Photo: Lindsey Smith/Michigan Public Radio
It seemed so promising.
Last year the state of Michigan took over the struggling school district in Muskegon Heights. With a promise of "dramatic changes" ahead, the state-appointed emergency manager announced, "[W]e're off to the healing process." He then laid-off the school district's entire staff, and hired a private, for-profit company to run the reconstituted charter system.
How's it going there now? Michigan Public Radio reports that as of last month, just over 10 percent of the Muskegon Heights teachers it checked through public records were not certified to teach. That could be costly for the district, which was already broke. From MPR:
A little quick math and salary records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show those fines could add up to more than $100,000 in Muskegon Heights for these eight teachers.
Not only that, but the contract between Mosaica Education and Muskegon Heights’ charter school says the company has to follow state laws, including a specific mention of the need for teachers to hold a valid certificate. If it doesn’t, it could be grounds to revoke the 5-year contract worth at least $8.75 million dollars.
But it’s not at all clear that’s something the charter school board, that’s been appointed by Muskegon Heights Public Schools’ Emergency Manager Don Weatherspoon, is considering.
With the old school board long sidelined, the people of Muskegon Heights have no immediate means of weighing in on what happens there anymore.
A couple of state lawmakers have jumped in with statements of concern. "What's going on in Muskegon Heights proves the dangers that come with recklessly expanding the state's authority over local schools," state Representive Collene Lamonte tells reporters. "The state contracted with a company that was looking to make a quick buck, but it's our children who are really paying the price. As a certified teacher myself, I know all the hard work, dedication and training it takes to be a qualified educator. We should never settle for less when it comes to our kids."
(H/t @ladybug0501. Image: Lindsey Smith/Michigan Public Radio)
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The kickbacks from the for-profit school should be enough to pay the fines, instead of taxpayers. Follow the money.
The name Mosaica is the most telling for this private company.
Hey, we don't have enough teaching certificates to go around! Not to worry, just put in some janitorial staff who have worked in schools before.
Fiefdoms and the Lords who rule the peasents. What a concept.
Perhaps combine that with Newt's suggestion and have the 6th graders teach the 3rd graders, who'll in turn teach kindergarten.
There was an article in yesterday's (2-13-2013) Detroit Free Press outlining how all the charter schools in poor urban areas, with and without emergency managers, are not doing any better than they did as public schools.
Gov. Snyder and Michigan's republicans have pretty much done away with any limitations that would limit the expansion of charter schools, specifically including online schools and classes. But according to Snyder's State of the State address, everything's just rosy in Michigan and everyone is doing much better economically.
Excuse me while I go find my throw-up pot.
Another state joining the list of states with dumbed down populations in order to keep the GOTP in power, just friggin' wonderful!
Wake UP PEOPLE, vote these idiots out of office, period!
With the old school board long sidelined, the people of Muskegon Heights have no immediate means of weighing in on what happens there anymore.
I beg to differ. Michigan is the home of the sit down strike, not to mention some pretty serious stuff in the sixties. Occupy the damn schools and drive out the private contractors. Let the pissant Gov call in the National Guard and see what happens. And make sure Michelle Rhee is kept up to date because her group is next.
Wait a minute. I thought Republicans were supposed to be in favor of local control and against big government take overs.
Only when the locals are themselves Republican. Otherwise, the nanny state they rail against is the logical thing to do!
The Repub's are only against big government if they aren't receiving the $$. In this instance -- it is lining the pocket of the Gov's cronies so it's all good. The Emergency Powers is about taking control and then privatizing public goods/services. These "managers" take any "profit" - don't fix the initial problem - and will just walk away with NO ACCOUNTABILITY. They are not answerable to the local population; aren't accountable to anyone but the guy that put them there in the first place. And it is a sure bet that the Gov isn't going to admit any mistakes/failures.
It isn't even a good business model, let alone a way to run a government.
The good people of Michigan need to get thier state back from people like Rick Snyder. He want's to privatisz everthing with all the money going to the top. Please get him out of office.
The Koch boys are building their libertarian wet dreams in the Mid-west as well as trying destroy any opposition to them..
They are trying to maintain an easily manipulated uneducated base .
It's working
I live in the adjacent municipality, The City of Muskegon (as opposed to Muskegon Heights). One thing to keep in mind is that there is a huge racial divide in this area. US31 Business route has basically turned Muskegon Heights into a Black ghetto for the past 40 years. With a dwindling tax base to barely keep the street lights on, let alone the schools.
Muskegon Heights schools for the past fifteen years, prior to this takeover, were riddled plenty of scandals, including embezzlement. Last year, JUST prior to takeover, some people in the community banded together to provide things like paper and pencils: the district failed provide students with even those essentials.
A simple solution would be to combine six or seven adjacent municipalities into one big school district. But that would mean other more affluent (and more White) districts losing autonomy and gaining the existing liabilities of Muskegon Heights (and Muskegon proper, for the most part).
Race IS a factor in this and mustn't be overlooked....
Mikael, thank you for this thoughtful note. We found some of the same dynamic work in Benton Harbor, the first town that had its local officials sidelined under the pre-repeal emergency manager law.
Thanks much for the excellent, ongoing coverage.
Mike: You're right. Not only is folding all the school systems into one a simpler solution, I think it's the only solution. As you point out, Muskegon Heights simply has no money - when you're turning city streets back into gravel roads, it's clear there isn't the tax base to support a robust school system. It doesn't matter if it's a public school or a private school. No money is no money no matter what the system is.
Meanwhile the school system is used as a political football on both sides as folks wag their fingers at a tragic situation as proof that a public and/or private school system is bad news. But the specific SYSTEM isn't the problem. The PROBLEM is there are no jobs for the folks in the communty. No tax base for the city. Poverty.
You might be on to something there. Many Muskegon County schools are suffering thanks to all of the cuts, maybe they need to band together and fight back?
this is ridiculas Michgan republicans and the governor are out of control.
Hi all--I'd love for us here at Michigan Public Radio to take credit for the great reporting on this, but Lindsey Smith reports for Michigan Radio. While it is a station in the Michigan Public Radio Network, it was Michigan Radio, not Michigan *Public* Radio, that gets the credit for breaking the story.
come on people get smart and unite..stop paying any taxes and see if ..he can run the state on his back don't worry about going to jail he can not feed and shelter all the parents of children going this school.. stand-up aand fight ...
Privatization, pay more, get less,, Emergency Managers, a blatant dismissal of the Constitution,, Heil, Heil, Heil, HEIL GOP!!!