The Gov and Leg have been asleep at the switch.

What is laughable is the State Board of Education and Department of Education took months to develop a plan nearly 6 years after Watkins’ 2004 report– that comes to the same conclusions— a bit late– don’t ya think!

This story is by Dave Murray: dmurray@grpress.com at the Grand Rapids
Press—

See entire story at:http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/05/would_23_billion_plan_to_halt.html

I was reminded of the work( http://www.michigan.gov/documents/michiganschoolfunding_110803_7.pdf ) by former state Superintendent Tom Watkins, who back in 2004 predicted dire times for Michigan schools unless drastic reforms are carried out.
Watkins looks more like a visionary every day, and it’s widely thought that the report likely got him pushed out of his job.

He pointed out that two-thirds of each new dollar provided to schools is consumed by health care and pension costs. The teachers’ pension plan even then was suffering because of a falling stock market, plus a growing number of retirees who were living longer.

Watkins at the time called for two big steps:

1) That Gov. Jennifer Granholm create a bipartisan committee to review district boundaries, sizes and costs to identify administrative inefficiencies.

2) That the Legislature determine what exactly it costs to educate a child. The last study was in 1968 and prompted a revamping of school funding in the 1970s.

“Widely recognized is the fact that an overhaul of the school finance system is meaningless if it is not accompanied by comprehensive efforts to improve efficiency, effectiveness and equity,” he wrote.

The report came out in December 2004, and only now are we seeing changes to the pension system and talk about pushing for districts to consolidate or share more services.

Those moves, of course, stem from the state’s economic crisis.

Wishing that lawmakers took Watkins’ warnings more seriously five years ago doesn’t help. It also seems that lawmakers don’t make changes unless faced with a crisis.

Watkins today is CEO of TDW & Associates, a consulting firm that works on creating educational links between Michigan and China.

Knowing how we are viewed from afar, Watkins told me he wonders if Michigan accepting part of the $23 billion would put some of the financial problems on hold, but would that push reforms to the back burner until, once again, the cash runs out.

The Chinese, he said, are not slowing down.

Dave Murray: dmurray@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterDMurray

State Board Gives Watkins A- on Annual Rating
Contact: Martin Ackley, Public Information Officer (517) 241-4395
Agency: Education

July 7, 2004
LANSING – The State Board of Education gave its overwhelming endorsement today of the performance of state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Watkins. In its annual evaluation, State Board members gave Watkins an overall grade of A-.

“In spite of numerous challenges, Tom Watkins has performed as an effective and efficient leader and manager,” said State Board President Kathleen N. Straus. “He is a dedicated and committed visionary who works tirelessly on behalf of Michigan’s students.”

Board members rated Watkins on his performance in the areas of Implementation of State Board Policies; Day-to-Day Management, Supervision, and Leadership of the Michigan Department of Education; Facilitation of Alliances and Partnerships and Cooperative Working Relationships with Others; Assistance in Strategic Planning; and Spokesperson and Advocate. This was the selection criteria used when the Board appointed Watkins in 2001.

In her letter of support for Watkins, Governor Jennifer Granholm commended him for the smooth transition of the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) from the state Department of Treasury to the Department of Education, as well as his “commitment to the women and men who teach our children and those who support them in so many ways.

“I enjoy a warm and productive relationship with Superintendent Watkins, anchored in his sincere commitment to the children of our state,” Granholm wrote. “They are truly fortunate to have a strong and effective advocate in Tom Watkins.”

State Board member Marianne Yared McGuire said that Watkins has been an outstanding and enthusiastic spokesperson for the children of Michigan and the State Board of Education.

Board member John C. Austin noted that through Watkins’ leadership Michigan schools have continued to make headway during times that have been financially difficult.

“Tom has done an excellent job in his tenure,” said Board member Reginald Turner. “I am particularly pleased with the sharpened focus he has brought to the needs of High Priority Schools. He has us moving in the right direction.”

Watkins also received broad-based support letters from educational leaders across Michigan, including former state Senate Majority Leader Dan DeGrow, now superintendent of the St. Clair Intermediate School District; Detroit Regional Chamber Senior Director Gregory Handel; the Michigan Business Leaders for Education Excellence; the Tri-County Alliance for Public Education; and current State Representative Doug Hart (R-Rockford).

“Tom has done an excellent job,” DeGrow said in his support letter. “During a time when public education is often unfairly under attack, Tom consistently points out the many positive things happening in public education here in Michigan.”

Dan Quisenberry, president of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies, told the State Board that he “appreciates the accessibility and approachability of Tom.”

Support letters for Watkins also were received from school superintendents at Pinckney Community Schools; Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw schools; Marquette-Alger RESA; Capac Community Schools; Algonac Community Schools; Coopersville Public Schools; Marysville Public Schools; Port Huron Public Schools; Yale Public Schools; Memphis Community Schools; East China Schools; and Armada Area Schools; as well as former Michigan Teacher of the Year Bill Cecil.

Watkins thanked the State Board for its support and belief in him and shared credit with the employees of the Michigan Department of Education.

“My goal is to do right by our children each and every day,” Watkins said. “We still have work to do.

“My accreditation standard is if each school would be good enough for my kids, or your kids, to go to,” he added. “There are schools that aren’t there yet. Until such time when I can say that each school is good enough for our kids, our work is not done.”

The State Board unanimously gave the President Straus and Board Secretary Carolyn L. Curtin authorization to begin negotiating a new contract with Watkins.

this was just a few months before he was “shown the door” for pointing out what is still a crisis today– not dealing with the needed structural reforms of consolidating school districts, funding or addressing through reforms changes in health care and pensions.

Vision and leadership is what education needs– not a stick your head in the sand mentalilty.

This saying by Niccolo Machiavelli, in The Prince seem to fit what has happened to Watkins:

“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.”

2004 report by deposed state education leader forecasted Michigan school funding problems
By The Grand Rapids Press
June 04, 2009, 11:13AM

Tom Watkins isn’t one to say “I told you so.”

But at look at a December 2004 report from the then-state schools superintendent showed he tried to warn people that school funding was in trouble, and offered some suggestions for changes.

Watkins warned that money for schools would dry up in an economic downturn since so much of the funding is linked to the sales tax after Proposal A.

He called for drastic changes to make districts more efficient, saying an influx of cash is unlikely, and schools still needed to improve academic achievement.

Watkins noted that Michigan school funding always has been based more on the dollars available in the budget rather than what it actually costs to educate a child.

And, of course, there are considerable inequities among districts left over from the pre-Proposal A days.

He pointed out that two-thirds of each new dollar provided to schools is consumed by health care and pension costs. The teachers’ pension plan even then was suffering because of a falling stock market, plus a growing number of retirees who were living longer.

“A holistic approach is needed that recognizes the limitations of Proposal A to fund schools appropriately during economic downturns,” he wrote.

“A new approach will require everyone to let go of deeply entrenched constraints and the ‘We’ve always done it this way’ mentality. We are challenged to take a fresh look at how business is conducted. Inability or unwillingness to act is detrimental to Michigan, its communities, families, and most importantly, its children.”

Watson called for two big steps:

1) That Gov. Jennifer Granholm create a bipartisan committee to review district boundaries, sizes and costs to identify administrative inefficiencies.

2) That the Legislature determine what exactly it costs to educate a child. The last study was in 1968 and prompted a revamping of school funding in the 1970s.

“Widely recognized is the fact that an overhaul of the school finance system is meaningless if it is not accompanied by comprehensive efforts to improve efficiency, effectiveness and equity.”

Watkins argued that any plan to seek additional money for schools will fall apart without such changes.

Michigan at the time spent $12 billion on education.

“Let’s clean the slate and approach this challenge as if a new territory has been discovered with 1.7 million children desiring a quality education. How would $12 billion be invested to assure that children obtain the education necessary to thrive in a 21st century knowledge economy?”

So flash forward five years and let’s see what happened as a result of his report, which most definitely stirred things up when it was released.

Watkins was pushed out of his job by Granholm after a tussle with the state Board of Education over who gets to hire and fire a state superintendent.

He’s now CEO of TDW & Associates, a consulting firm that works on creating educational links between Michigan and China.

There certainly has been no state study on what it costs to educate a child in Michigan, though 34 other states have taken that step.

I know of no effort to look at district boundaries, though there is occasional talk out of Lansing encouraging districts to take such steps with their neighbors.

We’ve seen some baby steps. Jon Felske now serves as superintendent of both Wyoming and Godwin Heights, the first time we’ve seen such an arrangement.

There are some consortiums for special education transportation, and there are some districts sharing some services. Caledonia and Byron Center will share a special education administrative position in a cost-cutting move for both districts.

We’ve also watched districts privatize some services like transportation and substitute teaching to pull employees out of the state’s pension pool, since they’d have to pay an amount equal to 16.94 percent of each salary to the fund.

We have the state relying on federal stimulus money to keep the school aid fund level for this year and next, with fears of a funding “cliff” in the following year.

And, during that time, we learned that the number of West Michigan school employees making $100,000 climbed from 58 to 176.

I think that Sunday story is what prompted Watkins to remind me of his 2004 report. He wasn’t upset with the salaries, but with the number of people making that money, showing that there are a lot of administrative jobs that could perhaps be merged among districts.

“I am leaving for China tomorrow for two weeks,” Watkins e-mailed this week. “Let me assure you, they are not sitting idly by waiting for us to get it right.”

E-mail Dave Murray: dmurray@grpress.com

Note what is being debated in Lansing today?

Dealing with the issue of pension, healthcare costs and consolidation of school districts— just like he predicted in his report in 2004!

Some are attempting to rewrite history and suggest he was against teachers– nothing could be futher from the truth. He was a strong advocate for teachers and told the truth– that we are realizing today— unless and until the Gov and Leg truly fund education–yes, that means our pensions and health care—than local schools have little choice but to cut. Our money comes or should I say– DOES NOT COME from Lansing. They say they are for education– but, do not fund the basics.

The self serving school board members, Gov and so called “leg leaders” are a joke. They refused to deal with these issues when the then state superintendent raised the issue and are still ducking the tough issues today.

Funny thing is the Speaker, Andy Dillion suggested following up on whatWatkins suggests, 4 years later and NOW is a candatate for Governor! Amazing.

Watkins was ahead of his time– and paid the price for raising the issue about fair and adequate funding for our schools.

Just think, if he was listened too we would be a lot futher ahead of solving the mess our schools are in today!

There hasn’t been one study, using objective criteria, showing an advantage to vouchers or charter schools. There have, however, been many studies showing that reduced class size and empowering teachers to teach dramatically improves the quality of education.

It sickens me that a good man was forced out of a job he got rave reviews for doing – and Tom was (and continues to be) an outstanding leader, as even the State Board of Education stated at his performance review just a few short weeks before he published the report on insustainable school funding. However, all Tom Watkins was doing was stating the difficult truth…and the last 5 years have born that out.

Our state’s current leaders at ALL governmental levels have failed miserably at putting aside politics for the good of our state and our future, and are becoming more and more like GM leaders and Union Reps who ensured the auto industry’s demise in Michigan.

Is that what we want for public education? Enough. We are better than this.

The job of the State Superintendent is complex: skillful administrator, succinct communicator, thoughtful gubernatorial advisor and executor of State Board of Education decisions. None of us who worked with Tom wish him ill. Whether we agree with his positions or not, we appreciate his ongoing efforts to improve K-16 education. However, rewriting this history serves no reasonable purpose at a time of high risk for Michigan’s educational future.

John Austin
Vice-President, Michigan State Board of Education

Eileen Weiser
Former member, Michigan State Board of Education