If you haven't seen it yet, it's must viewing. Original MPS music written and performed by the Recreation Department's own Brian Hoffer.
The video is here.
Fight The Power!
2 days ago
Friday, July 10, 2009
Detroit Schools consider bankruptcy
The Detroit school district is considering bankruptcy, according to the Detroit News.
Detroit -- Faced with a massive, multiyear deficit, Detroit Public Schools took another step Thursday in consideration of bankruptcy to help alleviate the district's financial woes.
Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb met with retired U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Ray Reynolds Graves at the district's offices in the Fisher Building for a "deep and in-depth discussion" on Chapter 9 bankruptcy.
"It's a sad day when we have ... to even consider the option of bankruptcy for the Detroit Public School system," Bobb said after the meeting. "We've had seven consecutive years of overspending and that's not insignificant.
MPS operates with a balanced budget.
Detroit -- Faced with a massive, multiyear deficit, Detroit Public Schools took another step Thursday in consideration of bankruptcy to help alleviate the district's financial woes.
Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb met with retired U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Ray Reynolds Graves at the district's offices in the Fisher Building for a "deep and in-depth discussion" on Chapter 9 bankruptcy.
"It's a sad day when we have ... to even consider the option of bankruptcy for the Detroit Public School system," Bobb said after the meeting. "We've had seven consecutive years of overspending and that's not insignificant.
MPS operates with a balanced budget.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
$5 million state aid cut is good news
Wow. It could have been so, so much worse.
The district's general state aid and poverty aid will drop by about $5 million, far less that district officials had feared.
The figures from the Department of Public Instruction are preliminary and could change, but here's a big preliminary "Whew!" that also might change if the numbers do.
Superintendent William Andrekopoulos sent a notification to the School Board yesterday explaining the ramifications of the aid figure.
The DPI aid information and new revenue limit estimates indicate the School Board could increase the combined School Operations / Construction Fund tax levies for FY10 by an estimated maximum of $7.5 million, or about 2.7%, from the amounts levied for FY09. Such an increase would generate the maximum allowable revenue under state law and would position the district to claim maximum state aids in FY11 and beyond. (The Extension Fund is not included in revenue limit calculations.)
The budget adopted by the Board last month needs to be trimmed $3 million to meet revenue limits, but the Board has made preparations to do that.
Andrekopoulos said property values were a largely responsible for the not-completely-horrid aid news.
The district fared relatively well in a terrible aid environment due largely to decreased property values, a key factor in the aid formula that the state believes reflects community wealth. For FY09, the district’s property value per member was 64.2% of the statewide average, according to the Department of Public Instruction; for FY10, it is 62.1%.
The district's general state aid and poverty aid will drop by about $5 million, far less that district officials had feared.
The figures from the Department of Public Instruction are preliminary and could change, but here's a big preliminary "Whew!" that also might change if the numbers do.
Superintendent William Andrekopoulos sent a notification to the School Board yesterday explaining the ramifications of the aid figure.
The DPI aid information and new revenue limit estimates indicate the School Board could increase the combined School Operations / Construction Fund tax levies for FY10 by an estimated maximum of $7.5 million, or about 2.7%, from the amounts levied for FY09. Such an increase would generate the maximum allowable revenue under state law and would position the district to claim maximum state aids in FY11 and beyond. (The Extension Fund is not included in revenue limit calculations.)
The budget adopted by the Board last month needs to be trimmed $3 million to meet revenue limits, but the Board has made preparations to do that.
Andrekopoulos said property values were a largely responsible for the not-completely-horrid aid news.
The district fared relatively well in a terrible aid environment due largely to decreased property values, a key factor in the aid formula that the state believes reflects community wealth. For FY09, the district’s property value per member was 64.2% of the statewide average, according to the Department of Public Instruction; for FY10, it is 62.1%.
MPS is appealing in special ed lawsuit
MPS is appealing a federal magistrate's order that could potentially require the district to provide compensatory educational services to a "extremely broad" pool of students whose rights may have been violated under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
“We have a deep concern for the financial implications,” Board President Michael Bonds said in a prepared statement. “To appeal is the right thing to do for taxpayers as well as for the children the district serves. We must take steps to target resources to the children who need them most and preserve resources for all MPS students.”
“This is not about denying anyone services,” said MPS Superintendent William Andrekopoulos. “If children were passed over for services years ago, they should be provided services. But the Board feels that the remedy order goes too far. It could apply to potentially thousands more children than should be defined in the case.”
Under US Magistrate Judge Aaron Goodstein's order, the district would be required to do extensive outreach to identify students -- including regular education students -- who may be eligible for compensation. The order affects students enrolled from Sept. 1, 2000 to June 30, 2005.
MPS said in a statement that "the costs to carry out the remedy creates further financial and staffing challenges for the district, and most significantly, for taxpayers."
The district since 2004 has numerous changes to improve areas Goodstein found troubling.
Said Bonds: "Students are getting quality services. We addressed the issues."
“We have a deep concern for the financial implications,” Board President Michael Bonds said in a prepared statement. “To appeal is the right thing to do for taxpayers as well as for the children the district serves. We must take steps to target resources to the children who need them most and preserve resources for all MPS students.”
“This is not about denying anyone services,” said MPS Superintendent William Andrekopoulos. “If children were passed over for services years ago, they should be provided services. But the Board feels that the remedy order goes too far. It could apply to potentially thousands more children than should be defined in the case.”
Under US Magistrate Judge Aaron Goodstein's order, the district would be required to do extensive outreach to identify students -- including regular education students -- who may be eligible for compensation. The order affects students enrolled from Sept. 1, 2000 to June 30, 2005.
MPS said in a statement that "the costs to carry out the remedy creates further financial and staffing challenges for the district, and most significantly, for taxpayers."
The district since 2004 has numerous changes to improve areas Goodstein found troubling.
Said Bonds: "Students are getting quality services. We addressed the issues."
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Kluge's box -- from Arts @ Large
Below is an article featuring Kluge Elementary School, 5760 N. 67th St. The story is from the most recent Arts @ Large newsletter.
Monday, July 6, 2009
MPS spending -- exposed
Want to know what the district is paying whom for what?
Want to know what services your child's school is buying?
It's now available online -- the district's spending can be searched by school, vendor, budget type or other factor.
The database is at on the MPS Web site under Budget & Finance and is labeled “MPS Spending.” The direct link is http://mpsspending.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/
As the district put it in a press release:
No special equipment is required on the user’s part. MPS’ Office of Finance & Operations maintains the database. The records reflect purchases that have been made, and not expenses that are anticipated. Records will show purchases starting with the new fiscal year which began July 1, 2009, and date back to the 2005 fiscal year. Users who have questions regarding the database can e-mail their inquiries to mpsspendinghelp@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Want to know what services your child's school is buying?
It's now available online -- the district's spending can be searched by school, vendor, budget type or other factor.
The database is at on the MPS Web site under Budget & Finance and is labeled “MPS Spending.” The direct link is http://mpsspending.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/
As the district put it in a press release:
No special equipment is required on the user’s part. MPS’ Office of Finance & Operations maintains the database. The records reflect purchases that have been made, and not expenses that are anticipated. Records will show purchases starting with the new fiscal year which began July 1, 2009, and date back to the 2005 fiscal year. Users who have questions regarding the database can e-mail their inquiries to mpsspendinghelp@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Monday, June 22, 2009
Remember the high-cost special ed controversy?
Remember last year's high-cost special education controversy, which arose after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel suggested MPS was forgoing significant amounts of high-cost special education funding to which it was entitled?
An earlier post on the topic is here.
MPS special education staff spent a lot of time consulting with a lot of people to make sure the district was getting its full share of funding.
The newest numbers are now in.
The reimbursement for FY08 costs is $54,807, up $14,625 from the $40,182 received for FY07.
Somebody stop the presses.
An earlier post on the topic is here.
MPS special education staff spent a lot of time consulting with a lot of people to make sure the district was getting its full share of funding.
The newest numbers are now in.
The reimbursement for FY08 costs is $54,807, up $14,625 from the $40,182 received for FY07.
Somebody stop the presses.
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