Thursday, January 17, 2013
Officials hear on Tuesday that they may be looking at an $11 million deficit in the 2013-2014 budget.
While this year's Farmington Public Schools budget got a $3 million shot in the arm this year, officials will likely face another double digit structural deficit in 2013-2014. Associate Superintendent of Operational Services David Ruhland told board members Tuesday that amended budget numbers reflect the district's position as of Dec. 1, 2012. Changes result from adjustments made to the district's student count, federal funds, state funds and retirement costs. Ruhland said the loss of 27 more students than anticipated cost the district $171,000, but lower than anticipated retirement costs, grant spending, the impact of employee cost-sharing for benefits and other factors resulted in more than $3 million less in expenditures. This year's…
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Recognitions Tuesday include ACT perfect score recipients, a National Hispanic Scholar and Boys and Girls State participants.
Farmington School Board members on Tuesday honored more than 50 students who have achieved special academic honors in a variety of programs. "The level of academic achievement and the great aspirations these students have is truly, truly what makes this community so strong," said Catherine Cost, assistant superintendent of instructional services. Honorees included three students, one from each high school, who scored a perfect 36 composite score on the ACT (American College Testing) standardized test, which measures a student's readiness for college. Rashmika Goswami, Harrison High, Jane Xiao, Farmington High, and Mrigank Gupta, North Farmington High, earned the highest possible score on each of four tests in English, math, reading and …
Thursday, August 23, 2012
An Oakland Schools math education consultant talks with school board members about changes in content standards and assessments.
While new Common Core standards won't be fully implemented in Farmington Schools until the 2015-2016 school year, educators will be using what they have learned in this school year's lessons. Adopted by the Michigan Dept. of Education in 2010, the new set of rigorous standards is shared by 45 states, Oakland Schools Mathematics Education Consultant Valerie Mills told Farmington School Board members Tuesday. "This change that's coming the potential to be the most dramatic and the most productive change we've seen in education since the Dewey Decimal system started organizing books in libraries," Mills said. Common Core content standards focus on the expectations for what students should know at their grade level, without directing how they…
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Two board members raise questions over proposals submitted by firms serving the district.
With a 4-2 vote Tuesday, Farmington Schools board members approved fee increases ranging from 2-10 percent for two of the seven legal firms that serve the district. Board member Karen Bolsen abstained from the vote, saying her husband is a partner in one of the law firms, although he does not do work for the district. At the board's last meeting, secretary George Gurrola asked to see justification for the requested increases, which he feels are inappropriate given the district's current financial challenges. Officials in June approved a budget for the coming year that uses more than $11 million of the district's fund balance to offset declining revenues and increased expenses. "I know our attorneys are excellent … they all deserve a raise…
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Open house offered a preview of the Islamic Cultural Association to come at the site of the closed elementary as debate of controversial sale continues.
Although some issues remain to be seen concerning the controversial sale of Farmington Public Schools' Eagle Elementary School building, new neighbors were given a preview of proposed construction at the site by the Islamic Cultural Association (ICA) of Franklin on Wednesday night. Plans for the Muslim Cultural Center of West Bloomfield go before the West Bloomfield Township Planning Commission on Aug. 14. The property is located in the northwest corner of 14 Mile and Middlebelt Roads. Farmington school officials approved the building sale last June and have since been sued by two local residents who claim they would be negatively affected because they live near the property, and that stopping the sale would allow for a more-competitive …
42.528941
-83.340848
Farmington Public Schools
29410 W 14 Mile Rd, West Bloomfield, MI
/articles/we-are-not-strangers-to-the-area-assures-new-eagle-owner
717509
/locations/7597455
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Seating is limited for the meeting, held at Congregation B'nai Moshe in West Bloomfield.
The president of Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center will speak at an event Aug. 8 billed as a "Community Legal Briefing" on the controversial sale of Farmington Public Schools' Eagle Elementary School building to the Islamic Cultural Center (ICA) of Franklin. According to a flyer for the event, speakers will include Mt. Clemens attorney Robert Davis, who represents plaintiffs in a civil suit over the sale, and Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel for Thomas More Law Center, which has asked Attorney General Bill Schuette to investigate the transaction. The Center's trial counsel Erin Mersino will also attend. Plans for the "Muslim Cultural Center of West Bloomfield", including a mosque and social/banquet center, go before the …
Monday, July 30, 2012
Seating is limited for the meeting, held at Congregation B'nai Moshe in West Bloomfield.
The president of Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center will speak at an event Aug. 8 billed as a "Community Legal Briefing" on the controversial sale of Farmington Public Schools' Eagle Elementary School building to the Islamic Cultural Center (ICA) of Franklin. According to a flyer for the event, speakers will include Mt. Clemens attorney Robert Davis, who represents plaintiffs in a civil suit over the sale, and Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel for Thomas More Law Center, which has asked Attorney General Bill Schuette to investigate the transaction. The Center's trial counsel Erin Mersino will also attend. Plans for the "Muslim Cultural Center of West Bloomfield", including a mosque and social/banquet center, go before the …
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Howard Wallach says allegations tied to the sale of Eagle Elementary are based on a vote that was never taken.
At the close of Tuesday's Farmington School Board meeting, vice president Howard Wallach and board member Karen Bolsen challenged claims made against them in a June 13 letter sent by the Thomas More Law Center to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette. The 6-page letter, a 21-page summary and more than 400 pages of exhibits document claims made by residents who are suing the district over the 2011 sale of the former Eagle Elementary School building to the Islamic Cultural Association (ICA), based in Franklin. Wallach and Bolsen only addressed charges of bribery and illegal campaign contributions. The Center's letter claims that two days before an Oct. 18 vote to extend the closing date of the sale, "ICA members threw a fundraiser for …
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
More than 60 students receive certificates and medals for local, state and national honors in the creative arts competition.
Farmington Schools officials met at North Farmington High Tuesday to make room for more than 60 students honored at the local, state and national levels in this year's PTA (Parent Teacher Association) Reflections competition. More than 300 students submitted 358 works of art, including choreography, film/video productions, literature, musical compositions, photography and visual arts, with the theme, "Diversity means...". Annika Andersson, an East Middle School student, received a National Award of Merit, and a State Award of Excellence for her musical competition, titled, "Passion and Peace". Longacre Elementary student Drew B. Washburn's choreographed dance "Black or White" received a state Award of Excellence and competed at the …
42.5133
-83.37514
North Farmington High School
32900 W 13 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI
/articles/school-board-honors-farmington-schools-pta-reflections-contest-winners
1527437
/locations/7114462
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Board member Dr. Murray Kahn votes against the board policy, citing issues with a provision about using cell phones.
Farmington School Board members during their Tuesday meeting at North Farmington High School approved a Code of Ethics for the board, but the vote was not unanimous. Dr. Murray Kahn, who is new to the board this year, said he voted against the 16-point policy because of a new section regarding use of cell phones. He initially brought up concerns about the proposed policy during a May 8 study session. At that time, Kahn explained that he occasionally needs to access his cell phone during meetings because of his position as division head of podiatry with Henry Ford Health System. He explained that his phone has a security code that requires him to type in numbers in order to access his messages. But board member Priscilla Brouillette said…
42.5133
-83.37514
North Farmington High School
32900 W 13 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI
/articles/farmington-school-officials-approve-ethics-code
1527437
/locations/7114743
Sue Burstein
10:17 am on Friday, January 18, 2013
Bad morning Dean? Your kiss the butts of the district is showing through again. more ›