2/24/2010
We announced some minor mid-year budget cuts to the 2009-10 budget at our last board meeting. There have been articles in both the Sun and News and Grand Rapids Press about these cuts and we want to clarify some questions that might be on people’s minds.
1. The cuts recently announced are for the current year. During this process we have communicated that there would be small things we could do for the 2009-10 budget. Much more significant cuts will be coming to the 2010-11 budget. A first draft of possible reductions for 2010-11 will be released some time before spring break.
2. One-way transportation for athletics. This will only take place in sports where it makes sense. For a large majority of our sports buses were returning home almost empty because parents were taking their kids with them. We will realize a savings from this practice because when buses take students home after games we have to pay the bus drivers while they wait. This reduction idea was suggested by people in the community as well as several TK staff members. We won’t be able to do this for all sports but will implement it where we can. 2/17/2010
First of all, a big thank you to the 119 members of the TK community who were able to be at our Financial Informational Meeting this past January 13. It was great to see so many people there to learn about the financial emergency that is coming for all school districts in Michigan, including our own. I believe we were able to accomplish our goals for the evening. First, we were able to educate the community to the nature and scope of the problem; and second, we set up a system for people to be able to provide us with feedback and ideas to consider.
Since the meeting on January 13, we have had people give us feedback via emails, letters, handwritten notes and personal one-on-one meetings. All in all, we have ideas from over 45 different members of our community and staff. Although I can’t tell you that there is any one idea that will be a magic pill to fix our funding issues, I can tell you that people spent a great deal of time giving serious thought to their feedback and we received several ideas we will be able to implement no matter how small the savings might be.
Now it’s time for the hard work to begin. As I wrote in the last issue of “The Key”, the next step in the process is for the administrative team and me to sort though all of the ideas we have generated and formulate a draft plan for the School Board to consider by this spring. Barring a miracle that would lead to revenue restructuring in Lansing, the one thing I am quite certain of is that we will be cutting programs and people we do not want to lose and we will be making decisions based on choosing from the lesser of two evils. None of us will be happy about any reductions we will have to make at this time. Not a great position to be in, but for now it may be what has to be done.
Thank you so much again to the community, to the staff at TK and to everyone who has been so supportive of the process we have put into place to make these tough decisions. We will do our best to be good stewards of our resources and, as always, ensure that Thornapple Kellogg Schools continues to be a place “Where Kids Come First”. 1/18/2010
It was a good day today. I got to spend some of it thinking about this community and one of the people who is a role model for how we should treat each other. I attended the funeral of Ray Page and it was one more reminder to me of what a great place this truly is and why.
The United Methodist Church was full as we heard stories of Ray's life and how he made an impact on his family, his school and his community. People from all walks of life were there - some who were close to home and others who traveled. All there to say good-bye to Ray and what he represents.
Several members of Ray’s family spoke and a common theme which resonated was that Ray took time for people – he truly cared about others. And you know – that what it is about this community. There are a lot of Ray Pages out there - taking time for others – caring about what happens. Thanks Ray – You set a great example for all of us and we won't forget it. 1/7/2010
This post is to again invite you to a community informational meeting about the state financial crisis and how it might affect our school district. The meeting is Wednesday, January 13 at 7:00 pm in room 1616 of the Middle School.
Our goals for the evening are:
· To inform the community about the financial crisis so that they can better understand why we may need to make significant budget cuts next school year,
· Let the community know what we have done so far to contain costs, and
· Let the community know how they can submit ideas and suggestions for cost savings.
We would appreciate it if you could be part of the group that night. It would certainly help in our effort to communicate with our community. Their support has been extremely important to us in the past and in order for us to maintain that level of support, the community will need to know why we are looking to a financially difficult 2010-11 school year. If you are able to attend, please let us know by emailing me at: superintendent@tkschools.org.
Thanks so much – hope to see you next Wednesday. 12/14/2009
All you have to do is turn on the TV or read the newspaper to see evidence of how school districts all around us are cutting and slashing their budgets. Because of the significant cuts in state funding, schools are implementing mid-year layoffs, closing buildings and discontinuing basic programs - It is all very disturbing.
Here at TK we are not immune to these problems but we are fortunate to have a little time to develop a plan of action. One thing is pretty much certain – next year we will not be able to operate as we have in the past. Significant cuts will need to be made – the only question will be – just how deep will we have to go? Unfortunately, the answer to that question will have to be a based on a “best guess” next spring of the funding we’ll receive from the state to operate our district.
This is where I need to ask for your help. We truly believe we will need the understanding and support of our community to help us get through the next few, very difficult, years. We also believe it is crucial for parents and members of our community to have an understanding of this financial crisis in order to continue to give us that support. So here is my request: Please – Please – Please – join us in room 1616 of the Middle School on Wednesday, January 13 at 7:00 pm for a public forum so that we can tell you about the issues we are dealing with and get feedback from you.
In the mean time we are in the process of developing strategies for saving money now as we prepare for the potential of even more significant reductions during the 2010-11 school year. We are trying to turn our focus toward what we can do and what solutions we can develop so that we can continue to keep the best interest of our students as our first priority, retain programs and staff, and still be fiscally responsible to our community. It will be a very difficult task.
Here’s our plan of action for how we will make our recommendation to the Board for budget cuts:
- Our Administrative Team has been developing cost saving ideas for the rest of this year and next year during the month of December,
- I am meetings with all employee groups in December to brief them on the latest on the state’s financial crisis and how it might affect our district. We are also asking for their input on how ,
· I am meeting with several community groups during December and January to help people from the area understand the issues we are dealing with,
· We will conduct a public forum on these budget issues in January, and finally
· We will then be putting together budget reduction recommendations that I will present to our school board to consider next spring.
I am very certain that, unless something drastic happens legislatively, we will be forced to make choices next spring which we do not want to make. There will be very good programs and/or people affected. We sincerely hope this can be avoided, but for now we need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
This is my 34th year in education. Like many other educators who are my age in Michigan, I was laid-off as a teacher in the early 80’s and had to leave the state to continue my career until the economy recovered. Back then, inflation and unemployment in Michigan were both in the double digits and the economy was in very tough shape. The problems schools are facing in the next few years are worse than those of the 80’s. Our ability to continue to provide our students with the high quality education is in jeopardy and we will need your continued help and support as we make some very difficult choices.
If you are able to join us on January 13 please email me at superintendent@tkschools.org. Thanks again - Hope to see you then! 12/8/2009In October of last year I wrote a column for our district newsletter "The Key". With everything that is happening in regard to the state's funding of schools I thought it might be appropriate to reprint it on my blog. Here it is:
The Perfect Storm
It has been an absolutely wonderful start to the school year. Our children are back in classes; we made the transition to new technology systems; opened a new library; new classrooms at the High School and McFall; and even successfully navigated evacuating two buildings when a gas line was accidentally hit by a village work crew. It’s been a great beginning and we are looking forward to a wonderful year with the students of Thornapple Kellogg.
But as positive as the start of the school year has been, we know that for everyone in our community there is an uneasiness that lingers in their lives. Economic uncertainty in Michigan is something we have come to learn to live and it certainly makes life difficult for most everyone. Your school district is no different. On the front page of this issue of The Key you read about the funding crisis for all schools in the state of Michigan. As I am writing this entry on October 2, 2008 we still don’t know what level of funding we will receive. It is a very, very difficult time in our state’s history.
But there is good news from your school district because in spite of the gloom that is hanging over Lansing there is still a great deal that’s within our control.
· We are as committed as ever to delivering the same high quality education to the children of our community as we have in the past,
· We will continue our work as a leader in the Kent ISD in curriculum development and instructional practice, and
· We will continue to meet the challenge of high standards and expectations every day.
We are very proud of the education students receive at Thornapple Kellogg and the great strides we have made in recent years. We believe we do better with the resources at our disposal than anyone else, and that we “coach up” our kids better than anyone in West Michigan.
We have also been responsible stewards of our resources. As a result of being fiscally conservative we are fortunate to be more financially stable than many other districts in the area. This should help us weather the “Perfect Storm” better than most, but we should not be misled into thinking that we will not be affected by what looms on the horizon. If the state budget cuts we have heard about in the next few years take place; schools all over the state will be devastated and our ability to provide children with the education they need to be successful will be severely compromised. Here at TK it will mean deeper cuts than we have already made. It will mean cuts to programs and people. We will not be able to avoid it, and others will feel the sting even more than we will
What we need more than ever is a stable, adequate and equitable system for funding our schools. We also need the assistance of community members to help send that message to legislators. School officials have been very active in this discussion for many years, but alone there is only so much we can do. After a period of time our phone calls and emails begin to fall on deaf ears. We will continue our effort, but now in addition, Lansing will need to hear from you.
We will be posting information on our website during the school year to keep you informed as we learn more about school funding issues. We will also be asking you from time to time to contact your legislators to make sure they know how people in our community feel about the importance of providing stable, adequate and equitable funding for our schools. 11/23/2009
It’s about time for all of us to begin the holiday season which means it’s also a great time of year to reflect on the blessings we enjoy. This year in particular, we should all take time to be thankful for what we have. I looked for a quote that might fit this year and found the following:
“The true meaning of Thanksgiving is not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them.” --WT Purkiser
There is no doubt that in the coming months we will be challenged to find ways to best use the resources we are blessed with.
Thank you again for the effort, hours and passion you have invested toward providing a great education for the students of Thornapple Kellogg. We are all in education to make a difference. Please always remember that your efforts on behalf of kids are an investment in the future of our community and country which will pay tremendous dividends.
This Thursday I will again be giving thanks for being able to serve you and this community. Being at TK continues to be the best professional experience of my life and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity. I hope you get some time to enjoy your family and friends this weekend, and have the chance to remember how truly fortunate we are -
Happy Thanksgiving!
Gary Rider 11/11/2009
Thanks go out first of all to the twelve parents who accompanied Chris Marcy, Tom Enslen and me to Lansing Tuesday to speak with state legislators. They represented our district very well and spoke articulately about their concerns regarding the state funding crisis and how it could effect the quality of education we provide our students at TK.
We had the opportunity to meet personally with our State Rep. Brian Calley, as well as, Amanda Price who is Senator Patty Birkholz's Education Aide. We also were part of a large group presentation Senator Birkholz made to five districts late in the afternoon. Our sincere thanks to all of them for the time they spent with us hearing our concerns. They have a difficult task ahead of them.
The message we left with our legislators was simple and concise.
- Education is of utmost importance to the future of our state,
- Restore the funding cuts that are currently planned, and finally,
- Work to create a new, adequate, stable and equitable funding system for Michigan's schools.
Thanks again to parents who went to Lansing and shared their passion for the kids of Thornapple Kellogg. It was an excellent day. 11/5/2009
Next Tuesday, November 10, I will be traveling with a group of parents to Lansing to meet with state legislators about the school funding crisis in Michigan. We will be joining similar groups from all over the state that will be traveling to the capital for the same purpose. This event is being coordinated by “SOS” the state-wide grass roots group I told you about in a previous post, and the purpose in going is to let legislators know how strongly we oppose funding cuts that jeopardize our children getting a quality education.
The message we will send to our legislators on Tuesday will hopefully be simple and clear:
· Restore the funding cuts to Michigan public schools for 2009-10.
· Work in the near future to develop a long-term, sustainable and equitable funding solution for Michigan's public schools.
We have a great group headed to Lansing and we hope to be part of the change that needs to take place to ensure that our kids will continue to get a quality education. It is a very important time in our state’s history and we hope we can make a difference by traveling to Lansing next Tuesday. I will update you on our trip after we return.
11/2/2009
Dear TK Community,
Recent events in Lansing have put students, schools and our state in extreme financial danger. Funding for schools and other essential services are being slashed and the legislature has failed for ten years to develop a plan that would provide a structural fix to the problem. There is a state-wide movement I’m part of that I want you to know about. It was organized recently with the intent to do something about this critical issue.
SOS! (Save Our Schools!) Was established by three professional organizations: MASA (Michigan Association of School Administrators), MASB (Michigan Association of School Boards) and MSBO (Michigan Association of School Business Officials) as a vehicle to assist school communities in dealing with the funding crisis, and create solutions from within the school community.
SOS is working on both short-term and long-term solutions to the school funding crisis:
In the short-term, they are working to reverse the recent cuts and demand that Lansing not balance the budget in a way that jeopardizes our children. Our kids deserve a better future than Lansing is offering. We urge you to continue communicating with your legislators to send the message: “No more broken promises! Restore the cuts.”
For the long-term, SOS is developing a proposal that will address the needs of schools and Michigan to provide a stable and equitable funding system. That will happen over the next few months. They will also work to develop an effective grassroots network of public education supporters within our communities who will help force needed change, and provide schools with the tools they need to communicate and manage this difficult situation.
There's much more planning that has taken place. For the moment, I wanted to keep this initial communication brief to let you know the urgency and importance of the crisis we are facing.
I will be keeping you informed about the funding crisis and SOS’s activities. Our students at TK along with those all over the state are in danger and we need to be in this together to be part of the solution.
Thank you,
Gary Rider
Superintendent
Thornapple Kellogg Schools |
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