MASA eLeader

	Jan 11, 2008

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Consolidation bill approved by Senate

A signature from Gov. Jennifer Granholm is all that is needed to make sure prom, graduation and other school activities at both Morrice and Perry take place as scheduled this spring.

Providing, that is, that an interim board of education approves maintaining the current school schedule should consolidation pass Tuesday.

The Michigan Senate, voting a second time on Senate Bill 730 Wednesday, passed the bill by just enough votes this time to allow it to take immediate effect.

An amendment was attached to the bill by State Rep. Dick Ball, R-Owosso, enables consolidation to take place July 1. The amendment essentially allows both Perry Public Schools and Morrice Area Schools to continue the school year as is, should consolidation be approved.

With the House passing the bill in December, now all that remains for the bill to become law is approval from Granholm, and those involved are confident the governor will sign off.

The bill changes the date of consolidation to take effect on July 1 after an election, not immediately as the current law requires.

“The second semester would go on,” Ball said. “What would be different is an interim board would be appointed by the RESD and run the districts parallel.”

Shiawassee Regional Education Service District Superintendent John Hagel said during a two-week window, he received 17 applications for the potential seven seats on an interim board. There will be a special meeting held Wednesday if consolidation is passed.

“I have mixed emotions,” Hagel said. “We worked hard with Rep. Ball to get something in place to get a transition, but like anything else, it's the unknown consequences.”

If consolidation is turned down at the polls Tuesday, the bill would be moot in terms of Perry and Morrice. However, it would still effect future schools considering consolidation and could bring further changes to the law.

Hagel hoped Bill 730 could serve as a point in a ballot proposal for mid-year consolidation elections.

Those against consolidation saw Wednesday's decision as a hit.

“We are going to have to work to make sure people know that this is not a cure,” Shelly Munro of Morrice said. “If it passes, there will still be utter chaos.”