Friday, May 24, 2013
Susan Zurvalec says the district could lose another $300,000 unless things change; State Rep. Vicki Barnett believes they will.
Farmington Public Schools Superintendent Sue Zurvalec heard Thursday morning that a deal struck Wednesday night to spend the state's surplus revenue could cost the district an additional $300,000. On Thursday afternoon, State Rep. Vicki Barnett said a deal was in the works that would eliminate the cuts for Farmington and other more highly funded districts. And MLive.com reported Thursday night that steps had been taken Thursday to ensure "that all school districts would get at least $5 more student in the next fiscal year after certain adjustments are made in the funding formula." Zurvalec's concern reflects a tough reality for the district, which faces a budget deficit of about $7 million for the 2013-2014 school year. "Sadly, in …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Teachers, administrators and politicians, including some from Farmington Schools, gathered in Novi to discuss Michigan's responsibility toward educating its population.
Cuts to education funding in Michigan are a big concern for educators and parents of children in public schools. “We’re diverting a whole bunch of money from our public schools and I think it’s terrible,” said Michigan Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood, D-Taylor, at an education forum at Novi Middle School Monday night. Teachers, administrators and politicians came together at the forum, co-sponsored by Farmington Public Schools and the Farmington Education Association, to answer the question of what Michigan's responsibility is toward educating its population. “All of our schools are being required to do more with less,” said Sheila Paton, treasurer of the Plymouth-Canton Community school board. Panelists spent the first part of the evening …
Currently, Farmington Public Schools require students to take foreign language for two years, in keeping with current state law.
Hoping to free up more options for students when it comes to high school electives, the House Education Committee approved two bills in Lansing on Tuesday that would eliminate the foreign language requirement for graduation. Currently, Farmington Public Schools requires two years of foreign language, which complies with the state requirement, and "with the hopes that our students will have a global perspective and competitive edge in the college admission process," said Naomi Khalil, director of instructional equity. Students can sign up for classes in Spanish, Japanese, French, German and Arabic. "I strongly believe that the elimination of the foreign language requirement is misguided and does not reflect well on how the state prepares …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Michigan PTA honors Farmington Area PTA Council President Tammy Luty as PTA/PTSA Member of the Year.
Michigan PTA (Parent Teacher Association) honored Farmington Area PTA Council President Tammy Luty as its PTA/PTSA Member of the Year during the organization's state convention in April. Luty was selected because of her service and contributions to both the PTA and the community. She served five years on the Wood Creek Elementary School PTA Board and started a Dad’s Reading Night that won the first Michigan PTA Best Male Involvement Award in 2011. Serving her second year as Farmington PTA Council President, she brought Wood Creek's writing challenges program district-wide and was a member of the Facilities Study Committee and the City of Farmington Hills 2020 committee and participates in the Pledge for Success Committee. Farmington PTA …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
WXYZ Channel 7 anchor JoAnne Purtan will moderate Monday's public education forum in Novi.
Teachers, administrators and politicians will come together Monday in Novi to answer the question of what Michigan's responsibility is toward educating its population. Farmington Public Schools and the Farmington Education Association helped organize the event, which is hosted by the Novi Education Association and moderated by WXYZ Channel 7 anchor JoAnne Purtan, 6:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday in Novi Middle School's auditorium. "We really wanted to make sure we give the parents and the general community an opportunity to learn about the education reforms taking place in Michigan," said Seth Furlow, Novi Education Association's public relations chair and science teacher at Novi High School. He said there was a similar forum in Ann Arbor a …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Rumors about staffing and program reductions drive more than a dozen people to speak during public comment at Tuesday's school board meeting.
More than a dozen Farmington Public Schools parents and students spoke during Tuesday night's school board meeting, after hearing the district plans to cut music programs to remedy a $7 million budget shortfall. School officials and staff told parents gathered at the Schulman Administrative Center that no program cuts are planned, although the district does plan to cut three full-time equivalent positions across all three high schools. Dr. Michele Harmala, associate superintendent of student support services and organizational leadership, said no decisions have been made as to where or how those cuts will be made. Supt. Sue Zurvalec had Harmala and Jon Manier, director of instructional services, explain the staffing process, which begins …
City council member Bill Galvin calls redevelopment of the Maxfield Training Center in downtown Farmington a 'hundred-year decision'.
Whatever happens to the Farmington Public Schools Maxfield Training Center (MTC), redevelopment of the property is expected to have a powerful impact on downtown Farmington. The 65,000-square-foot building sits on Thomas Street just north of Grand River, the heart of the city's central business district. Vacant for about three years, the property lies within the Farmington Downtown Development Authority Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. Moving it from public to private ownership will boost tax revenues and likely influence how the city develops in the future. "Whatever's going to go there, it's a hundred-year decision," mayor pro-tem Bill Galvin said during a discussion at Monday's city council meeting. "We've got to hit a home run…
42.464129
-83.372697
33000 Thomas St, Farmington, MI
/articles/farmington-school-officials-work-together-to-redevelop-vacant-properties
/locations/9361292
42.44594
-83.36947
32600 Flanders St, Farmington, MI
/articles/farmington-school-officials-work-together-to-redevelop-vacant-properties
/locations/9361293
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Council members look to move forward, while a staff recommendation advises rejecting four offers lower than the $425,000 asking price.
City of Farmington Economic and Community Development Director Kevin Christiansen brought four offers for the former 47th District Courthouse property on 10 Mile Road to city officials Monday and recommended rejecting all of them. Council members, however, appear reluctant to let at least one of those opportunities pass them by. The property has been vacant for almost 10 years. Christiansen said all four proposals came in much lower than the city's asking price of $425,000. The offers include using the land for: Officials seemed to favor the proposal for homes, which represented the lowest offer (about one-third of the asking price), because of the eventual property taxes it would generate. Christiansen recommended the property stay on …
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Nancy Morris receives a special award Friday at Hillside Elementary School.
On Friday, Farmington Public Schools superintendent Sue Zurvalec surprised Nancy Morris, Media Center Specialist at Hillside Elementary School, with the Judy White-Ora "Teaching with Heart and Soul" Award. Morris will also be honored at the May 7 Board of Education meeting, held at the North Farmington High School Auditorium. A Michigan State graduate, Morris began her career as a sixth grade science teacher in Houston, TX. She began her tenure with Farmington Public Schools in August of 1987 and has worked with students of all ages, as a Media Center Specialist, first grade elementary classroom teacher, and middle school science teacher – even stepping in as "acting principal" of William Grace when the need arose. When William Grace …
42.48325
-83.412071
Hillside Elementary School
36801 W 11 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI
/articles/farmington-schools-media-center-specialist-teaches-with-heart-and-soul
1526782
/locations/9347851
Friday, May 3, 2013
May is Staff Appreciation month and a new program offers community members the opportunity to say "thanks."
Does your child’s teacher stay after school to help with homework? How about the bus driver who hands out treats on special days? Or the custodian who found your child’s “lost forever” i-Pod in the cafeteria? Want to thank these Farmington Schools staff members for examples like this and more that are done every day in Farmington Public Schools? Now there is a new program to help. May is Staff Appreciation month and a new program offers community members the opportunity to say "thanks." Applause, sponsored by the Farmington/Farmington Hills Education Foundation will honor staff members with a Certificate of Appreciation customized with your child’s or family name and the name of the staff member being thanked. According to the Farmington/…
David Anderson
11:39 am on Friday, May 24, 2013
There are many things the district could have done, and more drastic things they can still do. Regardless, the State is hellbent on underfunding education - not just Farmington. They have been messing witht he formula and taking/borrowing from the fund for years. Look at the number of districts in deficit for their current year and how many are projected to be in deficit the following year. The … more ›