Tag Archives: Deficit Elimination Plan

Is there an opportunity for the community to take control of the impending consolidation of Ypsi and Willow Run public schools, and push for a visionary curriculum?

By Mark | June 21, 2012

If you’re a regular reader of this site, you know that my friend Maria Cotera has, over the past few years, been sharing reports with us on the status of Ypsilanti’s public schools. From the closing of Chapelle elementary to the the adoption of the recent deficit elimination plan, she’s established herself, at least in [...]

Posted in Education, Sustainability, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged ballot initiatives, class size, community gardens, consolidation, curriculum, dismantling of public education, Emergency Financial Manager, Emergency Financial Manager’s Act, food justice, Houghton Mifflin, Lead and Learn, Maria Cotera, public school challenges, social justice, student court, urban agriculture, Washtenaw IntermediateSchool District, Willow Run, Willow Run Community Schools, WISD, Ypsi Public School District, Ypsilanti Public School Alliance, Ypsilanti Public Schools | 51 Comments

White people, seeing Emergency Managers in their future, begin to demand change

By Mark | May 21, 2012

The Detroit Free Press, in an editorial yesterday, suggested that maybe, now that predominantly white cities, like Allen Park, are beginning to stagger toward financial collapse, and state takeover, our elected officials in Lansing might be willing to look at the underlying structural issues which are pushing our communities, one after the other, toward catastrophic [...]

Posted in Economics, Michigan, Politics | Also tagged Allen Park, Andy Dillon, Benton Harbor, budget deficit, deficit, Ecorse, Emergency Financial Manager Act, Emergency Financial Manger, Flint, Headlee Amendment, Paul Tait, Pontiac, Proposal A, race, Rick Snyder, SEMCOG, tax policy | 111 Comments

Parents to meet and discuss the state of Ypsilanti’s public schools in the wake of new Deficit Elimination Plan

By Mark | May 8, 2012

The Ypsi School Board, as I suspect you know by now, voted yesterday, at the urging of the State, to pass a Deficit Elimination Plan calling for the closure of yet another school, and the firing of close to 100 teachers and other employees. Parents, and those concerned about the state of Ypsi’s public schools, [...]

Posted in Education, Ypsilanti | Also tagged dismantling of public education, Emergency Financial Manager, public education, Ypsilanti School Board | 7 Comments

Monday night’s fight to protect what’s left of public education in Ypsilanti

By Mark | May 6, 2012

It would appear that the financial situation at Ypsi Public Schools is even more dire than we’d been led to believe, and the State is demanding that immediate, drastic action be taken. The following comes from AnnArbor.com: …Ypsilanti was anticipated to have a combined two-year $6.38 million deficit at the end of 2011-12. However, in [...]

Posted in Civil Liberties, Education, Uncategorized | Also tagged Adams Elementary, Clark Park, David Bates, David Houle, Dedrick Martin, dismantling of public education, Emergency Financial Manager, Erickson, Grover Norquist, Kelli Glenn, Maria Cotera, New Tech HIgh School, public education, Southwest Detroit Freedom School, taking back our schools, Water Street, Ypsilanti Board of Education, Ypsilanti Public School Alliance, Ypsilanti Public Schools | 36 Comments

What Does Gov. Snyder’s Budget Mean to You?

By Mark | March 22, 2011

I spent this evening at a panel discussion at Washtenaw Community College hosted by Michigan State Senator Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor). The event was called, “What Does Governor Snyder’s Budget Mean to You?”, and joining the Senator were Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schrieber, Superintendent of Ypsilanti Public Schools Dedrick Martin, Eastern Michigan University Professor and Chair [...]