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Council Highlights April 18, 2007

The MASA Executive Board and Council met April 18, 2007 at the MSU University Club in East Lansing , Michigan . Here are some highlights.

• Kathryn Summers-Coty, Chief Education Analyst for the Senate Fiscal Agency, addressed the Council. She hesitated to offer too much detail about a budget process so actively in motion, but did relate that this year’s budget process is “Definitely the oddest in my 10 years.” Not because of the lack of revenue (we’ve been there before), but because of the sustained lack of progress. She cautioned that it was very hard to project in the short term what impact the process would have on K-12 funding. She warned members to “brace for a full $100+ per-pupil cut. She admitted that there was an outside chance legislators would find a “fix,” but said, “Their track record is not good.”
• President Rod Green announced that the May meeting of the Executive Board and Council would be changed to May 23, since Executive Director William Mayes would be in China on May 16. President Green asked regions to begin the process to select officers and committee representatives for the 2007-08 year. New Council member orientation will follow the May 23 meeting right after lunch.
• Executive Director William Mayes reported that he was invited by state superintendent Mike Flanagan to join a select group of education leaders to begin to examine the structure and funding of public schools in Michigan , with an eye toward creating a system focused on student achievement and education in line with 21 st century priorities and realities. That meeting will take place May 3.