Genesee County School Districts Could Benefit With Funding
January 8, 2010
GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan — Some Genesee County schools stand to receive a sizable piece of the pot if Michigan is one of the states that wins a federal Race to the Top grant.
The cash-strapped Flint School District could see a windfall of $6.34 million, while Beecher School District would snag nearly a million and Carman-Ainsworth $600,000. Other districts such as Lake Fenton would receive less than $50,000 because the allocations are based on Title I funding, which assists schools with high numbers or percentages of poor children.
It’s money districts and charter schools are hoping will help pay to implement new education changes coming to Michigan schools.
Earlier this week, Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a package of education reforms that entered Michigan into the competition for up to $400 million in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education.
The legislation raises the dropout age from 16 to 18, gives the state the power to close failing schools and ties teacher and administrator evaluations to student achievement. More charter schools also could open.
“We can’t afford to take a chance on (losing) $6 million,” businessman Lawrence E. Moon told the Flint Board of Education on Wednesday, praising the district’s support of education reform. Moon owns funeral homes in Flint and other cities.
“Overall this is a good thing for education,” Flint Superintendent Linda Thompson said. “It’s a good thing for kids. We’re eager to see the details.”
It is not yet clear what restrictions will come with the Race to the Top money.
Beecher would get $969,804 in federal money, which would boost its $12.5 million budget by a lmost a million.
“Seventy five percent of our budget is salaries,” Superintendent Paul Baker said of the about 1,800-student district. “It is what would pay for things like teachers.”
To be eligible for the money, district superintendents and board presidents must sign memorandums of understanding by Tuesday, agreeing to the state’s reforms. The state also is seeking the support of teacher union presidents to strengthen its application to the federal government.
Thompson and Flint school board President Vera J. Perry have signed on and Thompson told Flint school board members Wednesday that she’s been in discussions with United Teachers of Flint President Michele Stinson about getting her signature.
Stinson could not be reached for comment.
Baker also is working to receive support from the Beecher Education Association.
Statewide, some unions have expressed concern over signing the document before seeing a copy of Michigan’s plan.
Race to the Top
The federal program announced in July by President Obama is a national competition among states.
It will award $4.3 billion in grants to support education reform and innovation in classrooms.
State applications to the U.S. Department of Education are due Jan. 19.
Potential impact
How much Genesee County school districts and charter schools could get if Michigan secures $400 million Race to the Top grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Estimates are based on districts’ and charter schools’ Title I funding.
School district amount
< ;p>Atherton $110,582
Beecher $969,804
Bendle $196,707
Bentley $94,474
Carman-Ainsworth $622,408
Clio $214,215
Davison $237,946
Fenton $139,338
Flint $6.34 million
Flushing $161,489
Genesee $93,211
Genesee Intermediate School District $0
Goodrich $43,230
Grand Blanc $224,727
Kearsley $183,640
Lake Fenton $45,374
LakeVille $99,322
Linden $77,886
Montrose $116,900
Mt. Morris $414,105
Swartz Creek $188,642
West wood Heights $235,381
Charter schools:
Academy of Flint $220,684
Burton Glen Charter Academy $153,419
Center Academy $118,386
Grand Blanc Academy $71,687
International Academy of Flint $298,819
Linden Charter Academy $226,509
Madison Academy $37,582
Northridge Academy $99,500
Richfield Public School Academy $165,956
Woodland Park Academy $35,476
Michigan School for the Deaf and Blind $0
Source: State of Michigan