Can you believe that it is May 22nd already!
Those of you who have school-aged students living with you are WELL-AWARE of the date
and believe me when I tell you that each & every Teacher TOO, is fully aware that the month of June is on the Horizon.
The days of my "watching the Calendar" are over, but in today's Macomb Daily is an article by Kathy Barks Hoffman
that is titled " School funding stabilizes" see: www.macombdaily.com Sec. A v/ pg. 4 A
The article concerns Lansing & Funding. The author is from the AP, so direct quotes are frowned upon;
therefore capsules of the main points will be typed here:
...the state's School Districts will not see additional cuts in funding for this school year
...it is suggested that they may not see cuts in the next school year
...it is quoted that school aid revenue is up $292 M. from January estimates.
...General Funding Revenue - DOWN $244 M
...Senate Fiscal Agency estimates a Shortfall of $219 M. in current fiscal year -ending Sept. 30, 2010
A statement on a positive note that ...'revenues for 2011 including the general funds, are up'.
Brings to the front --- questions:
... is this up-tick an estimate
... will this estimate be an accurate one
... did we here in Michigan just go through an exercise in fear-mongering orchestrated by our Legislature
... will this mean that school districts can revise ALL the cuts already made
The answers will be forthcoming; we do not have a Budget yet for the next fiscal year; we do have elections-- as does the nation-- coming this November;
when, just WHEN during this pre-election frenzy will the Sitting Legislature make the time to conclude the budget talks and actually have a Bidget signed into place before Sept. 30, 2010
Boggles the mind; the minds of those in this state who are aware, invested, involved & politically astute; each state resident will be impacted; each resident hopefully, will make themselves alert and aware of our situation.
We, here in Michigan, are still the honored holders of the First Place position of Highest unemployment in the Nation:
estimates [concerned about the use of that word when speaking of Michigan] are between 14.5 --14.7 %; with some groups still flirting around with about 15%. What ever the final % is, the fact that our unemployment is the highest does little to settle the collective stomach problems of this state.
Chrysler Co. announced yesterday - Friday 21 May, 2010, that it is adding 1,000 additional workers to the plant known as Jefferson North Assembly Plant / Detroit, MI; they announced this as the unveiling of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Sharp vehicle; made Here; Last night one worker was quoted as follows....'bringing in workers off the street is great news' ; an open, honest statement by a present worker. May this be a time when "from your lips to God's Ears" actually be the statement Du' Jour` . Chrysler has about 100 workers in the Detroit area still not recalled, so the large amount of workers will actually be those 'FROM THE STREETS' . Good luck to those making applications as I type.
Mayor James Fouts--Warren has taken steps so that school districts within Warren will have their Board Meetings recorded and broadcast by the city cable crews. This will allow transparency & accountability to the residents.
see: www.macombdaily.com Saturday, May 22, 2010 Sec. A / pg 1A / article by Norb Franz "Warren to put school board meetings on cable television"
One final News-worthy Note offered:
Five Cities and Two townships in Macomb Co. MI have joined with the County's call to Washington D.C. for the Federal Jobs Program. They are:
Cities--Center Line, Memphis, Mount Clemens, Richmond & Roseville
Twp.-- Clinton & Lenox
Statistics stand alone in support of our sad state of economics here in Michigan:
2009 job losses = 279,242
2010 projected job losses --84,900 [U of M ]
2010 SEMCO forecasts a regional net loss = 52,000
since 2006 = MI has led the nation as the state with the Highest unemployment percentages
since 2008 = Michigan has suffered with double digit unemployment numbers
To read the full story, see: www.VoiceNews.com May 19, 2010 / Sec. A / pg. 3 A / article by Haylee Sugameli
Now, the sun has come out; the various birds are singing; our local Duck residents are eating in our side yard; &
it does sound as if our Landscaping crew is on the job here. Just love to watch that job getting accomplished--I like to work in the yard, but Mowing----Not so much.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend; Have a great last week of May 2010. [puts it into a different perspecitve right? right!]
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