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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Michigan Capitol Confidential
ACLU Joins DeVos Assaults By Ignoring Inconvenient Charter School Truths
Charters do better, and outcompete conventional unionized schools when parents can choose
Dec. 1, 2016
The Michigan ACLU has become the latest organization to join teachers unions, the public school establishment and others against Betsy DeVos as President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be the U.S. secretary of education.
The Michigan ACLU released a statement from Executive Director Kary Moss that read in part:
“She (DeVos) has ardently supported the unlimited, unregulated growth of charter schools in Michigan, elevating for-profit schools with no consideration of the severe harm done to traditional public schools. She’s done this despite overwhelming evidence that proves that charters do no better at educating children than traditional public schools and serve only to exacerbate funding problems for cash-strapped public districts.”
ForTheRecord says: The ACLU has sought to make itself a player in education policy here since at least 2012 when it filed a “right-to-read” lawsuit against the state of Michigan and Highland Park public schools. The lawsuit claimed the school system didn’t take steps to make sure students were reading at grade level, violating both state law and the state constitution. The Michigan Court of Appeals rejected the ACLU’s lawsuit two years later.
The ACLU is also one of many organizations to align themselves with teachers unions, the conventional public school establishment and the Democratic Party in opposing school choice and charter school choice in particular.
Like those other interests, it refuses to acknowledge what the most qualified independent researchers have concluded. That is, in peer-to-peer comparisons between students with similar backgrounds, Michigan’s charter schools do an overall better job at improving student learning than conventional public schools.
In 2013, Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) undertook a statewide study of Michigan charter schools. Its researchers found that on balance and with some exceptions charters provided a better education than traditional public schools. In 2015, CREDO examined public education in Detroit, with similar findings. Its report concluded that Detroit’s charter schools should be a model for other urban communities.
Arne Duncan, who was President Obama’s secretary of education until this year, recognized CREDO’s authority on education research in a 2013 speech on the status of charter school education.
Yet the interests aligned with the status quo public school establishment misrepresent CREDO’s Michigan findings, or like Moss, simply ignore them. This is the only way Moss can claim there is “overwhelming evidence” that charter schools are not working.
It should be noted that CREDO does not rubber-stamp charter schools. Three of its recent studies in other states had an unfavorable view.
A 2015 report found that Texas charter schools do worse than regular public schools there. CREDO found in 2014 that charter schools in Ohio on average produce smaller learning gains than conventional school districts. And a 2014 CREDO study of California charters found that charters did worse in math but better in reading when compared to districts.
This nuanced yet positive evaluation of charter schools is ignored by critics aligned with a Michigan public school establishment, including unions, that is losing market share to charter schools that parents regard as a better choice for their children. |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 6:18 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| Captain Compeau of the Genesee County Sheriff Department was not happy about a FOIA for his investigation into the allegations of the Township Supervisor Delaney misusing public property. But now, as then, I am impressed by the thoroughness of his work and wonder why the case was not prosecuted. Some claimed then Prosecutor Arthur Busch was a friend of Delaney and that is why he was not prosecuted. Others will argue there were subtle legal nuances that prevented prosecution. Either way, it demonstrates why communities need strong ethics policies. |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 6:40 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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At the time this investigation was ongoing, problems with the water pits in Grand Blanc Township threw Genesee County Water and Waste Services into an uproar. The Billing for Burton was compromised. The read for Burton Consumption depended on a manual deduction of a second pit read from a first pit read. Only the first pit meter had been turned off and that month's consumption was zero. Speculation was that an ex-employee that had gone to work for Delaney was responsible. Whatever, the Burton consumption continued to be a thorn in the side of Supervisor Tom Edelin for months to come.
This former employee continued to play an important role in Compeau's investigation. But credit needs to go to Marilyn (Mikki) Hoffman, now Grand Blanc Township Supervisor, for seeking to ensure Township resources were not being abused. |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 6:51 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| The entire issue began with parents of the Warwick Pointe Academy complaining to the State Board of Education about problems with the school and the resultant state reports that led to complaints of Township Equipment, billing procedures and employees being used to benefit the Charter School. |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 6:55 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Three parents of students attending Warwick Pointe Academy , Pam Korb, Cyndi Raslich, and Lynn Ovington, wrote a detailed 4 page letter to the State Board of Education. They told of going to the authorizing agency, Central Michigan University prior to their communication to the state. They identified their concerns into 4 major categories: (1) legal (2) health and safety (3) curricular (4)and financial.
LEGAL
In 1996, Thomas H. McTavish, Auditor General of the State of Michigan, attempted an audit of Warwick Pointe Academy. The audit was stated to have been impeded by Central Michigan University's assertion of attorney/client privilege over 43 records that had been requested for the audit. During the duration of the audit, there were 10 on-site visits and in 8 of those visits employees were found that had not had criminal background checks. (a violation of MCL 380.1230 & MCL 380.1230a)
The schools administration replied that "all members of the certified teaching staff are given a conditional letter of employment subject to the required finger printing and a criminal background check." The parents noted this response "did not substantiate any follow up and that it only referred to Certified teachers." |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 2:12 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The parents described how the "aides, custodians, clerical and other staff members are sub-contracted by Warwick Pointe Academy LLC--a private company owned by Mr. William Delaney, husband of Mary Delaney (the director of Warwick Pointe Academy) who is also the Grand Blanc Township supervisor.). Therefore, background checks on these individuals ae not available or necessarily recorded."
One of the parents, Lynn Ovington, had been employed as a physical education teacher from March of 1996 until June of 1997.A single parent and other of a 5th grade student at the Academy, she had only a high school education and no teacher training. She remained in a position of teacher aide at the school.
when a GISD audit of the school was completed, it was found that three of the teachers were instructing in classes for which they had not been certified. CMU had been notified one teacher was working with 7th and 8th grade students when she was actually teaching 5th and 6th grade students in language arts, spelling and Spanish. |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 2:27 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The school had the 19 year old son of the Deputy Administrator working as a computer teacher while person overseeing his instruction was actually teaching in another classroom.
The Auditor General's report cited problems involving conflicts of interest involving school board member and the lottery system. A Warwick Pointe Academy Board member resigned after a school board meeting where questions were raised regarding school policies and procedures. The School Board member had been questioned as to his being paid $16,436 in 1998 for serving as the school's accountant, business manager and the Freedom of Information officer.
Teacher's children were considered to be "exempt" from the lottery which the parents cited as a violation of MCL 380.514(2). The parents also asked if the children of township employees, Supervisor Delaney's secretary and the Planning and Zoning Director, were also considered "lottery exempt" |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 2:39 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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According to the parents, The Auditor Generals report cited concerns with the Open Meetings Act, Board minutes, development of school policies and the non-inclusion of children with special needs.
There was concern about a 24 year old female Down Syndrome student was included in a 5th grade class. The parents argued that this child and another very young child were not included as being a state compensated child. They questioned if tuition was being charged and if this was a violation of MCL 380.513 where public school academies are not allowed to charge tuition. More importantly, states the letter, this individual was receiving no special needs training.
The letter alleged a parent requesting Special Education help was told by Mr. Delaney the law did not apply to them and they should have read the complete law. Both of the Delaneys were said to have told the parents requesting assistance how there was no need for a special education teacher at the Academy. |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 2:53 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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HEALTH AND SAFETY
Parents complained to the board that Fire Drills and Tornado Drills were not occurring, although required by law. Although bulbs were placed in the exit signs and signs for the classrooms were printed, there was no way to differentiate between a fire drill and a tornado drill. The mothers cited a recent drill in which the children in one building went outside and the children in two other buildings hid under their desks.
The gym floor was placed over what was originally a swimming pool. The parents worried about how structurally sound the gym was. The gym was used for assemblies and school gatherings with up to 300 in attendance.
Choir class was held in a room with up to 50 children and very limited fire exits.
Older children were being left unattended at recess. |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 3:17 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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POLICIES AND CURRICULUM
1) Science classes do not appear to be following MEGOSE and State benchmarks.
2) Parents are being told their incorrectly that their children are at grade level or above
3) Classrooms are said have 100% spelling achievement when some students are allowed multiple attempts to spell the word and then only have to complete the last 3 letters of the word.
4) time limits are ignored when giving the M.A.T.
5) Children are being helped during the M.E.A.P. test. Parents say they are asked if they need to rethink their answer or whether they meant to give a specific answer. Further it was said some students were removed for one-on-one assistance during the test. |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 3:28 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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6) There was no overall discipline policy or behavioral guidelines and no explanation regarding discipline.
7) Parents felt $190 per semester was excessive for an elementary school band.
 "The length of time students are in school each day as reported by Warwick Pointe Academy was decreased by 63.30 hours after an audit by Genesee Intermediate School District. Another decrease will be determined after G.I.S.D. receives final information regarding the number of students who received private piano lessons during scheduled instruction time"
9) "Although the school prides itself on its Christian values and ethics, there seems to be little empathy for those who do not follow the Christian faith--i.e. mainly Christian religious songs in the music presentations, Christian evangelist speakers classified as "motivational speakers", Christian prayers during staff meetings as well as a discussion where students were told that "homosexuality is against God's will." |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 3:51 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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9) The parents were very concerned about a potential "breach of confidentiality" when the M.A.T. test scores were typed by the Superintendent's secretary at the Township offices and were worried that other school records were transcribed in the Township offices instead of the school.
10) "Although it is not illegal, Mr. Delaney's method of charging rent based on the number of compensated students is highly irregular. At $222, 250.00 it was enough to rate a paragraph in US News and World Report as an example of how charter laws in Arizona and Michigan have created opportunities for profiteering. Warwick Pointe Academy and Mary and Bill Delaney were mentioned specifically in this regard. This year, it appears the rent could amount to as much as $327,000for the same property." |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 4:04 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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9) The parents were very concerned about a potential "breach of confidentiality" when the M.A.T. test scores were typed by the Superintendent's secretary at the Township offices and were worried that other school records were transcribed in the Township offices instead of the school.
10) "Although it is not illegal, Mr. Delaney's method of charging rent based on the number of compensated students is highly irregular. At $222, 250.00 it was enough to rate a paragraph in US News and World Report as an example of how charter laws in Arizona and Michigan have created opportunities for profiteering. Warwick Pointe Academy and Mary and Bill Delaney were mentioned specifically in this regard. This year, it appears the rent could amount to as much as $327,000for the same property." |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 4:05 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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11) "According to MCL 1274 competitive bids are to be sought in regard to services and/or procurement. Mr. Delaney, owner of Warwick Pointe LLC, provides Warwick Pointe Academy with aides, janitorial services and clerical help. According to Warwick Pointe Academy School Board minutes no competitive bids were let for these services. The only salaries paid by Warwick Pointe Academy are those paid to administrators and certified teaching staff. Another question is if Mr. Delaney is charging an administrative fee for providing these services above and beyond the salaries of these sub-contacted personnel. Also, on the monthly financial reports Mr. Haiser lists federal, state and local withholding tax as an expense item in regards to salaries, but there is no local tax to withhold."
12) The Latchkey program which is run in conjunction with Warwick Pointe Academy is also under the auspices of Warwick Pointe LLC as well. |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 4:17 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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13) The parents want to know if the Down Syndrome Student and the pre-kindergarden student were charged tuition as they are not listed in the school revenues. They wanted to know if payments were instead made to Warwick Pointe LLC.
Their final point to the State Board of Education:
"As Charter schools proliferate through out the state, it is imperative that oversight of these schools and their chartering institutions be of primary importance to this board, Charter Schools hold great promise. Don't let their promise bean empty one" |
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Sat Dec 03, 2016 4:23 pm |
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