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Council Highlights May 23, 2007

The MASA Executive Board and Council met May 23, 2007 at the Downtown Radisson Hotel in Lansing, Michigan. Here are some highlights.

• Guest speaker Marion Ginopolis, director of the MI-LIFE PiL State of Michigan Leadership Program, presented a brief overview of this “practical, applicable curriculum designed for busy school leaders’ day-to-day lives.” The MI-LIFE curriculum is structured into four Learning Units comprised of mini-units and six courses that include: face-to-face sessions, instructor-led online courses, and learner-directed work. Ginopolis emphasized that this professional learning program—which can lead to a certification endorsement—promises to be a “stimulating, inspiring and challenging experience, causing school leaders to confront and question their current assumptions about administering, teaching and learning.”
  
  MASA Associate Director Pat Reeves clarified that MI-LIFE and Courageous Journey Programs are not in competition with one another, but rather can work together to allow for optimal professional growth opportunities for both building and district level administrators.
• Executive Director, William Mayes, reported briefly on his recent trip to China, announced Hall of Fame and Champion for Children regional winners, and introduced MASA’s 2007 Points of Pride. He also recognized outgoing Council and Executive Board members, and welcomed new representatives to the Council and Board.
• Dan Pappas reported that the MIEM event calendar is completed and available both online and in print catalog form. MIEM is offering a great lineup of professional development opportunities for 2007-08.
• Council members received a thorough—and shifting—legislative update, as the legislature was actively debating major reform and budget issues concurrently with the meeting. Government Relations Director Brad Biladeau and the Legislative Committee reported that intense pressure was being put on legislators in the aftermath of MASA’s consistent push for health care and retirement benefits reform, and this pressure had resulted in a flurry of hasty and detrimental bills to superintendents and districts. Brad enlisted a sizable group of Council members, who walked the Capitol following the meeting to engage their representatives in conversation.