Melton’s bill draws ire of Pontiac school board president
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 6:02 AM EST
By DIANA DILLABER MURRAYOf The Oakland Press
Legislation proposed by state Rep. Tim Melton has offended some Pontiac school trustees who see it as an insult to restructuring work being done by the district’s board and administration.
Melton has introduced a bill that would force Michigan districts with schools not meeting the No Child Left Behind annual yearly progress (AYP) for five years in a row to hire and pay a state-approved “turnaround expert” to take over the school on a five-year contract.
Both Pontiac Central and Northern are among the state’s 65 high schools that are in Phase 4 or 5, meaning they have not met the AYP for more than five years.Under No Child Left Behind, not only do the majority of students have to test high enough for the school to achieve AYP, all individual groups within the total, such as ethnic, racial, disadvantaged and those with disabilities, must show they made adequate progress.
Ironically, Birmingham Groves and Seaholm are in the same “failing” category as Pontiac even though the majority of students in those schools scored among the highest in the state because some subgroups, such as students with disabilities, did not independently make AYP.
On behalf of the Pontiac school board, President Damon Dorkins argued that Melton should respect the fact that the Pontiac school district is in the process of a major restructuring process that aims to downsize the district and improve educational programs for students.
It is likely the two high schools will be merged and may possibly be divided into four smaller high schools within one building.Dorkins suggests Melton, who is chairman of the House Education Committee, amend his bill to make exceptions for districts working on a restructuring plan.
He also wants Melton to give Pontiac a chance to implement the plan to be approved by the board in February before he forces the district to put someone in place to take over operation of the two high schools.Dorkins cites the fact that the board has brought in its own experts, including an acting superintendent — Linda Paramore — with 40 years of experience to make the most significant reform of the district since 1970.
Paramore and several other interim administrators were hired through Oakland Schools intermediate district, which also is providing free consulting services.“We are building a relationship with Oakland Schools that the district hasn’t had in 20 years,” Dorkins said.
“We are doing what the citizens of the school district, of the city of Pontiac, elected us to do.” To prevent a deficit of $10 million and to redesign how schools are operated, school officials have brought together an advisory committee that is studying all aspects of the district and soliciting community input to come up with recommendations for how the restructuring should be done.
School officials are also preparing a deficit reduction plan to present to the state for approval.Melton, D-Auburn Hills, was not in his office and did not return calls Tuesday.
When he announced the bill, Melton described his motivation for the legislation as: “It got to the point where I just started to get angry with where we’re at, that we’ve allowed entire generations of kids to fail.”But his legislative aide Andy Solon said, “We are only talking about the worst of the worst in the state.“We are pleased to see Pontiac making good progress toward restructuring the district. In the long run, this may not be an issue for them.
“We are in continual conversations with all the stakeholders involved. We want everything tied together and we want a good piece of legislation. If there is an opportunity to do something (this year), we will do it.
“We want to see all the options available to give these kids a chance. We’ve had feedback in the district office,” which Sam Scott runs for Melton.“He has heard good and bad” about the bill.
“Obviously, we understand the concerns of parents and employees of the district,” Solon said.
Oakland Schools Superintendent Vickie Markavitch said Pontiac schools, the intermediate district and a lot of other partners are working hard to get things turned around.
“I think (board members) are working very, very hard and I can understand why they are upset with someone saying they are taking a piece away from them.“I am very optimistic about where Pontiac is going. I am very hopeful if they continue it will be turned around. There will be hard decisions. It is not easy to lay off staff, but when you are trying to cut $10 million out of the budget, it cannot come out of light bills and paper, it’s human beings.“I touched with (Oakland Schools) team leaders this morning and I am not the only one that is very optimistic and very hopeful about the direction Pontiac is moving.“It is not easy work and cannot be done overnight but there is definitely huge headway to operate with greater educational integrity and we believe it will show up in student achievement in a year or two,” Markavitch said, noting “It takes awhile for those things to begin to impact things like test scores.“
They know they need more intervention to kids and more professional development, so they have to operate with more efficiency in fewer buildings.”
To this, Dorkins argues, “If we have Oakland Schools supporting our movement and giving us a hand in it, wouldn’t you think that is enough to make him (Melton) sit back a little bit? He would still be there but say, ‘I’m going to be at the table with you.’
“I believe Tim Melton supports the Pontiac school district with all of his heart, but he has to slow down a little bit and listen with respect to people at the table.
“What are you doing to see what the district administration has in place before you tear it down?,” Dorkins said. “Anyone can step in and tear the district down.
“Meet with us and ask how you can help us, but do not dictate to us what to do,” Dorkins said.
Melton, a Democrat, represents Pontiac and Auburn Hills.
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