January 11, 2010
     

  
Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

News on the School Aid Budget Coming Today
Leading economists from state government will be meeting today in the semi-annual "Revenue Estimating Conference" in Lansing to determine who state revenue is stacking up for the current fiscal year.  Results of this conference will impact the school aid fund, if these economists were to determine that actual revenue is less than what was estimated to establish the FY 2010 school aid budget.  Any shortfalls would most likely be made up by reducing the per-student foundation grant on a pro-rata basis.  MAPSA is monitoring the situation and will put out a special bulletin once the work of the conference has been made public.

FSU & GVSU Accepting Charter Applications:

• The Ferris State University Charter Schools Office is accepting Phase One applications for a Public School Academy pursuant to Public Act 362 of 1993, and part 6a of the Revised School Code.  The application period is Monday, January 11, 2010 through Monday, February 8, 2010.   Applications will be for an opening in fall 2011 or 2012.  Applications are available from the CSO website: www.ferris.edu/charterschools or may be obtained by calling 231-591-5802.   Successful first-round applicants will receive an invitation to a mandatory Phase Two application workshop at FSU on Tuesday, February 23, 2010.
    
• The Grand Valley State University Charter Schools Office is accepting Phase One applications.  Interested applicants can find the “Phase I” application on Grand Valley’s Charter School Web site at www.gvsucso.org. Grand Valley’s Charter Schools Office will review the applications based on, but not limited to, the following criteria: a promising vision, sound instructional plan, a quality educational program, and a sound business plan evidencing the ability to offer excellent programs. Applicants should be prepared to meet high standards both at the application level and throughout the term of the contract. Grand Valley reserves the right to accept or reject any application and to announce individual or extended application periods. For more information, contact Kristin Middendorf at (616) 331-3656 or at middendk@gvsu.edu or contact GVSU News and Information Services at (616) 331-2221.

Please Join us on February 3rd, 2010 for a Disability Awareness Seminar!
Detroit Sheraton - Novi
21111 Haggerty Rd.
Novi, MI 48375
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The day will focus on giving educators an awareness of mainstream disabilities that students are faced with each day. Learn innovative solutions for a number of learning disabilities as well as ideas on involving parents. There will be stations set up simulating the challenges that a child with that specific disability faces. The idea will be to help general classroom teachers to both identify these disabilities as well as to be equipped to help the child in order to keep them in the classroom.  SB-CEU Credits Available! Registration Deadline is January 27th - Space is Limited!! 
Please click here to download a registration form. 
If you have any questions, please contact Keri Brown at kbrown@charterschools.org or call MAPSA at (517) 374.9167.

MPEFA Bridge SAN – Applications Due by January 15th!
The Michigan Public Educational Facilities Authority (MPEFA) is pleased to announce its intent to offer a State Aid Bridge Note borrowing program during the first quarter of 2010.

The MPEFA State Aid Bridge Note for Public School Academies offers a simplified borrowing process to fund interim cash flow needs for operating purposes prior to our annual State Aid Note in July. If you anticipate the need to borrow to meet cash flow requirements from March through June 2010, please complete an application package, which is available by contacting MPEFA at Treas_MPEFA@michigan.gov.  The application, including cash flow schedules, audits, budgets, etc. is due on or before Friday, January 15th. 

The Bridge Note will require the pledge of State Aid and will carry a taxable interest rate. The note rate offered to each participating Public School Academy includes all of the costs of borrowing except fees related to local note counsel.   We expect the Note to close with funds being available on or about March 17, 2010.

It is the goal of MPEFA to finance Public School Academy note borrowing at the lowest possible interest rate. Conditions in the capital markets continue to pose challenges, however MPEFA will continue to work diligently toward this goal.
 
We look forward to providing your Public School Academy with a competitive and convenient financing source for its cash flow needs. Please contact Kathy O’Keefe or Janet Liesman at (517) 335-0994 with any questions related to the 2010 State Aid Bridge Note.

• Click here for instructions and a checklist
• Click here for requirements
• Click here for the application

Call for Charter School Program Planning & Dissemination Grant Application Reviewers
The Public School Academy (PSA) Program is actively seeking volunteer peer reviewers to read, score, and make recommendations for funding of Charter School Program Planning and Dissemination Grants applications which propose planning activities and related expenditures to develop new charter schools.
 
If you are interested in participating in this planned peer review of applications, please indicate your interest in review of applications for either the Planning or the Dissemination projects and send an electronic copy of your resume or vita,’ as well as contact information and where you may best be reached during the day.  If you are aware of any potential conflict in your current position or roles with regard to possible grant applicants, e.g. current or past employment by a charter school educational service provider (ESP), current employment with a charter school authorizer, etc., please indicate this in your email.  Reviewers selected must be free of real or apparent conflicts in regard to the subgrant applications that they will review and score.
 
As soon as possible, please email your resume, contact information, and any questions to:  OlsztaG@michigan.gov. Questions? Call 517-241-4715.

Coming in February: An Effective Professional Development Opportunity for Leadership Teams From Your School
The MI-LIFE 21st Century Leadership Program—Continuous Improvement Model (CIM) is a four-day professional learning program for middle school, high school, and alternative high school teams comprised of the principal and 2-3 staff members.  The program includes fifty hours over the course of four months: four face-to-face courses with intersession assignments. Participants can earn 5 State Board Continuing Education Units (SBCEUs) upon successful completion of the program.

Working with a Coach from their ISD/RESA, the teams will explore their schools needs using data, technology, and shared leadership skills. Sessions will cover School Culture, Intersecting Data, Shared Leadership, and Building Capacity for Continuous Improvement.

Sessions will be held at Genesee ISD and Allegan AESA and will begin in February. The fee for the program is $150 per team. For complete information about the CIM curriculum and schedule, visit the MI-LIFE web site at http://www.mi-life.org/cim.html.

• For a link to the to the registration form, click here.
• For a newsletter about this program, click here.
• For additional information, contact Jan Kesel at the MI-LIFE office at 517-694-7158 or jkesel@mi-life.org.