Governor

Citing at least $150 million in unanticipated revenue and savings, Governor Granholm this week delayed the implementation of her pro-ration order cutting $127 per pupil from the state’s School Aid payments to local school districts. While suspending her order that was to have taken effect with the December 21st payment, the Governor also warned that a pro-ration reduction would still be likely, albeit hopefully not as large as the one initially announced—but, she said, that would likely wait until after the January Revenue Conference.

Governor Jennifer Granholm said this week she could support the concept of programs that would provide merit pay for teachers and expand the number of available urban schools of choice

March 20, 2009

Attached is the Executive Summary of the Governor’s State Budget proposal for FY 2010.

I've cherry picked some of the statements:

--$164 million in cuts to K-12 spending which includes a reduction in the per-pupil foundation allowance of $59 per student.

--overhauling the state’s higher education scholarship programs to create a single merit- based scholarship - Michigan Promise Grants - and a single needs - based scholarship - Michigan College Access Grants - open to all students attending public or private institutions.

The Budget Director will give report Thursday afternoon. Feb. 12, 2009

2009 Governor's Education Summit

April 28, 2009
Lansing, Michigan

We hope you plan to join us for the 2009 Governor’s Education Summit™ to be held on April 28, 2009 at the Causeway Bay Hotel (formerly the Holiday Inn South) in Lansing, Michigan. We look forward to having nearly 1,000 educators from throughout Michigan join us for this exciting day.

Who should attend?
K-12 Teachers
Superintendents
College Educators
School Board Members
Curriculum Directors
Community Educators
Technology Directors
Business Leaders
For more information, please call (517) 643-0266 or email info@mfel.org

For those in education hoping to hear the Governor talk about school funding, they were disappointed. If they were hoping to learn more about plans for the future they were not disappointed. Jobs drove the State of the State presentation last evening.

The only mention of new initiatives in education was this piece:"Beginning this summer, our Algebra for All initiative will give teachers across our state the professional development they need to teach algebra in a proven way that ensures all kids master it, whether they’re math whizzes or not."

She praised the Michigan Merit Curriculum and the Michigan Merit Examination. Making it very clear that these efforts were part of the development of a strong, highly skilled, Michigan workforce.

On behalf of the citizens of Michigan, I, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, do hereby proclaim the week of February 8, 2009 as

Principals Week

WHEREAS, Principals Week is dedicated to recognizing the significant contributions of Michigan’s elementary and middle school principals and the dedication they have for providing quality educational experiences and guidance to their students; and,

WHEREAS, Together, teachers and principals strive to create a conducive environment for students to learn and strive to encourage students to continue to learn as it is a lifelong process; and,

Taken from a lengthy article about here presentation:EDUCATION: She also asked the business community to get behind her 21st Century Schools Fund, which uses former payments to non-Durant schools to cover grants to design or build smaller high schools to replace current schools that are struggling."Replace those large impersonal high schools that fail with small personal high schools that work," she said, adding that the six middle colleges around the state are examples of what the program would create.And she said the program is even more attractive because, as proposed, it would no

Public interviews are being staged this week to find a new president for the embattled Eastern Michigan University. Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM is tossing her support behind state Superintendent Mike FLANAGAN.
Flanagan, who does not have a doctorate or any higher education experience, made the final four and was interviewed for the vacancy this week.
The Governor, through her media secretary, made her choice very clear to the eight members of the EMU board, seven of whom she has appointed.

It looks like Rep. Joel SHELTROWN (D-West Branch) would need to get enough votes to override a veto if he hopes to see his bill, HB 5943, get enacted.

HB 5943 would create a dual diploma system for "students who don't fit the mold for going on to college".

"We're not in support of lowering standards," Granholm Press Secretary Liz BOYD told MIRS today. "We fought for more a rigorous curriculum and our support for that continues."

FOR BACK GROUND: http://mymassp.com/content/dual_diploma_plan_coming_being_introduced_anyway

If Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM had her way, about the only thing drivers under 18 could do in their cars is drive them.
The Governor, a mother or two teenage girls, said she not only supports legislation that restricts the number of passengers a teen can have in the car with them, but wants to ban their ability to use cell phones while driving.