Q&A with WISD officials: Why the special education millage renewal is so important
From left, Brian Marcel, WISD assistant superintendent for Business Services, and Richard Leyshock, WISD interim superintendent.
One in seven students in Washtenaw County receives special education services, such as overcoming learning disabilities, speech or language impairments, or more severe physical, mental, or emotional problems. The Washtenaw Intermediate School District provides special education funds to the 10 school districts in the county through a millage which helps pay for these programs. That millage has expired and WISD is seeking a seven-year renewal on May 3.
WISD Interim Superintendent Richard Leyshock and Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Brian Marcel discussed the special education millage renewal request on 1290 WLBY this week. Leyshock has been employed with WISD since 1977, serving as special education teacher, consultant, director, and most recently assistant superintendent for School Services. Marcel started with WISD in 1994, after serving as business manager for the Pinckney Schools and as an accountant with Plante and Moran.
Lucy Ann: Rick, WISD is this thing out there that people don’t understand what role it has in the public school system. What do you provide? Leyshock: It’s a service agency to public schools. We provide a lot of the supports that make sense to do together. Our history with special education goes back to the 1970s, when special education became required in Michigan and then the federal law passed in ’75. Districts often didn’t know how to organize their services for children with moderate to severe disabilities. That was a big part of working together across all 10 districts to create those supports. As we’ve evolved over time, the districts have done more and more of those services themselves, so we often are about providing technical support and funding support so that the school districts can do that. We do continue to run some programs for children ourselves that the districts have asked us for help them with.
Lucy Ann: Brian, are these services only for the public schools or do they go into the realm of the charter and the private schools as well?
Marcel: Definitely the charter schools, they are considered public schools in the Michigan school code. … On the non-public side they receive what are termed ancillary services, which is basically the speech and occupational therapy. They may receive those kinds of services from a local school district as well.
Lucy Ann: How critical is this vote, Rick?
Leyshock: Well, it’s a $14 million a year question for the next 7 years. That’s a lot of money, it’s a lot of support and what it really does do is provide stability. We asked for this seven years ago, and that’s basically what this did for us. We had unstable school funding 7 years ago and we were hoping by this time things would be a little bit better. Well, as we know, things are more uncertain. So, this is an important question because this does really fill in some of the gaps, and if that money is not there it’s very difficult for us to provide stability from year to year.
Lucy Ann: Special education programs are required by state and federal law. How do local school districts pay for special education services and do state and federal dollars contribute to that? What is the mix?
Marcel: They do. Right now we still have some of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, but those go away. On a normal basis, local districts would receive about 10-12% of their expenses reimbursed from the federal government. Then the state also kicks in some funding that estimates to be about 28% of their costs. So that only covers about 38% between the two of those. The rest of the funds end up having to come from the school district’s general fund or from countywide millages.
Lucy Ann: This will not increase our taxes, right? The renewal request of .985 mills is less than the 1 mill that voters approved in 2004? Why is that?
Leyshock: That’s because of the Headlee rollback -- it has rolled it back to that, and as our school board in consultation with the 10 districts looked at this issue they wanted to be sensitive to the issues people face and not go back and do an increase. So they just took where it is right now and are asking for a renewal, so it is not a tax increase in the rate for anybody.
Lucy Ann: So, theoretically it’s equal to what was voted on by the voters because it takes into account the rate of inflation.
Marcel: Right. It’s to temper the increase in tax bill valuation that’s incurred over time.
Lucy Ann: About 7,000 students throughout Washtenaw County receive these services. What kind of assistance do these funds help to provide our students with special needs? We are talking about dollars and cents, but there are real people behind this who struggle. Leyshock: A great number of the children that are receiving services would fall into the eligibility categories of learning disabled, speech and language impaired. Those are children that classmates and even some teachers might not realize that a child has a disability. A teacher consultant, a therapist, will be working with classroom teachers, with administrators, with families, and particularly with that individual student, to be able to identify what they need to overcome that disability within an educational environment and to move them forward and help them to progress. Having the support in some cases of a teaching assistant in the classroom, because you might have a child with autism who has some social challenges but can academically be very successful in general education, can make a world of a difference. There may be this other adult in the environment that people don’t even realize why that person is there, but the services that they do deliver, just in time, when it’s necessary, can make the difference between a person being successful in a classroom or not. We also have programs for children that have severe disabilities where the team of physical therapists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists, working with families and teachers create a system of support so that a student with significant challenges can be successful not only in school but later out in the community, out at job sites, and to be able to participate in recreation and civic activities.
Lucy Ann: Can’t emphasize renewal enough, Rick. Leyshock: This is not an increase; this is a renewal. This is a renewal of services and support for children.
Lucy Ann: One of the biggest challenges of the past decade is autism. It is a spectrum of services. What has that done to the services you provide through special education here in Washtenaw County?
Leyshock: Certainly it has challenged us, and I think in some ways in a very good way because almost all disabilities in some sense are a spectrum of disabilities. The supports that people need are individually tailored, and the increase of children with autism has really made that something that nobody can ignore anymore. We really have to set up our services so it meets the needs of the individual. The label doesn’t tell us what somebody needs. We really have to work with families, the child, people who are knowledgeable about that student- it could be relatives, friends, classmates - working together to figure out what supports are necessary to help a person to advance. A lot of training is going on. Our conference center on Wagner Road, WISD, is frequently filled with teachers, teacher consultants, parents, who are receiving training and updates and education about how to support children with autism, as well as the other disabilities.
Lucy Ann: The financial picture and impact that autism has had on having to pay for these services. What has that been?
Marcel: With the additional identification of students with autism, obviously those students deserve services like all of the other special needs students do. And anytime there is a student identified with special needs, there is going to be additional costs. We have seen a steady rise in the costs associated with the additional identification of those students.
Lucy Ann: Any idea on how much this has increased, and have you been able to keep up with that with the millage that we had in place?
Marcel: The millage that we had passed 7 years ago was extremely helpful in that regard. I’m not sure how districts would have done it in keeping up with the pace of increase of services for those students without that millage.
Lucy Ann: What happens if the millage on May 3 does not pass? Because these are services that are required.
Marcel: That’s correct. The students deserve a free and appropriate public education. That’s what’s in the federal lwaw. It’s not identified how that service will take place, but the main piece is going to be if all the services remain the same the way they are right now - and there is no guarantee they will not have to alter how they are performed - the districts are going to have to come up with the funding out of their general fund to provide those services to those students.
Leyshock: Most kids spend most of their time in general education, so when the general fund is being taxed further in terms of providing resources and they have less to offer, it impacts all children.
Lucy Ann Lance is co-owner of Lance & Erskine Communications, which produces “The Lucy Ann Lance Business Insider” (M-F, 8 a.m.-11 a.m.) and “The Lucy Ann Lance Show” (Saturdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.) on 1290 WLBY. The programs are live streamed at www.1290WLBY.com, and podcast on www.lucyannlance.com.
Comments
Mark Reed
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 4:39 p.m.
Anyone who votes for this General Education renewal/Tax increase should be enrolled in the special Education classes themselves! This is not a SPECIAL EDUCATION MILLAGE IT IS FOR THE GENERAL EDUCATION FUND WRAPPED AND DRESSED TO FOOL YOU ! VOTE NO!
Mark Reed
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 4:33 p.m.
WE must not be shamed and guilted into voting for this, saying renewal does not change the impact to my pocket. This is a general education millage wrapped as a special ed millage to get voters to vote yes. We can not all be so blind? If we vote no the special ed keeps the same funding by law and the general education fund shrinks so why not call it what it is a General Education Fund! and stop deceiving the voters ! at least have the decency to be honest if your going to rape our wallets and stop insulting our intelligence. VOTE NO!
Steve Norton, MIPFS
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 4:59 p.m.
The 1 in 7 figure comes from the fact that some 7000 students receive special education services county-wide, which works out to about one seventh. Most of these kids may not receive the equivalent of full-time services, though the fraction they receive may not reflect the time of the aides who have to benavailable in the classroom.
glacialerratic
Mon, Apr 25, 2011 : 11:10 p.m.
This again begs the question--why do 1 out of 7 students county-wide need special education services at any level? This ratio simply defies common sense. Are teachers and administrators designating students who are simply unmotivated, resistant or otherwise disengaged from regular classrooms as needing special education services so they can get closer attention? If so, this indicates an administrative strategy to move students onto the special education budget that is funded by this millage. Such a cynical strategy provides a buffer for the general fund and may help with the climate in the regular classroom, but it is fundamentally misguided policy.
Steve Norton, MIPFS
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 4:45 p.m.
For Cash and others who say, correctly, that the most vulnerable have been hurt most in the economy, I say let's work together to change that. Defeating a special education Millage here will have no effect on those in Lansing who want to eliminate the state EITC or increase the burden on low income seniors. (Or, for that matter, are paying for a gigantic tax cut to business by cutting education, community health and human services.) Property taxes are a lousy way to make sure that people contribute in proportion to their success, which they enjoy in part because of the services we all support. However, in the here and now, that's the only tool we have as a community to raise funds for things we consider important. For better or worse, cities have the option of asking the voters for a local income tax; school districts do not. Secondly, the figures Glenn Nelson (who is an economist) cited are correct. While inflation adjusted state personal income has been flat for the last decade, the share of that we collect to support K-12 education has steadily fallen. Now, when state personal income rose faster than inflation last year and is forecast to co the same this year and next, we're cutting education and services for the most vulnerable yet again. These gains have been shared very unequally. Our tax system pretends otherwise. I wonder why.....
Fat Bill
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 1:49 a.m.
It is important to remember that there are certain legal standards that must be met in special education, many of which aren't funded. Having these services consolidated or coordinated at WISD means economy of scale, a bargain especially for smaller districts. If this millage fails, these kids will continue to receive at least the minimum standard, but deep cuts in regular education will follow. At some point, the knee-jerk antitax movement has to back off. You simply can't get something for nothing.
Mark Reed
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
Vote no ! and trust me its not a knee jerk anti tax group it is the raping of the tax payer ! Anyone who would vote for any tax renewal or increase should be enrolled in the Special Ed group!
YpsiLivin
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 3:53 a.m.
Real wages for the middle class haven't increased sustainably since at least the 1970's. In fact, they've declined. Until real wages for the middle class DO increase, voluntary taxation will be a hard sell. I personally paid more in income tax in 2009 than Bank of America and GE combined. You probably did, too. How does that sit with you?
Hot Sam
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 12:21 a.m.
I can understand the need for this renewal... What I don't understand, is how 1 in 7 need special ed...(as stated in the post card I am looking at) Can any one explain that to us???
YpsiLivin
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 3:54 a.m.
Me too.
Hot Sam
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 2:24 a.m.
Thank you for the analysis Ypsi...I must confess though, I am still curious...
YpsiLivin
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 1:28 a.m.
I looked at the School Aid Payment report for Washtenaw County for April. The report lists the total number of students and then breaks down the number of "general" education and "special" education students. <a href="http://mdoe.state.mi.us/statusreports/statusreports/isd81_07.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://mdoe.state.mi.us/statusreports/statusreports/isd81_07.pdf</a> The total number of students in Washtenaw County traditional school districts (at least according to the State) is 43,420 (rounded). The total number of special education students in these districts is 871. That number comes from the September 2010 count for special education students. (The state does another count in February, but the April report does not offer the updated numbers.) I don't claim to know how to interpret the reports, but 1 in 7 of 43,420 is 6,203. Most "special education" students aren't 100% special education. Many students receive a special education service or a set of services, but the cost of their education is divided proportionally between general ed and special ed dollars. If you divide 6,203 (1/7 of the aggregated school aid population) by 871 (the aggregated special ed population) you get slightly more than 7, meaning that on average, the services provided to 7 students combine to equal one "full-time" special education student. I don't know how the "Friends" arrived at their 1:7, but the calculation above assumes that each special education student receives exactly the same fraction of special education services. Common sense tells you that's not the case, but it would be interesting to see the actual number of students who receive special education services of one kind or another. That would be the only way to judge the truthfulness of the 1:7 claim.
towny
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 12:03 a.m.
Better get ready this will not pass.
Dog Guy
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 6:57 p.m.
WISD and annarbor.com have taken to heart Lenin's maxim: "A lie repeated often enough becomes the truth." Referring to the current ballot proposition which mimics a former "one-time" levy, DonBee refers to "this RENEWAL", doubtless an attempt to uppercase one-up Lenin. Henceforth, only "RENEWAL" is acceptable.
Barry
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 12:34 a.m.
Do you actually believe that the people responsible for caring for special education students are even remotely comparable to Lenin? Are you so greedy, so selfish that you would even think such a thing? And it is a "RENEWAL" - it is an attempt to continue the exact same millage. A millage, I might add, that shouldn't even exist. We are debating funding special education. By God, this argument is not just pathetic, it is shameful.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 8:11 p.m.
Lenin and the TeapubliKan Party, apparently, live by the same maxims. Good Night and Good Luck
Cash
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 5:22 p.m.
What is the salary of the soon to be named new superintendent for WISD? The acting WISD superintendent? The WISD assistant superintendent(s)?
Cash
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 10:43 a.m.
I think the NO ANSWER says more than any answer could!
Cash
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 10:40 a.m.
Barry, I am not a public employee. The admins at WISD are public employees. Why are they not announcing their salaries and other compensation in response to the question?
snapshot
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 2 a.m.
Barry, so you insult taxpayers for wanting to know how much public employees make when they are paid with tax dollars. That's the "union mentality" speaking. There seems to be an epidemic of arrogance and entitlement infecting our 'public servants".
Barry
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 12:35 a.m.
OK, Cash. What's your salary? What do you earn? I have to ask - are you a compensation specialist? What qualification do you have to judge someone's wage? And more to the point, what precisely are you trying to say? What wage is acceptable to you and your ilk?
Cash
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 6:10 p.m.
I do not see specific salaries, nope. I don't want to see the line items... I want to see the actual amount on a W-2 of each of the adminsitrators and the actual amount being offered to the new superintendent.
Neal Elyakin
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 6 p.m.
On every school district's website is a mandatory link to budget and salary/compensation - transparency reporting- just go visit the WISD website and click on this link to learn all you want to know about salaries and bugets.
cette
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 4:32 p.m.
There's an interesting chart. Okay, maybe not hyperinflation,but people, some people are making money in this state.... It doesn't looks so good when "adjusted" for real numbers. I think the CPI is not a good index of inflation. The feds have put enormous cash into the system these last few years. <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/cgi/0,1607,7-158-54534-253826--,00.html" rel='nofollow'>www.michigan.gov/cgi/0,1607,7-158-54534-253826--,00.html</a>
Perturbatrix
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 3:46 p.m.
Would you all be surprised to learn that some of the students with the biggest challenges are assigned to an UNTRAINED SUBSTITUTE who is allowed to work for about 140 days, then terminated? The poor child then has to adapt to a new UNTRAINED SUBSTITUTE. I'm torn about voting for this "renewal." Sure, the money is going to have to come from somewhere, and surely it's not from the new Superintendent's package....
ViSHa
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 4:10 p.m.
is the 140 days the cut-off for substitutes to not have to be hired?
blahblahblah
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 2:54 p.m.
I am bothered by the following statements made in a previous article: "Trustee Glenn Nelson said per capita income in Michigan had risen 25 percent during the past 10 years, citing state statistics. He said in that same time school districts are receiving the same foundation allowance they received 10 years ago, a fact that is causing cuts such as the ones announced Wednesday. He compared the situation to a family in which the adults' income went up 25 percent but they refused to share the money with their children. "In the family of Michigan, that's what we have," Nelson said. "We have the adults in charge, saying over the last 10 years we recognize we have 25 percent more income for every person but not a dime increase for the education of K-12 students." This is a ridiculous statement that flies in the face of the economic reality of our state. If this is the preception and attitude of most school board members then it's no wonder that the budget is getting balanced by cutting programs versus obtaining concessions from the unions. The disconnect from reality of the current administrators and unions has me really questioning my previous knee jerk reaction to support all previous education votes.
Basic Bob
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 4:18 a.m.
2009 Economic Report of the State Treasurer From 2000 to 2007, total payroll decreased 14% when adjusted for inflation Total employees decreased 9% Inflation adjusted payroll per employee decreased 5% Census bureau median household income 1999: $46,089 2009: $45,254 Total employment 1999: 4,897,000 2009: 4,193,000
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 4:11 p.m.
"On average, we are much poorer than ten years ago" You can, of course, cite data to show that the average Michigander is "much poorer" than 10 years ago? And you can, of course, cite data to show that the cost of educating special ed children has fallen commensurately? Good Night and Good Luck
Basic Bob
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 3:35 p.m.
@cette, A standard definition of hyperinflation is three years with more than 25% per year. That would cause prices to double in 3 years. Mr. Nelson's number averages 2.2% over 10 years. The fallacy in Mr. Nelson's number, is that either a flat tax system causes tax revenue to follow income. If we really had a 25% increase in income, we would also have a 25% increase in tax collected. Some of us had raises to keep up with cost inflation, others have had wage and salary reductions, reduced hours, or job losses. On average, we are much poorer than ten years ago, although the impact is not evenly spread even within similar groups of people; some formerly rich and middle class people are now struggling or broke.
DonBee
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 3:31 p.m.
cette - No, Mr Nelson uses apples and oranges. On one hand he uses inflation adjusted Proposition A information for the No Increase. On the other he uses non-inflation adjusted numbers for income. The reality is very different. Neither income nor proposition A money have changed over the time period he mentions, adjusted for inflation. But the total dollars available to AAPS (restricted and non-restricted have). In 2002 the total money (all sources) for AAPS was $190 million in 2009 it was $243 million - an increase of about $50 million dollars. (I have not adjusted these numbers for inflation)
cette
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
Big deal, so he points out hyperinflation...
macjont
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 2:53 p.m.
Why so many people know the price of so much but the value of so little is beyond me. Voting "yes" to this millage is the only way to go.
David Briegel
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 2:28 p.m.
I agree with AnnArbor.com (for a change) and I will support this Renewal. A civilized society is judged in part by how it treats it's citizens, especially those who can least defend themselves and our society is teetering on that precipice. The direction we are headed does not speak well of our civility.
Kent2525
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 2:05 p.m.
If the city has the money to build a mile long path for 1.5m along Washtenaw, they dont need our money for schools.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 4:08 p.m.
You're wasting your breath, David. Anyone who uses this as an excuse wasn't voting for WISD anyway. Good Night and Good Luck
David Briegel
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 2:29 p.m.
The city has nothing to do with WISD. And I support the path along Washtenaw.
Cash
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.
And before you start slamming those who can't pay any more .....this is not about "tea party" or any political movement. I am a Progressive. I am tired of seeing the elderly and poor suffer while some public entities are not "getting it". I see some elderly going hungry and yet their tax bill, their utilities, their food bills, keep climbing. They receive ZERO cost of living increases each year. This cannot continue.
Barry
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 12:38 a.m.
And are you not arguing constantly that their pensions should not be taxed? Are not the elderly in this state the very same who voted for Engler, voted for property tax abatements, and set us down the road we are today? You're discussing a separate issue - if you want cost of living increases for the elderly, work on that issue. Stop sacrificing the schools for the elderly.
jcj
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
Cash I am a conservative you and I have rarely been on the same side of issues. But you have stated very well why the elderly are having such a hard time. And for Lisa to say a no vote is out of "pure ideological spite" displays her true colors! I am a conservative proud to be on the same side of this issue with a professed progressive.
Cash
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 5:18 p.m.
cette, The economy is geeting better?? For WHO?? I advocate for all who try hard to pare down to the bone and still can't make it. Working poor are getting up to a 95% tax increase from the state. Anyone want to pay that for them? I didn't think so.
cette
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.
Did you see the State of Michigan has about $500 million more dollars than it thought it had a few weeks ago! The economy is getting better. Advocate for all those who need it, and special needs kids do need the advocacy..
Cash
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 1:46 p.m.
There were those (most seniors have already voted absentee ballot) who just can't take any more. Some are facing some large state tax increases with no choice given. Thus when given a choice about taxes, they voted no. There are those who can barely afford their utility bills, etc. Most elderly I know are frugal and have cut to the bone already...no internet, no cable, turn off the light when you leave the room, tv on for only an hour per day, short showers, the list goes on. They would like to see frugal practices in the school system. Piling on administration layers isn't impressing them. This isn't a vote against children. This is a vote for taxpayer survival....and to tell public entities that we have nothing left to give you.
snapshot
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 1:54 a.m.
I'm voting no out of necessity to reduce my cost of living because I don't get "cost of living" increases. What I hear from supporters of this millage is not convincing and somewhat insulting when they condemn folks for asking questions and requesting more specific data. I'm voting no on all millages until I start seeing officials being more open, frugal, and make significant adjustments to bargaining agreements, contracts, healthcare costs.
Cash
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 7:16 p.m.
Thank you for understanding Don.
Cash
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
And Lisa, that attitude is the biggest turn off of all. You clearly can only see the fight for school millage and not the suffering of others. Ideology doesn't mean squat to the poor. It's so nice ot sit in the ivory tower looking down at the poor and elderly I suppose. Some day if you live long enough, and I certainly hope you do, you will realize how it feels for people to wipe their feet on you and take an "ideology" cop out when you are in need. because by then teachers will not have pensions, believe me. Waste at the administrative level is hurting the poor and elderly now....but soon it will hurt everyone, including teachers.
DonBee
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 7:11 p.m.
Lisa - If I read Cash's comments correctly - he is broke, I don't think being broke is: "pure ideological spite"
Lisa
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 6:55 p.m.
It IS a vote against children mostly out of pure ideological spite.
Cash
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 5:16 p.m.
sh1, I do believe the request for funding could be pared. I wasn't really opposed until I saw some posts last weeks accusing people who couldn't afford to pay to keep going on this way...of being heartless. That's absurd and downright nasty. We all do what we CAN do for others. But if we lose our homes that we have worked for all our lives we really can't help anyone.
Cash
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 5:11 p.m.
snoop, I know. I still work at 67 yrs old....not by choice. But I address elderly because I see so many who are suffering....and I mean badly. Many people are suffering in this economy.... the elderly I feel, have it the worst because this is the END of their life. Someday if we are lucky we ALL will reach that point ....health failing, resources dwindling and prices skyrocketing, for many elderly it's only going to get worse. They do not have a long future to look toward a better situation.
sh1
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 2:16 p.m.
Cash, I typically agree with you, but not on this one. Because it's a renewal it won't hurt any worse than current rates. I've seen what happens when special ed funding is cut. We lose parapros, put kids who don't belong there in general ed classrooms, etc. (Are you sure someone didn't hack into your account?) ; )
snoopdog
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.
It is not just the elderly who are "cash poor" and cutting back. Most of us still working have taken pay cuts and had our healthcare costs skyrocket. My income is less than it was 6 years ago and my out of pocket healthcare costs have tripled. Throw in higher consumer product prices ( ex: gasoline) and it is no wonder we have a "Michigan" hangover. Until union pensions and benefits are addressed with all public school employees ( teachers/pricipals etc) I cannot support voting for any millages. Good Day
ViSHa
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 1:36 p.m.
People already have to claw and scratch for their special education services WITH the special education millage in place. More so than other states I've lived/worked in. While I hope the millage passes, i don't like that AAPS does the minimum required by law for special education, unless you have a lawyer of course.
debling
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 1:33 p.m.
Without a very clear explanation of exactly where each and every dollar of this fund is going and what if any efforts have been made to reduce costs, this millage should be rejected outright. Education of our students is very important but school boards and county service groups have to do a lot better job explaining how they use taxpayer money before they get a blank check. Questions I have. a) Why is it the school systems responsibility to deal with children with "severe mental or emotional" problems? Aren't there hospitals and doctors for that? b) Why are children with "autism" and other "behavior disorders" integrated into the same schools as other children? Seems that a better and cheaper approach is to give them the attention they need in special schools while not slowing down the progress of everyone else. c) Why is it the county's (i.e. the taxpayers) problem to pick up the high cost of special education? Shouldn't parents pick up the tab beyond that which is an "appropriate public education"?
AMOC
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 1:01 p.m.
Debling, you asked "Why is it the school systems responsibility to deal with children with "severe mental or emotional" problems? Aren't there hospitals and doctors for that?". The answer is that those severely handicapped children are as entitled to an education as you were when you were in school. This has been true in Michigan even before the Federal government passed a law mandating that school districts (or states) provide a "free and appropriate public education" to all persons, including those with handicaps either mild or severe, between the ages of 3 and 22. Appropriate in this context means that schools must do whatever is necessary to allow the student to learn the school curriculum, in the "least restrictive" environment. For most students, that least restrictive environment is their neighborhood school, with the addition of therapy or support. The "separate but equal" special school you suggest are in place for those who cannot otherwise be educated appropriately, and there are "self-contained" classrooms in many county school buildings for the students who are unable to benefit, or to benefit very much from being in a regular classroom full time but are able to function in a neighborhood school setting. All the rest of our community's kids with disabilities must, by law, be educated in the general-education classroom with their non-disabled peers. The millage helps to pay for the therapies, supports, special instruction, and administration necessary to educate students with disabilities to their maximum potential, as is required by Michigan law. I agree with you that neither the WISD nor several of the county's school districts have done a good job in explaining their expenditures, not for special ed and not for general education. But please don't vote to de-fund the supports needed by vulnerable kids because some of the adults aren't very good at doing their jobs.
bluetonguedlizard
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 2:15 p.m.
Wow! you should visit High Point and spend time with some of these amazingly special kids. And as someone once said "there but for the grace of god go I", I'm guessing you have never had any personal experience with severely disabled kids.
cette
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
Helen Keller is a good example of a disabled person who received behavioral services through a teacher and went on to have a full life. If she had come to the school, hitting and stealing food from people, unable to read or communicate, she would have fallen under the category of severely behaviorally and emotionally impaired, but with a good teacher and tools to learn how to communicate effectively she went on a lead a full life, hardly either after being taught properly.
Lisa
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 1:41 p.m.
What an amazing standard? Each and every dollar has to be accounted for (as if the budget is not enough information). Do you hold this standard for all organizations that you buy services or goods from? Or just schools? Certainly there is as much if not more accountability from the schools than the county, state or federal governments. Autistic students are typically of normal intelligence able to learn and function in a regular classroom with minimal supports such as a teacher consultant or an aide. Those who cannot are self contained which is FAR more expensive. The cost of not educating these children is having adults who cannot care for themselves. You can pay now to teach them to be as independent as possible or you can support them as adults.
A2Since74
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 12:17 p.m.
I am sympathetic to the situation WISD is in, and the good work it does. However, I need to understand better where all my tax money goes. I paid $564 last year in property taxes for WISD Special Ed, or 8.6% of my total property taxes. Last year I paid $2006 in property taxes for Ann Arbor Public Schools and State Education Tax. Mr Marcel says: "On a normal basis, local districts would receive about 10-12% of their expenses reimbursed from the federal government. Then the state also kicks in some funding that estimates to be about 28% of their costs. So that only covers about 38% between the two of those. So that only covers about 38% between the two of those. The rest of the funds end up having to come from the school district's general fund or from countywide millages." Can Mr Marcel tell me how much I am paying in Federal and State Income taxes to help pay this additional 38% funding which is not included in the millages? Thanks very much.
Lisa
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 1:01 p.m.
The Federal Budget was 3.55 trillion. Department of Education spending: $46.7 billion That's 1.3% of the Federal budget for 2010. Not all of that is special education. This millage pays for speech, ot, pt, special education teachers, aides, assistive technology, books and other resources. It also pays for the mandatory reporting that has to be done to get compensation from state and federal governments as well as to be in compliance with the law. That has been reported again and again and again.
Lisa
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 12:49 p.m.
Are you going to hand over your tax forms? Because unless you do, that question can't be answered.
DonBee
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 12:04 p.m.
While I agree the Special Education Millage is important, and this RENEWAL, should probably pass. There are issues in WISD and its member districts that need to be addressed: 1) Lack of financial updates at AAPS, the BOE promised (voted) to keep certain information on the website, it is not there. 2) Lack of financial transparency on how many students are in special education and where, how many teachers and para-pro's are involved, and what the total cost is for special education at WISD and its supported districts. 3) Cost of administration, not just for special education, but for all of the administration of the 10 county districts and the WISD. 4) A plan for consolidation of services like HR, Accounting, Websites, etc across the districts. 5) A plan to bring the lagging Eastern County districts up to the standards for achievement that the Western County districts enjoy If these are not addressed, along with some of the dumb moves by AAPS lately, I suspect that the millage will have a much harder time of passing. Add the anger some folks have at the MEA for the perceived leadership in the recall effort and this has gone from an easy win to an uphill battle.
DonBee
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 1:46 a.m.
Barry - If the school board met on the weekends or I could find an in town job, I would run. But, to feed my family I travel out of town most weeks.
Barry
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 12:51 a.m.
DonBee - run for the school board. You seem to be an education expert, and you want to explore every budget issue. Actually, why don't we have a debate? An open debate - no avatars, no fake names, let's just get this done. What do you think?
DonBee
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 7:08 p.m.
No, I do not insist on knowing those kinds of things before the vote. But knowing, how many children are in self contained classrooms, vs how many see a teacher consultant once a month would be helpful in understanding the needs. I do not want outcomes, that is none of my business, that is between families and the school system. But the BOE promised to post specific state mandated information on a monthly and a quarterly basis, and they have not done so. It is not my fault they don't keep their promises. OBTW - I am in favor of this millage, but I am not in favor of what will come next spring - round II of the enhancement millage - without better reporting.
cette
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 4:38 p.m.
Don Bee, Your insistence is on knowing what before you vote. Is it how many para's there are and how are they assigned, what are the outcomes on speech articulation, how many are making progress toward goals etc, is that what you want, or is your insistence the canard? That there is no pleasing you on this subject.
DonBee
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 3:23 p.m.
Lisa & cette - The budget posted is from before the state settled on a budget and the numbers for revenue are wrong. The monthly checkbook is not. The quarterly financial reports are not. There are no privacy issues with posting the state mandated reports. The board passed a resolution, the administration is not posting what the BOE told them to. I find the canard of privacy to be just that, a canard.
cette
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.
If you are not going to vote for it, because you just can't bring yourself to support more money to the schools just say so. There is data out there, there are also privacy issues in posting too much information. With special needs kids, it's a pay for it now, while they are learning or pay for it later, when they are not as functional as they could have been and it's much more expensive,not just for families but for the school system, the state, the federal government, the insurers...
Lisa
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.
Don, We broke a glass beaker last week. Let's don't forget to add the replacement costs of that. Seriously, the budget is out there. Because YOU don't like the fact that the state was forced us to separate operating costs from capital costs does not mean the district is lacking transparency. And really how much detail do you need to understand that special education is a needed service and failure to educate our students properly will add more costs in the long run.