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Council Highlights

November 21, 2007

The MASA Executive Board and Council met on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at the University Club in East Lansing , Michigan . Here are some of the highlights of those meetings.

• The Legislative Committee reported on the protracted state budget negotiations and its effects on schools for 2007-08. The counsel approved the following action items as recommended by the Committee: 1) to oppose HB 5454 which would modify the claims data portion of the recently passed Health Care Reform package; 2) to oppose legislation requiring mandatory 3 rd grade retention for students not determined to be reading at grade level; 3) to oppose a bill requiring opening of shared time in contiguous districts; and 4) to oppose a bill regarding class placement for multiple siblings. You can learn more on the government relations page at www.michiganedusource.org/gomasa/
  
• Associate Executive Director Pat Reeves provided an update on the Courageous Journey (CJ) and on the status of Michigan ’s new voluntary administrator certification/endorsement process. After two years in operation, CJ now encompasses 22 charter members entering their third (and final) year of the program; 24 members in cohort 2; and 23 entering cohort 3. In addition, 27 building- and central office-level administrators will form the first cohort of aspiring supts to begin the CJ program. Pat answered questions from the field about who is eligible for certification/endorsement under the new rules and how to begin the process. Pat will develop a Q & A to help. In the meantime, members can find information online or by contacting Donna Hamilton at MDE: 517.241.4546; hamiltond3@michigan.gov
  
• Director William Mayes reported on a November 16 ruling by administrative law judge Robert E. Hollenshead that a (superintendent) petitioner’s compensation “for amounts equivalent to his FICA costs” (among other compensation) does constitute compensation for purposes of calculating the petitioner’s Final Average Compensation (FAC) to be used for calculating retirement allowance. In addition, William reported that he and two MASA staff members met with Michigan Public School Employees Retirement Service director Phil Stoddard and MPSERS Customer service director Laurie Hill on November 20. William considers this to be one of the more positive dialogues to date, building some bridges toward common understanding of the law and the processes by which MPSERS operates and is expected to operate by its members.
  
• The Council heard from the Conference Committee on some exciting options participants will have during the Midwinter Conference January 23-25 in Detroit . Schools in Detroit and the surrounding areas who are engaged in promising practices will open their doors to visiting supts on Wednesday morning. In addition, some high-impact local guests will be dropping by with information, encouragement and prizes. More details will follow.