancy? Subsidized lunches? Skipping school? Disruptive behavior? Low MEAP test scores? Refusing to use English? Generations of parents that live their life's like thugs and are dropouts?
Yah buddy, that is just what every community needs and tries to actively attract more of that demographic nature.
Here's the deal. In 2002 a then State Rep. Gary Woronchak reelected to his second term in Lansing amended the School Aid Act with a quote, "so Dearborn would get the same per-student as other districts. The result: $2.5 million more for Dearborn schools – every year".
I honestly cannot thank Wayne Co Commissioner Woronchak enough for his wisdom in setting up this birdfeeder mentality that has in a seven short years and $17.5 million later, played a major roll in the collapse of once decent Dearborn schools.
Then again, this earned a then Rep. Woronchak a coveted Dearborn PTA Council Honorary Lifetime Member Award (2002) that undoubtedly didn't hurt his unopposed election to a third term that began in 2003, which also might have attributed to Gary's AAPAC (Arab American Political Action Committee) Community Service Award (2003). He has clearly played to the right crowd in Dearborn that loves them government handouts and proudly boasts this on his website.
As far as I'm concerned, Granholm is doing Dearborn a huge favor with cutting Sec41 and 31a funding (if it actually happens) when the Board and Whiston ($1.5 million 9/08) accepted a cumulative $3,385,975.00 in federal tax dollars to create Arabic grade schools in the east and south ends.
In other words, if the district is going to take $3.385 million of our tax dollars to fund working against the $6.25 million they stand to loose that goes towards rectifying low-income matters because one is English illiterate then so be it. Dearborn's Board of Education and new Superintendent cannot have it both ways and continue with these games being played of accommodations that perpetuate these deficits in the school district. It is insane and only serves to lower everyone's standard of living.
And just for argument, seeing that Livonia's schools have been topic on here recently let us actually compare Dearborn and Livonia side by side with the most recent data for year 2006-2007. (Keep in mind that the ranking number is for the entire state of Michigan public schools. 2006-2007 there are 838 public schools)
Dearborn City School District – 82030 (district code)
General Fund Revenues Per Pupil
Local sources: $3,187 - rank: 106
State sources: $6,383 - rank: 512
Federal sources: $832 - rank: 125
All sources: $10,535 - rank: 83
General Fund Expenditures Per Pupil for Instructional Programs
Basic Programs: $4,714 - rank: 88
Added Needs: $1,255 – rank: 156
Adult Education: $2,026 – rank: 100
Total Instruction: $5,900 – rank: 82
Instructional Salaries: $5,701 – rank: 65
Livonia Public Schools – 82095
General Fund Revenues Per Pupil
Local sources: $2,466 – rank: 164
State sources: $6,283 – rank: 543
Federal sources: $312 – rank: 459
All sources: $9,238 – rank: 176
General Fund Expenditures Per Pupil for Instructional Programs
Basic Programs: $4,387 – rank: 161
Added Needs: $992 – rank: 327
Adult Education: $4,312 – rank: 61
Total Instruction: $5,367 – rank: 202
Instructional Salaries: $5,251 – rank: 139
Dearborn:
Average Teacher Salaries: $73,522 – rank: 5 (in the state) <<<<<
Pupil Count: 18,485 – rank: 5
Pupil Teacher Ratio: 24
General Fund Expenditures Per Pupil for Supporting Services, i.e. Instructional Support, Business & Administration, Operating & Maintenance
Total: $4,006 – rank: 180
Current Operating Expenditures: $9,906 – rank: 76
Total General Fund Expenditures: $10,434 – rank: 81
Livonia:
Average Teacher Salaries: $70,696 – rank: 15
Pupil Count: 17,808 – rank: 6
Pupil Teacher Ratio: 24
General Fund Expenditures Per Pupil for Supporting Services, i.e. Instructional Support, Business & Administration, Operating & Maintenance
Total: $3,672 – rank: 230
Current Operating Expenditures: $9,038 – rank: 132
Total General Fund Expenditures: $9,586 – rank: 132
Dearborn:
Taxable Value Information
Homestead: $113,759 – rank: 286
Non-Homestead: $130,660 – rank: 117
Livonia:
Taxable Value Information
Homestead: $183,466 – rank: 91
Non-Homestead: $110,962 – rank: 141
Livonia kicks Dearborn's ass in every category except Adult Ed and they do it with teachers that make on average 4% less too.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/B101407_237002_7.pdf
Another interesting thing to note is that the state of Michigan had for year 1977-1978 a total of 636 public schools and a pupil count of 2,023,944. As of today, the state of Michigan has a public school count of 839 and a count of only 1,648,842 pupils.
That is an 18.5% reduction of Michigan's public school student body, while over the same 30 year timeframe a 24% increase of physical school structures. In real world terms, this means an actual 42.5% gap that has occurred with the two that has slowly happened at an averaged 1.4% every year for 30 years.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/numbsch_26940_7.pdf
Pie Chart of 2008 State School Aid by Source of Revenue This chart illustrates the revenue sources for the 2008 State School Aid fund.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/SAF_REV_FY08_Chart_263684_7.pdf
Heavens to Betsy! Wheelchair ramps for the needy? Free trigger locks for gun owners?? Raising unemployment benefits and cutting the state income tax??? Yes, this Gary Woronchak is quite a monster!!
ReplyDeleteThat is just avoidance of the issue Mr. Adams.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're not capable of handling brevity as it's clearly an issue with you, but I said more in 25 words than you managed in 500.
ReplyDeleteMr. Adams,
ReplyDeleteYou're entitled to that capricious opinion. I am not challenging anyone's capacity here.
Thanks and understood, LX. But as it is an opinion I've held for quite some time, I'd hardly call it 'capricious.'
ReplyDeleteIt's time for some to sink or swim plain and simple. I know thats not the popular answer right now but those who can't cut it, those who can't attend classes regularly and those who can't learn basic skills are holding back thousands of pupils who are trying hard to get ahead. Sink or swim time, Dearborn. Let's see who rises to the challenge and who drops to the bottom.
ReplyDeleteJust as I stated before, there is nothing to fear.
ReplyDeleteLANSING -- Michigan can't slash aid to public schools and universities, as proposed in Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget plan for next year, because federal stimulus package rules won't allow it, lawmakers were told Wednesday.
Gary Olson, director of the Senate Fiscal Agency, said the legislation adopted by Congress and signed this week by President Barack Obama stipulates that funding for schools and colleges must be kept whole to be eligible for federal recovery money.
That means the 3.2 percent reduction in state spending for the 15 public universities and the $59-per-pupil reduction in public school aid proposed by Granholm for the budget year that begins Oct. 1 can't happen, Olson said...
Olson said the state can use money from its general fund -- its main checking account -- to protect education funding. Or the state can tap stimulus cash to keep funding at current levels, he said. But the second option could leave a hole in the budget in 2011 when the federal money goes away, Olson said...
Olson also said about state budget issues:
• Michigan's share of federal stimulus money for state and local governments totals $6.68 billion over two years.
• The governor wants to use $812 million to balance the state's books, $312 million this year and $500 million next year.
• The largest tax hike in Granholm's plan is a freeze on the personal exemption from state income tax. The exemption allowance is linked to inflation. Freezing the exemption at $3,500 would cost taxpayers $57 million next year.
• The Detroit Public Schools will get $566.1 million in federal stimulus money for at-risk students, special education and other purposes...
See there, not to worry.
All of Dearborn can rest easily at the government trough for the next two years in maintaining its healthy stock bottom feeders. Who knows, over the next 24 months the City of Dearborn may be able to double what they already have in the schools. The bait pile is now reloaded for it to happen.
You always seem to have the information whoever you are LX. So it seems the Dearborn Public Schools sent the city into a mild panic and a massive unnecessary campaign of letter writing and phone calling. Chicken Little can only crow that the sky is falling so many times before some of us stop giving a damn. Thank you for that news LX.
ReplyDeleteBased upon what many have stated on here recently, if we give up or lose these funds as terrible as many say Dearborn Public Schools are now, it will simply destroy them.
ReplyDeleteWe'd better hope we don't receive what we ask for because we may soon end up getting it.
Anyone who thinks these cuts will improve Dearborn schools is living in the land of Oz.
Hey J. Galt---we're talking PUBLIC schools here. You want to be the one to tell the teachers to just give up on the kids who are struggling? I guess those teachers that care are just so irritating to you.
ReplyDeleteAnd Donna, I think the teachers need to give up some benefits as well, but I think the teachers also deserve credit for busting their behinds for these kids.
Caring Dearborn Resident, the whole point of my story was that I do not want to see the school district give up on these kids and that anyone who says we're better off without this funding is nuts. This ain't the roaring days of the 50's thru 70's where everything was hunky dorey. Times change, things change, people change and kids circumstances change.
ReplyDeleteMost everything I read on the qualifications for this 31a money is money that helps many of these unfortunate childs who are victims of circumstances many of us in the past never faced in our school days. If a kid is not getting food or having issues that affect their learning, the last thing I believe we should do is take funding away from them which will make it far worse. Some of these bloggers on here just don't have a clue the harm it will do to not only the kids, but to the entire district and it could destroy our city.
Is that more clear than my previous message?
Good message For Chripes Sake, but I believe Caring Dearborn resident was talking to J. Galt instead of you.
ReplyDeleteIts also interesting to read Corbins message. If that's the same Corbin that ran twice for the school board, at least we know wny he never won an election.
You may consider me a heartless bastard and that is all good and well. I just don't believe throwing public money around is the cure for every problem. I simply asked a question: have the schools improved since we started getting 'at risk' cash from the government? It may make you all feel nice and cozy knowing that these poor kids had money thrown their way, but if there are no results to show for it (and in many cases the situation is much worse) I wonder who actually is heartless here.
ReplyDeleteJ. Galt,
ReplyDeleteI believe you are far from heartless with the question raised. Love the name by the way. Some get it, I see that, and on here, there are some just the blatant altruist/collectivists that they choose to live their lives as, so be it.
The collectivists, such as Caring Dearborn Resident, who relishes in saddling Dearborn's school district to a lowly state with tactics of fear and doom throughout each posting with emphasized words in CAPITOL LETTERS stressing the harried nature and cataclysmic danger of not perpetuating the embracing a state of societal dependency.
And the altruists, they know who they are and their intentions in the school district are noble, however, somewhat irrational in the aspect of anyone else's right to self-interest while also ignoring the many manipulations that occur in dependent culture that really just impedes if not flat out penalizes the rest of society as well.
This mindset is not just in the City of Dearborn but it is also growing throughout our nation. Our society in my opinion should be focused on the rewards with being independent productive achievers and not the coerced self-sacrifice for others.
J. Galt, perhaps this is why you never here response from the altruists and the collectivists with your sole question, "have the schools improved since we started getting 'at risk' cash from the government?"
The schools and the government are the people, have we improved.
I agree with many things LX and others state about the poor performance of our schools, but being brought up in sports, I've learned that teamwork is far more crucial to success than individual super stars are any day. Most would rather have a team player as Al Kaline was any day over a Barry Bonds and our schools are supposed to be a collaborative team effort.
ReplyDeleteWith that being said, I believe the major issue with DPS is not the money that is coming in and now possibly being cut, but the fact that both sides need to work together to totally re-evaluate these programs to see what is working and what is not. If I remember correctly, since these programs began there has been some improvement in these students’ scores but maybe it has not been a lot of improvement nor the amount of improvement we expected for the money invested.
While I am by no means stating I am totally against these programs, what I would also like to see analyzed is what positive or negative effect these programs may be having on the students that do not require expensive programs like this. Does the cost enhance the challenged students learning, does it improve the entire school and more importantly is this money that should instead be invested a wiser way by rewarding good students? These statements are not my opinions and instead only questions I believe we need to be asking and resolving. Therefore, perhaps someone more informed about this could answer and substantiate my questions with facts.
Yep, Albano is on cue with the last word again. If it is not working as expected or minute improvement, have everyone continue to pay for others irresponsibility's anyway. To hell with that. I really see what was written about with altruist/collectivists.
ReplyDeleteI knew LX was a woman.
ReplyDeleteHow do you know that XL?
ReplyDeleteThe writing's on the wall, Michael. There's not another poster who uses the word 'collectivists.'
ReplyDeleteDude looks like a lady.
So how does Laura write about what LX wrote about 2 days ago?
ReplyDeleteLaura B you supposedly understand fancy words like altruist/collectivists but you fail to realize the simple important questions that Mr. Albano brings up.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that your not LX then you're closely related.
LX,
ReplyDeleteDude, you look like a lady!
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