1. Which Michigan public school district did you study?
2. Does this community (city, village, or township) have increasing, declining, or a stagnant population?
3. Briefly, describe this community. Is it primarily residential, urban, suburban, rural, industrial, etc.?
4. What is the current student population (approximate)? Is this student population increasing, declining, or is it stagnant?
5. How many elementary, middle, and high schools are in the district? Does the district also have facilities for any alternative learning programs? If so, what are the alternative programs and how many buildings are used for that purpose?
6. How many people are employed by the district (approximate)?
7. What are the district’s graduation and/or dropout rates? Are these rates improving or worsening?
8. What is the dollar amount of revenue this district receives from the State of Michigan? What percentage of total district revenue comes from the State of Michigan?
9. Does the district’s website discuss difficulties in funding K-12 education given the recent recession? If so, is this stated in such a way the average citizen will understand and appreciate the problems the last recession caused for the district? Describe.
10. Has the district had a recent bond/millage proposal? If so, was that proposal approved or rejected by voters?
11. What did you learn about this district? What was surprising?
12. Does this district have a website that is easily used?
13. Was information easy or difficult to find?
14. What is your overall assessment of this district’s financial health?
2. Does this community (city, village, or township) have increasing, declining, or a stagnant population?
3. Briefly, describe this community. Is it primarily residential, urban, suburban, rural, industrial, etc.?
4. What is the current student population (approximate)? Is this student population increasing, declining, or is it stagnant?
5. How many elementary, middle, and high schools are in the district? Does the district also have facilities for any alternative learning programs? If so, what are the alternative programs and how many buildings are used for that purpose?
6. How many people are employed by the district (approximate)?
7. What are the district’s graduation and/or dropout rates? Are these rates improving or worsening?
8. What is the dollar amount of revenue this district receives from the State of Michigan? What percentage of total district revenue comes from the State of Michigan?
9. Does the district’s website discuss difficulties in funding K-12 education given the recent recession? If so, is this stated in such a way the average citizen will understand and appreciate the problems the last recession caused for the district? Describe.
10. Has the district had a recent bond/millage proposal? If so, was that proposal approved or rejected by voters?
11. What did you learn about this district? What was surprising?
12. Does this district have a website that is easily used?
13. Was information easy or difficult to find?
14. What is your overall assessment of this district’s financial health?
Comments
o No late papers will be accepted. This paper is due at our last class meeting on Monday, December 9th.
o Papers will be returned to you when you complete the last exam.
o Standard MLA format should be followed.
o Deductions will be made for typographical, spelling, and grammatical errors.
o Your paper should be two to three pages, typed. Please double-space your paper, making sure your name and school district appear on the first page. A separate cover page is not necessary.
o Include websites and interviews as resources.
o This paper has a maximum of 50 possible points. The score on this paper will be added to the score from the first paper. Together, the two papers account for 100 points, or 25% of the semester grade.
o Papers will be returned to you when you complete the last exam.
o Standard MLA format should be followed.
o Deductions will be made for typographical, spelling, and grammatical errors.
o Your paper should be two to three pages, typed. Please double-space your paper, making sure your name and school district appear on the first page. A separate cover page is not necessary.
o Include websites and interviews as resources.
o This paper has a maximum of 50 possible points. The score on this paper will be added to the score from the first paper. Together, the two papers account for 100 points, or 25% of the semester grade.
Instructions
o Choose a local public school district. Search for that district’s website.
o If the information requested is not available on the website, you can ask for a short interview by phone with a school district employee.
o If you do a phone interview, make sure you (1) explain the purpose of your call, (2) be prepared with your questions ahead of time, (3) learn the employee’s name and job title, and (4) thank that person for taking time to talk with you.
o Most, if not all, information requested can be found in the district’s annual report. If the district’s 2013 annual report is not available, use the 2012 annual report.
o The community’s website will briefly describe the community (#3 above).
o Possible sources of community population information would include the community’s own website, the school district’s website, http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/26000.html (for cities only), or http://www.michigan.gov/cgi/0,4548,7-158-54534-281593–,00.html(Table 1, cities, villages,and townships).Population data will be from the 2010 Census.
o If you have chosen a school district that combines communities (Plymouth-Canton, Wayne-Westland, etc.), make sure you have included all communities (cities, villages, or townships) covered by that district. Some districts do not cover all of a community. You may see information comparing the 2010 census to the 2000 census, or possibly an estimate of changing population from 2010 to 2011, or from 2011 to 2012, etc. Any of those population comparisons will be fine.
o For state funding information, refer to the district’s 2013-2014 Operating Budget, or the 2012-2013 Operating Budget if this year’s budget is not available.
o Most district websites have an opening statement from the Superintendent of Schools, or from the district’s Business Manager. In that statement, there may be an explanation of the district’s financial challenges, and/or a reference to recent economic events.
o If the information requested is not available on the website, you can ask for a short interview by phone with a school district employee.
o If you do a phone interview, make sure you (1) explain the purpose of your call, (2) be prepared with your questions ahead of time, (3) learn the employee’s name and job title, and (4) thank that person for taking time to talk with you.
o Most, if not all, information requested can be found in the district’s annual report. If the district’s 2013 annual report is not available, use the 2012 annual report.
o The community’s website will briefly describe the community (#3 above).
o Possible sources of community population information would include the community’s own website, the school district’s website, http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/26000.html (for cities only), or http://www.michigan.gov/cgi/0,4548,7-158-54534-281593–,00.html(Table 1, cities, villages,and townships).Population data will be from the 2010 Census.
o If you have chosen a school district that combines communities (Plymouth-Canton, Wayne-Westland, etc.), make sure you have included all communities (cities, villages, or townships) covered by that district. Some districts do not cover all of a community. You may see information comparing the 2010 census to the 2000 census, or possibly an estimate of changing population from 2010 to 2011, or from 2011 to 2012, etc. Any of those population comparisons will be fine.
o For state funding information, refer to the district’s 2013-2014 Operating Budget, or the 2012-2013 Operating Budget if this year’s budget is not available.
o Most district websites have an opening statement from the Superintendent of Schools, or from the district’s Business Manager. In that statement, there may be an explanation of the district’s financial challenges, and/or a reference to recent economic events.
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