Manchester Community Schools
Educational Excellence in a Caring Community
March 2010 E-Newsletter
Welcome! Please forward this e-newsletter to other members of the community for us, and encourage those you know to subscribe to it by using the link that is on our district webpage: www.mcs.k12.mi.us
School and Community Calendars: What is happening in our schools? How can I find out what events are scheduled in each building? A district- wide school activity schedule is available on line: From the school district website, www.mcs.k12.mi.us, click on the “school activities calendar” on the left side of the screen. This calendar contains events planned in our buildings beyond the school day. Please contact individual buildings regarding special school day events. For information about community events, visit the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.48158.com.
Special Dates: Please keep in mind the following special dates!- March 15: 2010-2011 kindergarten registration packets available at Klager School office.
- March 9-11: Michigan Merit Exam (MME) testing at the high school.
- March 30: Parent Teacher Conferences from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Please contact school building offices for information on how to meet with your children(s) teacher(s).
- April 2-April 9: Spring Break!
Early Childhood Extravaganza: This special event is scheduled for March 18, 2010 from 2:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ackerson Building: This event is for children and families of children from birth to age five. For more information please call Becky Brewis at 734-428-9711 ext 1343 or Sue Colvia at 734-428-9711 ext 1344.
May 4 School Board Election: Residents of the Manchester Community School District will be voting in May for two school board candidates. Five persons have filed as candidates for the two positions. They are Ron Ellison (incumbent), Vicki Miller (incumbent), Jeff Messman, James Chiavare, and Robert Weinhardt. A “meet the candidates” forum is tentatively scheduled for April 13, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room. The forum is being co-sponsored by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and the Manchester Enterprise.
May 4 Ballot Proposals: Proposals for the renewal of two existing millages will be on the May 4, 2010 ballot. The two proposals renew the Non-Homestead millage that is levied only on those properties other than residents' primary residences. Key facts regarding these proposals included the following: - This millage is for non-homestead property only and does not apply to a person’s primary place of residence.
- This is a Manchester community millage vote only, and not a county-wide proposal. It is not a new tax. It is not a tax increase.
- Passage of the proposal protects the local non-homestead tax revenue that supports our schools. This tax is not collected on people’s primary residence. If this millage is not renewed, our schools would lose an additional 1.16 million dollars in operating revenue. This revenue loss would be on top of the reductions in state revenue with which the district has been grappling.
A question and answer document regarding the ballot proposals is available. To view this document, click here. Two community forums, on March 23 and April 20, both at 7:00 p.m. in the Board of Education Room of the Ackerson Building, are being planned to share information regarding these critically important proposals with the community.
2010-2011 Budget Planning: Our planning process for the 2010-2011 school year is well underway. You can view a copy of the 2010-2011 budget planning document that was shared with the school board on February 22 by clicking here. There are two scenarios described: Scenario A, which is based on the ballot proposals on May 4 being approved, and scenario B, which is based on the May 4 ballot proposals being defeated. Please review them both. Over the past three budget cycles we have made nearly $800,000 worth of spending reductions. In the best case scenario for 2010-2011, we are faced with making a minimum of an additional $600,000 or more in reductions. Decisions made in Lansing are having a dramatic impact on our schools! Please contact your elected representatives regarding critical school reform legislation being considered in Lansing.
Kindergarten Registration: We had a good turnout for the “Getting Ready for Kindergarten” evening that was held on February 4, 2010. The next step in the Kindergarten registration process is distributing registration packets. These will be available at Klager School beginning March 15, 2010 . The other key date to remember is Saturday April 24. From 9:00 a.m. to noon on this day, we will have a Kindergarten Registration Celebration at Klager School. Please share this information with prospective kindergarten families (families with children who will turn five before December 1, 2010).
Living on Less: Terry Jones, MSU Extension Educator, will be leading a class entitled LIVING ON LESS Monday, March 29th, from 8:30-11:30am in the Ackerson Board Room. This class will explain how to develop a spending plan, reduce flexible expenses and reduce debt. It will also focus on the feelings of loss associated with having a reduced income and how to take control of your money again. For more information and/or to register, call Beckie Brewis at 428-9711 x1343 or MSU Extension at 734-222-3943
Energy Star Recognition: Because of the efforts of staff, students, and community members, we are proud to announce that every building in our district is eligible for special Energy Star recognition. Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Becoming an Energy Star qualified facility recognizes our efforts at meeting strict energy performance standards set by the EPA.
Thank You: A special thank you is extended to the members of our transportation department. We are grateful for the care with which they do their jobs every day, and we are especially grateful for their efforts on winter weather days.
March is here! Can spring be far behind? |
|
Connecting to Facebook