LISTEN TO TESTIMONY HERE

Purpose: Participates in review and evaluation of educational programs- curricular and extra-curricular; works with school officials and staff to guide development and review of curricular goals as outlined in the school’s School Improvement Plan, informs and directs the Board’s annual approval of learning goals, in support of the school’s educational mission; and guides the Board in periodic assessment of progress toward achievement of these goals.

Student Assessment, Data Management and Reporting Committee Chair:   REM President  Jennifer Jarosz

Purpose: to develop recommendations about district-wide assessment tools, benchmarks and timelines, to develop recommendations for data warehouse and student information system content, user support and reports, to monitor and make recommendations about the gathering and coordination of data reporting needs, and to make recommendations for building school and district capacity to gather, analyze and report data.

Policy and Legal Committee Chair:  REM Treasurer:  Pam Cobly

Purpose: Develop, adopt and review policies, which guide the operations and educational mission of the school. Review and ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, and address specific legal issues as they arise.

Finance and Operations Committee  Chair : REM Trustee John Brownfield

Purpose: Assist with development and adoption of annual budget; periodically review financial management reports; provide strategic direction for funding decisions; collaborate with district officials and staff to guide the budget process, including presentation of information to the community; review facilities’ and equipment condition and adequacy; address other financial issues as needed

Human Resources Committee  Chair:  REM Trustee  Richard Wood
Purpose: guide hiring processes for Superintendent; oversee the negotiation of contracts with management company and school personnel; establish evaluation systems for school department staff and the Board itself; periodically review and update job descriptions.

Communications Committee Chair:  REM Trustee  Scott Marshall
Purpose: identify current formats, methods and types of communication, identify and document current communication methods of the board with various stakeholders, identify current methods for stakeholder communication to the board, review recommended industry practices and identify improvements and supports needed, and recommend a communication plan to be adopted by the Board.

Duration: All committees shall meet as needed and all meetings will be noted on the school web site.

Structure and Composition: The committees shall be comprised of members appointed by the board with volunteers solicited. The composition of the committee shall include:

• Board Members
• Administrators
• Teachers
• Staff Members
• Community Members
• Parents (currently have students at CCS)

Limitations:

There is no authority vested in the committees. The committees shall not make interim decisions nor direct employees, faculty or staff of the school without the approval of the Board.

**************************************

Committee Criteria

The Board will consider the following criteria in selecting committee members:

• Big picture thinker with the ability to work out details
• Ability to successfully work on a team
• Effective communicator
• Professional experience

Ability to deal with complex systems and issues

Rural Education Matters Receives Notice of Acceptance by Grand Valley State University for Elevation to Phase II of the Application Process .

Grand Valley State University has Awarded Rural Education Matters Phase II Application Status to Open the Charlton Heston Academy in St. Helen, Michigan.

• St. Helen, MI, June 9, 2010:  The Michigan, Non-Profit Corporation named Rural Education Matters (REM) received notice today from Grand Valley State University that its charter school application to open a new K-8 public school in St. Helen, Michigan has been accepted and elevated to Phase II status.  While movement to Phase II status does not guarantee that REM will ultimately receive a charter authorization, their board president, Jennifer Jarosz feels confident that their application are worthy of consideration.  According to a letter from Grand Valley received earlier today, REM was one of eight applications of 57 that were considered in the last review cycle.   Jarosz said she thought this notice was a reaffirmation of the efforts of local community members that comprise the majority of the Charlton Heston Academy development team.

• Members of the Charlton Heston Academy development team have been working with a number of local community members, MidWest Management Group, Incorporated from Commerce Township, Michigan, and Essayons Consulting Services from Lansing, since November 2009 to create a new K-8 charter school in St. Helen, Michigan.  This initiative was spawned when the Roscommon Area Public School District decided to close the St. Helen Elementary School at the end of this school year, thereby leaving the St. Helen without a public school.  If successful with GVSU, the new Charlton Heston Academy will open in September 2011.

Meeting date: May 6, 2010

Call to order: A meeting of the Rural Education Matters was held in St. Helen, Michigan on May 6, 2010.  The meeting was called to order at 7:13 p.m., President Jennifer Jarosz.

Members in attendance: Jennifer Jarosz, John Brownfield, Richard Wood, Scott Marshall, Jan Waltz, Pam Colby and Veronica Bridson.

Minutes: Motion was made by Richard Wood seconded by Jan Waltz to accept the minutes of the April 1, 2010 regular meeting as presented.  Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report: Motion was made by John Brownfield and seconded by Richard Wood to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented.  Motion carried.

Adjournment: Motion was made by Richard Wood and seconded by Jennifer Jarosz to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Legislature Passes Landmark Teacher Retirement Reform
Charter schools retain flexibility to participate in MPSERS

At 4:17 am this morning, the Michigan House of Representative voted 56-45 to concur in the conference report for SB 1227 (Gilbert), the teacher retirement reform bill.  At 1:30 am the State Senate voted 21-14 to accept the conference report as well.  The legislature also passed HB 4073, whicvh creates the Retiree Health Care

Key features of the bill include the following:

• A financial incentive to retire this summer for school teachers currently eligible.
• A 3% employee contribution to the new retiree health care trust fund.
• Creation of a new “hybrid” pension system for new school employees, which is a combination of Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution plan.
• Charter school employees, as well as all 3rd party contracted school employees, will not be forced to join MPSERS.

Please click here for the Senate Fiscal Agency analysis of the conference report.

Passage of these reforms are intended to save school districts over $3.0 billion in the next 10 years.

MAPSA owes a debt of gratitude to all of our supporters and advocates who contacted key legislators during the past month.  Your pro-active grassroots communication was a key to this legislative victory.

Click here to read a MIRS article about the legislation.

If you have any questions regarding this or any public policy issue facing charter schools, please contact Gary G. Naeyaert, MAPSA Vice President for Public Relations & Legislative Affairs, at 517-374-9167.

The Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA) has been the unified voice of the public charter school movement in Michigan since 1996.  MAPSA represents over 110,000 students, 5,000 teachers, dozens of authorizers and more than 50 education service providers working in 243 public charter schools in the state.  MAPSA assists the state’s public charter schools in their mission to deliver achievement, choice and accountability through our advocacy, communications, technical assistance and professional development services. For additional information, please visit www.charterschools.org

MAPSA
215 S. Washington Square, Suite 135
Lansing, MI  48933
517.374.9167 p | 517.374.9197 f
www.charterschools.org

This e-mail was sent from Michigan Association of Public School Academies

This e-mail was sent from Michigan Association of Public School Academies (mapsa@charterschools.org) and forwarded to REM Newsletter Subscribers.

Thank you to everyone that has been with us through this venture. It is an exciting time for St. Helen.

Be sure to visit Rural Education Matters Online.

Meet the new School Board Candidates April 29, 2010 7 pm at the Richfield Township Building

Next Board Meeting is on 5-6-2010 at 7pm at the Richfield Township Hall

Don’t forget to get out and vote for School Board Trustees and Millage Renewals on May 4th. Absentee ballots are available at the township hall.