Local school districts 'race' toward memoranda deadline

Wed, Jan 6, 2010    to del.icio.us

Grand Haven and Spring Lake are among a slew of public school districts statewide being urged to sign a memorandum of understanding in an effort to win federal grant money from the Obama administration's Race to the Top competition.

The state is urging districts to submit their signed memorandum by the end of the week in order to include them in an application due to the federal government Jan. 19.

Local memoranda will be sent to the county's intermediate school district, where they will be compiled and sent to state officials, according to Spring Lake Public Schools Superintendent Dennis Furton.

The Spring Lake Public Schools Board discussed the issue at length during a meeting Tuesday and approved a resolution supporting the memorandum. The document will be signed by Furton and school board President John Nametz, Furton said.

Nationally, the Race to the Top program will disperse $4.35 billion among several states vying for the federal grant money. While there are no guarantees, Michigan could see up to $400 million in funds — which could mean $44,000 for Spring Lake schools.

"It's coming way too fast," Furton said of the memorandum. "But I think it would be a benefit to us to get that funding and be part of the program rather than being on the outside."

Initially, the each memorandum was to include three signatures: the district superintendent, school board president and union president. State schools chief Mike Flanagan said Tuesday, however, the state will accept the memoranda without union signatures. He acknowledged, however, that could weaken the state's chances to win the cash.

Teachers unions are advising against signing the documents until they get a better handle on what will be in the application.

Furton is unsure if Spring Lake's union signature will be on their memorandum.

"They discussed lots of concerns," Furton said of the board's discussion on the document. "They expressed concerns of the unknown strings attached to the state's Race to the Top application."

Furton explained that board members were concerned with the program's current "lack of planning" and issues discussed at the local level possibly being shifted to the state.

Spring Lake's resolution states that if they discover that the state's plan is not beneficial to them, they will back out, Furton said. Schools can withdraw from the program at any time.

"The board made it clear that, if it is not in the district's best interest, then we will back out," he said.

The Grand Haven Area Public Schools Board is expected to hold a special meeting at noon Thursday to discuss its memorandum.

Board members are reviewing information, but GHAPS Superintendent Keith Konarska also expressed concerns with the lack of details in the plan.

If Michigan is awarded the grant money, Konarska said Grand Haven could receive about $168,200.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.