Speaking of Leading

"The GOP does not want to raise taxes, yet it knows there is a hole in this years budget and it does not want to cut more services. Hence, take the money from the {School Aid Fund} surplus and through the back door, pour that into the budget deficit and presto change-o, the budget is balanced. Pretty nifty…and sneaky to boot. It's yet another election year example of how the Republicans will do anything to avoid raising new revenue for vital state services, even if it means stealing it from the mouths of K-12 kids."

-Tim Skubik, 6.15.10 in the Skoops Blog.

School censorship undermines what kids learn in civics 
To find out how the First Amendment is supposed to work in public schools, don’t ask school officials. Ask the kids. Strange as it may seem, many students actually believe what they’re taught in civics class about their constitutional rights... more>

State Board of Education adopts Common Core Standards
The State Board of Education at its June 15 meeting unanimously adopted the Common Core Standards – a set of rigorous, college and career-ready K-12 curriculum standards that states across the nation are considering adopting to bring consistency in education... more>

MDE releases list of schools eligible for federal School Improvement Funds
The Michigan Department of Education released this month a list of 108 schools in Michigan struggling to increase student achievement... more>

Title IX: Raising Awareness and Making Progress through Activism
A coalition of Michigan activists working on behalf of women and girls, including AAUW of Michigan, Michigan Gender Equity Team, and Michigan NOW, is working to strengthen Title IX compliance by raising awareness and making formal complaints to ensure Michigan’s public schools meet legal requirements... more>

Schools now able to test Annual Education Report software
On June 14 the Annual Education Report (AER) was made available within the Dynamic Inquiry Tool at www.data4ss.org and contains data from the 2008-2009 school year to allow staff to become familiar with the layout and functionality of the new report... more>

Working after retirement
In order to operate at maximum efficiency, school districts sometimes re-employ or contract for the employment of retirees. By way of reminder, the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement Act (MCL 38.1361) has earnings limitations in place for current retirees, in addition to those in place for new retirees after July 1... more>

Ed Week’s Digital Directions, Summer 2010
The new issue of Digital Directions: Trends and Advice for K-12 Technology Leaders, published by Education Week,explores how schools—and school leaders— are starting to embrace technologies they once resisted... more>

Time sensitive! Expansion of MISEC services requires board action
For more than a decade the Michigan Schools Energy Cooperative (MISEC) has been performing energy management services for more than 250 K-12 school districts.  As the energy market remains volatile MISEC continues to seek improvements in the methods of procuring the lowest cost energy for your district... more>

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• MASA in the News...
  
  "...Michigan Association of School Administrators blasted the Senate GOP plan..."

  "'The idea that Michigan's schools are somehow flush with cash is preposterous,' said MASA Executive Director William Mayes..."

  "...Michigan Association of School Administrators, sent out a letter urging school officials to launch [a] letter writing campaign after news reports surfaced about the possible money shift..."
  
  more>
• Retiring soon? Hiring a new superintendent?
  Let MASA know. more>
• Superintendent of the Year 2011
  Region presidents are now welcoming nominations for regional 2011 more>
• Highlighted Services - Tricks of the Trade
  The best advice comes from those who have been there, done that. MASA's Tricks of the Trade compiles and shares the sage wisdom of veteran superintendents. more>
  
  
  

• 2010 MAISA Monkey Wrench Award presented more>

• MSPRA offers communication tools to SIG schools more>
• 2010 Retirement Plan Reforms resources more>
• TURNAROUND SUMMIT II:  Building the Next Generation of High Schools more>
  

• CRC's Con-Con Series Analyzes Article VI - Judicial Branch more>
• Experts link school leadership to student learning more>
• Michigan's transition to a knowledge-based economy more>
• National School Lunch Program increases educational achievement more>

• MI-LIFE Cohort 4
  Professional learning opportunity for over 550 school administrators in Michigan
  August 2010 through March 2011. 
  more>
• The 2010 CAYL National Conference for Elementary School Principals
  Ready Schools: Your Leadership in Systems That Help Young Learners to Thrive
  July 11-14, 2010
  Columbus, Ohio
  more>
• National Academy for Superintendents
  Leadership and Schools of the Future: An examination of how research, technologies and demographics are impacting instruction, planning and governance
  July 13-15, 2010, Ohio State University
  more>

MASA Fall Conference
Integrated Technology: District Leaders Making it Happen

Registration now open for members and exhibitors. Visit gomasa.org today.

Michigan Association of School Administrators
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Lansing, MI 48917
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