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Schools

Schools Gear Up for 2011-2012, Lay-Offs Included

School Board approves budget and lay-offs, along with new faces and more student recognitions.

Several items were passed at Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting. All motions were unanimously carried by the board members in attendance (President Charles Dittmar and Trustee Rebecca Walsh were not present) and included:

  • Approval of teacher lay-offs
  • Approval of a contract for Superintendent, Jackie Johnston, for 2011-2014
  • Approval of the 2011-2012 Huron Valley School’s budget
  • Approval of the 2011-2012 millage levy
  • Approval of all Consent Agenda items
  • Approval of Michele Butler as Assistant Principle at Milford High School beginning in Fall 2011. 

Lay-Offs

A total of 58 teachers in the district will be laid off at the end of the 2010-2011 school year, but it's unknown how many of those laid-off will be brought back in the fall.

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“There’s a difference in this year’s list [compared to last year’s lay-offs],” explained Huron Valley Education Association President, Mike MacGregor, “This year there’s no cavalry; we’re not expecting 44 teachers to retire. Even if they’re not brought back in the fall they’re still our people. We shouldn’t just say ‘So long! Goodbye! Good luck!’ We should stay in contact.”

In addition to the layoffs, the Huron Valley Board of Education approved the 2011-2012 budget, however details of the budget were not made available prior to press time.

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Superintendent Contract

After a performance evaluation was conducted which included individual interviews with each board member and Jackie Johnston with an educational consultant, it was determined that Johnston earned full merit in achieving the 2010-2011 goals. This led to the Board approving a 3 year contract in which Johnston has voluntarily agreed to a 7% reduction in her compensation. According to board member John Knight, she will be making less than she did in 2008.

Janet Roberts, director of community relations, confined Knight's assertion.

"This is the third year in which the superintendent took a reduction," Roberts said. "As a result, her compensation in now below what it was in 2008-09"

Strategic Plan Presentation

Having recently graduated from Tigers to Wolves, the Cub Scout Pack 631, Den 3 proudly led the Pledge of Allegiance at the meeting. This Country Oaks derived pack is slated to graduate from high school in 2022 and will be some of the first students to participate in the districts Strategic Plan which aims to graduate 100% of students with the skills necessary to create successful futures.

Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Nancy Coratti, gave a presentation that highlighted some of the first year accomplishments of Phase III of the Strategic Plan. Items included:

  • Purchased K-2 Leveled Literacy Intervention Kits for each elementary building
  • Instituted Power Blocks at the elementary level
  • Piloted a middle school reading intervention program
  • Developed a new 21st Century Curriculum for middle school students
  • Offering Spanish class at all three middle schools beginning in Fall 2011
  • Enhanced Advanced Placement programming

“We are dedicated to the plan, we are continually working on the plan and it is making a difference in out district,” said Coratti.

Donations

Josh Gignac, who will be replacing Mike MacGregor as the Huron Valley Education Association President in the upcoming year, presented the district with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which can be a life-saving device in the event of a cardiac emergency.

Recognitions

Another impressive list of honors and achievements were given to various students and staff that showcased why Huron Valley deserves its Triple A (Academics, athletics and arts) status. Highlights included:

  • Deanna Brandell received a perfect score of 36 on her ACT’s
  • Team Academic All State honors were given to the: Milford High School Varsity Hockey team, Milford High School Varsity Volleyball team, and the Milford High School Boys Varsity Basketball team.
  • Several Career Technical Education students were also recognized for their design creations, including a commercial conception of a White Lake Hotel and Convention Center.
  • Four teachers were recognized for their successful graduation from the Galileo Leadership Consortium, while four others were congratulated for their acceptance into the program. The two year commitment focuses on developing teachers’ skills to foster high-levels of learning in students. 

The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for June 23 at Lakeland High School, 7pm.

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