There are two Midland school requests up on May 7, 2013
The school superintendent wants all you Midland conservatives to make sure you get out and VOTE!
"two ballot proposals for your consideration if you are residents of the Midland Public Schools district. One, is a Sinking Fund proposal requesting 2.0 mills (millage) to be used for facility upgrades, renovations, construction and improvements. The second, a proposal for a .9 mills (millage) for the sale of Bonds totaling $20,880,000 to purchase equipment, security technology, infrastructure, etc., to support the district's technology plan"
The Plan Boss! The PLAN!
OK get the midget imagery out of your head Tutu.
Grab an adult stylized beverage, fire up the wi-fidelity, and spend the weekend acquainting yourself with some of the issues surrounding such requests, and go to the polls a happy informed citizen on Tuesday.
More below
One reader Writes:
I received an email urging parents to go and vote this coming Tuesday. I am urging you to GO VOTE after becoming informed of the topics. The school district is again asking for more money. I think we all know by now that we have to `read between the lines' to figure out what is really going on. Here is what is really at stake with this vote:
- They are asking for a "Sinking Fund". What is that for? Here's what they say - http://www.mps.k12.mi.us/assets/1050/Sinking_Fund_info_for_website2.pdf They are promoting the comfort of your children. But look at #7, 8 and 9. Building renovation issues, obsolescence and curriculum enhancements. What do you suppose those really mean?
What is a building renovation issue? Could that be the wiring and equipment needed to comply with the Common Core (CC) and International Baccalaureate (IB) student tracking technology? Those would be things like video cameras with facial recognition software tracking whether your child is attentive, angry or sad. Or would it be the wireless upgrades needed for tracking the seat sensors - how often they are sitting, what position, if they are using correct posture or are wiggly. Wi-fi upgrades could also be to track the RFID tags that are going to be needed to know the exact location of every student.
What is obsolete? Could it be the story books that your children prefer to read over technical manuals? Yes, literature sooo outdated, didn't you know kids are clamoring to read those installation and user guides! Too bad Shakespeare and Dr Seuss never got the message. Common Core guidelines state curriculum is to be 70% non-fiction with an emphasis on technical manuals and 30% literature.
What are the Curriculum Enhancements? Do you think it might have anything to do with implementing the prestigious IB program? IB curriculum is backed by the United Nations. Yes, your MPS school board took it upon themselves to decide that this coming school year, 2013-2014, EVERY elementary school child in MPS will be taught using the IB curriculum. The only thing standing in their way is funding. http://www.ourmidland.com/news/article_4ef41013-2fdb-5ea4-9003-e54f446ab23a.html Don't worry though, CC isn't being left out, IB is in addition to CC. MPS is implementing CC standards as well.
- They are asking for $21,000,000 Bond Proposal. This is a technology fund. "With this bond proposal, the plan is to put a technology device in the hands of every student K-12." http://www.mischoolbonds.com/Midland_Public_Schools/FAQ.html Hmmm, how many of the tracking devices above could fit that description? IN their promotion, they are citing the 2012-2013 pilot program of giving every student a computer - only a few classes were chosen.
Kindergarten students are included. Has anyone actually talked to the parents of the pilot students? I have, they are NOT happy. The computers are too fragile, parents have to pay for some of the repairs - regardless of who/what caused the needed repair and they did NOT have the option to OPT OUT of the program. They and their children were REQUIRED to use the laptops as part of their classwork and homework, most had to bring them home every night. A few parents had a teacher that allowed the computer to stay at school.
