Bay Arenac Intermediate School District is one of four schools to receive the prestigious 2015 Excellence in Practice Award from the Michigan Department of Education, recognizing exemplary practices in preparing Michigan's students for careers and higher education.

Changes to the state’s school bullying statute will take effect April 1 requiring that schools’ policies and procedures include cyberbullying as a form of bullying. The revised statute gives districts until October 2015 to make the required changes to their policies.

Submitted by Phil Saurman, CPA, Shareholder/Governmental Services for Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors, Grand Rapids

Another school year is well underway in the state of Michigan and once again, each Board of Education has many areas of oversight to monitor and decide upon important issues. One of the most important is the financial health of your district, which is highlighted once a year in your Annual Financial Report and is prepared each year by the independent auditors of your district.

Bridge Magazine recently released its first-ever Academic State Champs awards for 100+ individual schools across Michigan. More than 3,200 schools (traditional public schools and charters) were judged on state and national test scores over a three-year period, with student income levels factored in for each school. The top 5 percent were recognized for getting the most potential out of their students when these socioeconomic factors are considered.

Muskegon Area Intermediate School District is one of four districts to receive the prestigious 2015 Excellence in Practice Award from the Michigan Department of Education, recognizing exemplary practices in preparing Michigan's students for careers and higher education.

The National School Board Association’s Advocacy Institute was held in Washington, D.C., Feb. 1 – 3. Michigan, with over 60 members, was once again one of the largest delegations in attendance. Only New York and Texas had more members.

Are you aware that nearly 80 percent of education funding comes through the state via the legislative process? Or that every year there are numerous bills in the Legislature that prescribe, prohibit, encourage or discourage matters that affect schools? These two facts make it important for school board members to make every effort to affect the legislative process for the benefit of their districts and education in general.

The Governor announced his 2015-2016 School Aid Budget proposal last Wednesday, including a $75 increase in the per-pupil foundation amount and numerous other changes in both categorical funding and programs. The proposal includes an additional $240 million for school district retirement costs to comply with the current retirement rate cap that is in statute.

Think you’ve got an innovative program that’s improving student achievement in your district? Prove it! Apply to be an Education Excellence Award winner and you’ll have the opportunity to win a cash prize for your program!

Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District is one of four districts to receive the prestigious 2015 Excellence in Practice Award from the Michigan Department of Education, recognizing exemplary practices in preparing Michigan's students for careers and higher education.

Recent changes to Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act will go into effect on July 1 of this year. The MASB Legal Team recommends that districts start becoming familiar with these changes now, as some of them are quite significant:

Do you know what to do when you know your district has facility needs? Check out our handy infographic, and feel free to reach out to us at 269.381.4880. At Kingscott we believe in people working together to create the extraordinary!

WMISD is one of four districts to receive the prestigious 2015 Excellence in Practice Award from the Michigan Department of Education, recognizing exemplary practices in preparing Michigan's students for careers and higher education.

The Michigan Employment Relations Commission has invalidated a Union Security Agreement that the Taylor School District and the district’s teachers union crafted in the months before the state’s Right to Work statute took effect in 2013.

As districts begin their kindergarten round-up activities, they will have new kindergarten start date rules to keep in mind, including changes made by the legislature in December (MCL 380.1147).

The OK2SAY program, launched in September 2014, encourages Michigan students to submit confidential tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees and schools. Tips may be submitted 24/7 by phone, text, email, mobile app or via the OK2SAY website.