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Promising Practices
Click on the link for a searchable database of past Education Excellence winners. Search by region, program category or level for exemplary programs serving kids throughout Michigan - a great tool for curriculum directors, principals, and school improvement committees.
This Web site contains information and tools on pandemic preparedness plans. Its goal is to enhance public health preparedness for an influenza pandemic and conserve resources by sharing promising practices. There's a map of the U.S. that allows you to click on state specific tools. And, if your district has a promising practice to contribute you can submit it online as well.
Win-Win is a process used by staff and administrators at Genesee ISD that promotes working as a team. The process has been used to successfully negotiate contracts and to solve everyday problems. Respect is a core component of the experience. Every opinion counts. This award winning collaborative process used by GISD's administration and staff has led to numerous positive outcomes for students and staff. To view a brochure on the Win-Win problem solving model, click on the link above.
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Reducing Energy Costs - Pellston Public Schools
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Pellston Public Schools found a creative way to reduce utility usage and expenses without any out-of-pocket expenses. In fact, the district saved nearly $200,000 between 2004 and 2006. In 2004, the district teamed with Sheren Energy Services in Traverse City. The district was dealing with aging heating and cooling and plumbing systems and an already constrained budget. The company helped the school district develop a customized energy savings action plan that would allow the district to put its savings back into needed updates. To learn more about how Pellston implemented its energy savings plan, contact Superintendent William Tebbe, 231.539.8682, wtebbe@pellstonschools.org.
Click on the link above to learn more about success stories from ISDs across Michigan.
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Joint Operating Arrangements
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In the face of tough financial times, many school districts across the state have developed creative arrangements in order to realize cost savings without diminishing the quality of services. If your district has developed a unique approach to delivering services please share them with us. E-mail a brief description including districts involved, contact information and the services shared to Sarah Sant.
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Mason Consolidated Schools
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The Mason Consolidated Schools has combined the position of business manager and payroll. In addition, Mason shares this position with the Whiteford Agricultural Schools. To learn more about this arrangement, contact:
Marlene Mills, Superintendent
E-mail Marlene
www.eriemason.k12.mi.us
Manistee ISD operates a business cooperative between Manistee ISD, Kaleva Norman Dickson School District, Bear Lake Schools Onekama Consolidated Schools and CASMAN Alternative Academy. The services provided to each party as part of the arrangement include: - Business Cooperative Oversight
- Budgets, including development, amendments, presentations to boards
- Audit Preparation
- Property Taxes
- Payroll and all related reports
- Accounts Payable/Receivable
- Staff Time and Attendance
- And many more.
To learn more about this arrangement, contact:
Charlene Myers, Superintendent, Manistee ISD
772 E. Parkdale Avenue
Manistee, MI 49660
231.723.4264
The Hudson Area Schools operated their business office with Morenci Area Schools for two years. While they no longer operate jointly, they learned a lot from the experience that may help others exploring a similar arrangement. Some of the lessons learned include: - The contract between the cooperating entities is very important.
- There must be trust between the parties.
- Regular meetings must be held between the cooperating districts inclusive of the superintendents and the sub-committe of the board.
- All parties must have equal weight in determining working conditions of employees regardless of employing district of record (i.e. salaries, benefits).
- Don't bite off more than you can chew, make sure staffing is adequate and don't underestimate work loads.
- Be flexible unexpected things will happen.
For questions regarding this arrangement, contact:
Kathy Malnar, Superintendent, Hudson Area Schools
781 N. Maple Grove Avenue
Hudson, MI 49247
517.448.8912
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Dual District Superintendent
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School districts across the state are continually looking for ways to save resources. One way to do that is to have a superintendent oversee more than one district. The following districts share a superintendent: John Peterson
Powell Township School District
Big Bay de Noc Schools Jeanne Oakes
Mason-Lake ISD
Oceana ISD Rodney Goehmann
Les Cheneaux Schools
DeTour Area Schools Gregory Webster
Kaleva Norman Dickson
Bear Lake Schools
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