Michael Haynes, N.I.C.E. Community Schools

A recent Michigan Education Report featured the N.I.C.E. school district’s growing foray into the world of virtual learning, and describes the district’s ReImagine proposal, which would allow these efforts in virtual learning to expand even more.

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Excerpt:

“Eventually, the N.I.C.E. district would like to develop a virtual academy in conjunction with the neighboring Republic-Michigamme Schools to serve not only traditional high schoolers, but home-schoolers, alternative education students and adult education students in the community. That would take time and money, Superintendent Michael Haynes said, which is one reason the district has applied to become a "demonstration district" through Michigan's new "Project ReImagine" program.

“Launched by the Michigan Department of Education this spring, Project ReImagine rests on the premise that Michigan needs systemic change in how it manages schools and delivers education. It challenged schools to suggest ways to improve student achievement with the same or less money: Think extended school day. Think online learning. Think performance pay. Think consolidating.

“N.I.C.E.'s application is one of 71 received by the MDE. Twenty will be selected as demonstration districts. At a minimum, the state will help chosen districts begin to implement their projects by offering professional assistance and clearing bureaucratic obstacles.

“The state department has $1 million in outside funding available to help chosen districts firm up their plans, but no money for implementation, according to Martin Ackley, director of communications.

“'School districts ... were told from the beginning that their ReImagine proposals should be bold and district-wide, and developed with the understanding that they should be implemented at the local level regardless of funding,' Ackley wrote in an e-mail response to questions.”