Budget ax falls on Saline High School's Golden Sting newspaper
This could be the last year for Saline High School's award-winning Golden Sting newspaper as the school district wields a budget ax to deal with a gaping financial hole.
Mike Hill, longtime faculty adviser for the Golden Sting, said that he understands the need for cuts but had hoped the newspaper would be spared.
Hill said he learned several weeks ago that the class that produces the newspaper is among several the district plans to eliminate as part of budget cuts. He pleaded the Golden Sting's case to Principal Ben Williams and Superintendent Scot Graden, he said, but was rebuffed.
Steve Laatsch,assistant superintendent and spokesman for Saline Area Schools, said it's important to view the newspaper cut in perspective.
"The newspaper is one of the 30 classes the high school offered this year that it won't offer next year," Laatsch told AnnArbor.com. Other courses include conversational Spanish, Shakespeare, and advanced debate. "These are all tough choices," Laatsch said.
The district hopes to continue the newspaper as a student club, he said.
Abby Chestnut, photography editor for the Golden Sting, said that students' input was never sought.
"(The paper) affects a lot more than the students who participate," Chestnut said. "We write about so many things the average student wouldn't know about otherwise. It lets the athletes know what the drama kids are doing, and lets parents know what everybody's doing."
Laatsch, though, said decisions on which classes to cut were student driven, based on enrollment. The classes that were cut failed to enroll 25 students for next year. The Golden Sting only signed up 21.
"Students did have opportunities to register for the class," Laatsch noted.
Sarah Paterson, editor in chief of the Golden Sting, said that quality should have played a bigger part in the school's decision. The Golden Sting has won the Michigan Interscholarstic Press Association's (MIPA) Spartan Award seven years running.
"I feel worst for the rising sophomore or junior, who won't have the opportunities I had," Paterson added. "You wish (the school) had a better idea of what to cut and what to keep. Or that they would've asked students what we wanted."
Although Laatsch expressed hope the high school could produce a similar-quality product by running the newspaper as a club, Hill doubted whether such an arrangement could work.
"These students do great work and commit a lot of time to the paper," Hill said. "It'd be wrong to shortchange them the class credit they deserve."
Asked if the class could return in 2011-2012 after a year off, Hill expressed optimism, but noted that he'd have to put more energy into recruiting.
Facing a deficit of more than $4 million for the 2010-2011 year, school officials in Saline have employed a number of means to grow revenues and cut the budget.
Earlier this month the Saline school board voted to close the Houghton School for fifth and sixth graders and shuffle its students to other buildings. The district also plans to raise fees for participation in sports and extracurricular activities.
 "We have entered the lean years," Graden wrote in a February post on his blog.
James David Dickson can be reached at JamesDickson@AnnArbor.com.
Comments
AW
Mon, Mar 29, 2010 : 10:42 p.m.
As a student at Saline High, I know that through all of the budget cuts that have been considered and enacted, this has been the worst for all of us. We all know people who put their time and effort into our school's newspaper, and everyone reads it the day it comes out. It's a valuable sources of information that no one will read if it's online. And the money for producing the newspaper every month comes completely from Mock Rock, the most attended event at Saline High (even more so than Prom or Homecoming); it is the fact that there are not 35 students signed up for that class and the district does not want to pay for a teacher who teaches a class that does not consist of 35 students. All in all, everyone in Saline, students, teachers, and parents alike, will miss the Golden Sting. Even more so, however, we'll miss Mock Rock. Mr. Hill, we'll bring Newspaper back, and with it, Mock Rock.
SalineMom
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 11:43 a.m.
@rws I sure the students who plan a career in cosmetology don't agree that those classes you mention should be cut. These students also take the 3 R's classes. The CTE program at Saline is one of the best in the state. It is hard to cut, but all levels need to consider the needs of EVERY student. The paper could be done as a club or as an on-line version. In 10 years, how many printed newspapers will still exist? Learning journalism is the key here.
RWS
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 8:19 a.m.
As with one of the other contributors here, I too would like to see a list of the classes to fall. The student newpaper would be one of the last classes to ax. As a Saline parent I enjoyed reading the Sting and learning about what was happening in my children's school from their perspective. Two of my children worked on the Sting staff during their years at SHS. A school newspaper is not just something to do, it takes the academic study and applies it to real world life developing skills and providing exposure to situations that otherwise would not be experienced. After reading this story, I went to the SHS website and looked at the course offerings for 2010-2011. SHS offers 231 classes in 13 categories with a handful listed in multiple categories. SHS looks more like a community college wannabe than a high school preparing students FOR a WCC or other post-secondary school. No wonder there is so much nailbiting going on about school finances in Saline trying to fund offerings such as Cosmetology I,II; Stagecraft, Jewelry I, II; Pottery I,II; Sculpture I,II; Acting I,II; Fashion Design, 3 classes in Guitar, and a host of other "classes" that have absolutely nothing to do with good solid basic 3 R's. From what I saw, SHS administration, its teachers, and the school board need to take a very serious look at why they exist and what really prepares students for adult life and start cutting the real fluff, saving or bolstering the classes and activities that prepare students to contribute to the good instead of preparing them for things like an art fair.
ruminator
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 8:12 a.m.
In a previous story, it was reported that Saline spends over $700,000 in general funds on sports. Maybe some of this non academic expenditure could be used to support a "for credit" newspaper class?
Dr. I. Emsayin
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 7:56 a.m.
Because of the new graduation requirements, students have less time for electives. It seems there is probably a domino effect: get rid of newspaper, free up computers, cut other courses that support the newspaper, and make the school as sterile and our politicians want it, so they can say no child was left behind. Meanwhile, everyone will be scrambling to figure out ways to add courses to support those kids in danger of not graduating. It's the world of government micromanaging the classroom. To think that a paper that has won the highest award in the state (not easy to come by) is being shut down for lack of 3 more students is a shame.
SalineMom
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 9:16 p.m.
Mr. Dickson, just to set the record straight - Houghton School currently houses pre-k and kindergarten. They will be split amongst the other 3 elementary buildings. The 5th and 6th graders are currently at Heritage. The 6th graders are going to be housed in the middle school and Heritage will house 4th and 5th graders.
proudtobeme
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 9 p.m.
Threats by the teachers? there is no money. the state took away the money that all school districts had budgeted for. cuts have to be made and no matter what cuts are made,nobody will be happy. Until the state changes the way it distributes money to public schools,things are going to be tight and programs will be cut. When a district is told it will get x amount of dollars and then that is cut after the school year has started,I'm not sure how any school district can operate like that. Schools have to make their budget for next year already and the state cannot give them a firm answer as to how much money they will be getting. CUTS need to be made everywhere.
SpamBot1
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 8:03 p.m.
In the fall, McKinely Realty promised me the talk of cuts were just threats by the teachers. How can this be happening?
Blerg
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 4:33 p.m.
Many journalists and writers I know got their start on high school papers. It is too bad that Saline doesn't see the need for a class like this. Electives aren't cheap, but students stand to lose inspirational, hands-on experience when they're cut. I would imagine that running it as a club would make it a lot harder to get writing generated in a timely manner. It's much easier to blow off an assignment if it doesn't impact a grade.
Sling Blade
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 1:40 p.m.
The budget ax should fall on Scot Graden.
PformerPfizer
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 12:36 p.m.
Change. The scope of the class from the sting to online journalism: teach journalism ethics, integrity, sources and such and show how to publish a blog and for online media incl photography for news-type publication and quick video (flip) have former sting writers and current local pro's come in ansd guest lecture @ current state of industry. Do that and you'd have 100 students sign up. Imagine getting credit for learning how to blog and use social media for journalistic reasons. And, they could produce a paper monthly, online weekly/daily and hey, mock rock could be done via youtube submissions :-)
sasquatch
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 11:50 a.m.
I guess Saline is no longer the premier district in the state, as their google ads suggest. The fact that it was 3 students away from being full is what is troubling, not to mention the authentic learning pieces created each month by the students. Few classes have that component, which is why it should have been pushed through by the admin (and find 3 students to fill it in the meantime, with other 30 classes shutting there would certainly be candidates). Hopefully the press this is getting will boost numbers the following year to get the Golden Sting back on its feet.
The Kingpin
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 11:43 a.m.
How are all of the sports teams doing?
Ashley Somers
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 11:42 a.m.
I was also in Mr. Hills newspaper class from 2000-2002 and I can honestly say that it was the best class and non-athletic extracurricular activity that SHS had to offer. I categorize it as extracurricular as well because although it was a class and I received credit for it, I spent almost every day before and after school working on the paper. I was selling advertisements, or interviewing someone for a story, and camped out in the classroom before and after school working on page layouts. And I wanted to be there we all did. We worked hard to accomplish something together and it had nothing to do with a grade. I cant think of another class in high school that was nearly as challenging, rewarding, and actually taught life skills rather than just curriculum. I understand that times are hard, money is tight and changes have to be made. But knowing that there are 21 students who are going to be missing out on such an important opportunity and a school which will be going without a school paper makes me think the wrong corners are being cut.
Martin Church
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 11:30 a.m.
Maybe it's time to teach Civics to the students. You have been consulted, who showed up at the board meeting. You complain now because your favorite programs are being cut. but where were you when this has been discussed in the paper and on TV. You have known for the last year, programs will have to be cut. Your parents and fellow citizens no longer have the money to spend on extra curicular materials. You want to change it. Run for office. election is in a few weeks, how many of you have filed the paperwork to run? Stop the complaining, and protesting and start getting involved in the local community.
salineguy
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 11:17 a.m.
This is one example of the days being numbered in terms of offering numerous classes that fill - for lack of a better word - a niche. They are good to have, they serve a purpose in a well-rounded education, and students will miss out. Sounds like similar specialty classes will face the same fate. It is too bad, but I really don't see another choice at the time being. Lean years indeed
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 10:15 a.m.
This strikes me as a very bad choice for budget cuts, almost like deciding to cut core English classes. Of course it would be helpful to know more about what the alternatives were before jumping to any conclusions, but the story does provide some examples. I was also in journalism class in high school (which is why I notice stuff like victim being used on annarbor.com in some places instead of alleged victim in cases where nobody has been convicted yet). One of the students in my class even went on to become a TV news reporter. Given the sorry state of journalism in this country with practically every journalist cheerleading for one political group or the other, a solid journalism class seems pretty critical to me, but honestly I have a low degree of faith that educators in any public school these days would be able to teach the difference between reporting and opinion writing or anything else related to proper journalistic standards. At least based on the positions of the NEA I'd say that they're more interested in pushing politics in the classroom than logical debate or critical thinking.
wolverinefan
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.
The sad thing about this cut isn't necessarily journalism related. These types of classes make a student's education more well-rounded. They teach kids real world skills--teamwork, persistence, and initiative (not to mention writing skills--in an authentic environment.
Nathan
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 10:01 a.m.
I took Newspaper when I was at Saline, and it was easily my most useful (and favorite) class. It gave me tons of practice writing, but more importantly, it was one of the only places at Saline where it was OK to be excited about school and to be part of a team that didn't involve running. Re-creating the Sting as an after-school group won't be the same: the work-can-be-interesting environment will be lost, and the kids who are drawn to Newspaper will enroll in other advanced classes instead and won't have time to participate. The print-journalism-is-dead-so-who-cares-about-a-student-paper argument misses the point: this is one of the best courses at Saline, which just happens to produce a newspaper. The professional environment and pace of this course is the important aspect, not the end product. I understand that a declining budget calls for tough cuts, but the Sting is one of the best parts of Saline. And what's going to happen to Mock Rock??
James Dickson
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 9:31 a.m.
My piece also "failed to mention" the district's view that no one would be hurt if 28, 30 kids signed up for the class and had to share workstations, or that that's what will likely happen if the class is reinstated in 2011-2012.
lumberg48108
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 9:25 a.m.
if city wide papers cant survive, what chance does a student run paper? its an early reality check for these kids to not choose journalism as a career - and it 10 years when there are no journalists - just bloggers - and corporations control their news distribution - we will all be sorry for these cuts... imagine reading a Kwame Killpatrick press release in 2010 if the Free Press did not exist - it will happen soon!
Bill
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 9:21 a.m.
I'm a former educator and student newspaper photographer from a nationally award winning newspaper. In the high school I attended, Journalism was an academic credit course where Journalism I, II and III were offered. Journalism I was a classroom course where students learned the fundamentals of journalism and the newspaper business. Students in Journalism II and III comprised the newspaper staff. Our school and school district fully supported the program even when our news covered the short fallings of our school and district. I know from my own experience that many of the students in the program in which I participated based their careers in the newspaper or an allied industry. One former editor become the publisher of a newspaper and several others have successful careers in marketing, television and radio. Other former staffers are attorneys, corporate vice presidents, politicians and business managers. If you asked any of the former staffers about an instructor who had the most significant influence on their lives, the vast majority would say the former journalism instructor/newspaper advisor. You may wonder how I could make such a statement, but I know that many I have referenced by careers still are in regular contact with our former advisor more than 30 years after graduation. I hope the district will reconsider the plan to eliminate this program and allow the students an opportunity to continue producing an award winning publication. These students could well be the next leaders in the community and they deserve a chance to be heard.
wolverinefan
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 9:14 a.m.
The article fails to mention that the members of the class is only set up for 24 students--24 work stations. Thus, the class was 88% full. And Happy Puppy, everyone else does not publish a school newspaper as a club. The top schools in the state all offer journalism as a class. This decision is simply short-sighted on the district's part.
failed2conform
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 9:03 a.m.
This opens the door for a true student group. I hope to see the Golden Sting online soon!
Sherry Knight
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 9:02 a.m.
A sad development. Too bad the enrollment wasn't higher... seems surprising in a school so big. On another note, what are the other 30 classes that are being cut?
Ram
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 8:49 a.m.
The newspaper organization at SHS should be commended for covering the ENTIRE cost of having the newspaper printed through advertisements and fundraisers. I think the failure of the school district to make an exception in this situation is disappointing.
Happy Puppy
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 8:37 a.m.
C'mon kids - do what everyone else does: Have an afterschool club to produce a newspaper and if you can't fund it, publish it online - for free! You can still write your articles it will just be after hours and possibly online. How does that hurt anyone?