Speaking of leading
“These are times that demand sacrifice from everyone. We can either fight one another or we can fight together to protect our children’s future.”

- William Mayes, MASA Executive Director, in the Huron Daily Tribune 1/16/2010, regarding the need for considering employee concessions to balance school budgets.

“…the Commission’s greatest fear is that the State will miss the opportunity, in this time of fiscal crisis, to change course from 30 years of disregard for this key provision of the Headlee amendment.”

- from the cover letter of the final report of The Legislative Commission on Statutory Mandates More>

Bring the Fight to Lansing!
Superintendents and school board members from across the state will unite and descend on Lansing for the annual MASA/MASB Legislative Conference... More>

School Health Insurance Info Posted Online
More than 95 percent of Michigan school districts’ 2008-09 health insurance costs are available online. You may want to verify your school's information, or cost-compare... More>

Hard Times, Hard Choices
The results of a "deliberative poll" show evidence of public support of state tax structure to avoid education funding cuts... More>

Show Your Thanks to a Business Official
Deadline approaches for school business official award,
MSBO Nominations to close on January, 31... More>

Legislation Prompts Change in PC Guidance
A recent package of education reform legislation will require Personal Curriculum changes. Users of MASA's ActPoint PC Roadmap will find it easy... More>

Seeking Solutions for Economics of Education
This Summit will bring together individuals from the Great Lakes Bay Region to learn more about the economic situation facing our state and our schools. Summit participants will initiate the development of possible solutions to be outlined in a subsequent “white paper” and presented to Great Lakes Bay Region legislators. More>

Midwinter Conference 2010 starts Wednesday
Keynote speakers include... Robert C. Bobb, Michael Flanagan, Mary Kusler (AASA), James Eck (McREL), and more.

• The Conference Agenda final draft is now available online; preview it now to decide which clinic sessions you want to attend.
  

• Michigan's Compulsory Education to Age 18 legislation sends a mixed message - A guest commentary by Dr. William L. Coale.
  

• Michigan's Race to The Top application has been submitted to Arbe Duncan. In his latest podcast, Mike Flanagan highlights key components and corrects "misinformation."
  

• The Legislative Commission on Statutory Mandates says not only is the state failing to abide by the Headlee directive, it has buried local schools and governments in at least $2.2 billion in unfunded mandates.
  
• What makes a great teacher? A recent article in The Atlantic weighs-in based on data from Teach for America.
  

• Education Trust Study takes a look at the factors that have put Michigan in the nation's bottom five states in terms of achievement among economically disadvantaged and students of color.
  
• Michigan's black/white education gap is worst in the country, with the nation's lowest high school graduation rate for African-American males.
  

• Ten things you should know about the Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning
  
• MiDEAL allows schools to benefit from the State of Michigan’s negotiating and purchasing power by permitting them to purchase from the State's contracts
  

• Midwinter Pre-Conference Events
  -Podcasting for Administrators
  -Raising Revenue in Your District
  -School Finance, Budgets, and Negotiations: New Tools for Newer Superintendents
  January 27, 2010
  Detroit
• Second Annual Energy Solutions Symposium
  Feb 1, 2010
  Ann Arbor Public School’s Skyline High School
  
  Learn how your district can conserve resources, and save money
• MASCD Differentiated Instruction Conference
  Feb 1-2, 2010
  Grand Rapids
• MI-LIFE 21st Century Leadership Program—Continuous Improvement Model  (CIM)
  Genesee ISD
  4-part series begins February 10
  Allegan AESA
  4-part series begins February 17
• Exploring the Superintendency
  Four-part continues Feb. 17, March 24,
  April 21
• Strong Governance and Leadership Teams: Thriving During Challenging Times
  March 23, 2010; 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  Radisson Hotel, Lansing
  
  Join state and national leaders to gain strategies for building strong teams and learn how to reframe educational challenges into opportunities.
• Michigan School Testing Conference
  February 22-24, 2010
  Kensington Court Hotel, Ann Arbor
  Registration
  Descriptions and Registration Form
  
• Seeking Solutions for Economics of Education
  A Great Lakes Bay Regional Summit
  February 8, 2010; 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  Saginaw Valley State University

Michigan Association of School Administrators
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