EMS Parent Group Monday, March 5, 2007

A regular meeting of the EMS Parent Group was called to order by President Jane Jones in the conference room. Those in attendance were: Ken Sanders, Lori Heiden, Jane Jones, Deb Rexroth, DJ Holmes, Beth Reamer, Sue Reynolds, Suzanne Romero, Sharon Cressman, Lori Sawyer, Kim Shepard, Theresa Robinson, and Betty Steinke.

Minutes were read and approved as submitted.

Principal’s report—Wednesday, March 7th is conferences. Thursday, March 22nd is 5th grade parent orientation at 7:00 pm. No school on March 23rd-, end of marking period. March 12th at 7:00 pm Parent Forum at Dunckel. Topic is Birds and Bees. March 19th is Skating Party at Bonaventure at 6:30pm, as well as a Tripod Parent Forum. Parents are encouraged to attend. March 28th is a school dance. Cedar Point trip is June 8th. Parent Debbie Erickson is coordinating the trip. Permission slips must be in by March 22nd. April 5th is the deadline for school of choice. All elementary schools are open. Warner and East 7th grade is closed. Mr. Sanders will do his best to consider all teacher recommendations for fall. Please have recommendations to him by the end of the month.

Special Guest-Barb Kilka with Youth For Understanding Organization was our special guest. YFU is a student exchange program that has been in existence since the 1950’s. It provides a chance for students from other countries to experience a typical living situation of an American family. It is not a tourist/travel opportunity. If anyone is interested in hosting a student, go to the website at www.yfu-usa.org or contact Gail Wells (area rep) at 248-615-0307 or g.well1@att.net.

Discussion—Mr. Sanders explained that the information regarding FPS budget in the Free Press was incorrect. We have a 13 million dollar deficit. We will have a $220 per child loss because the budget must be balanced. There is a 2.7 million deficit at the High School level. The problem is not the school but how the school is funded. Only four percent of lottery goes to education. The rest is funded through sales tax. Mr. Sanders encouraged everyone to write the legislature to ask them to restructure the way schools are funded. Big impact of the budget cuts will be class size. Mr. Sanders also talked about the Middle School restructuring. Students will now have a 6 period day at 55 minutes each. More time in core academic classes and less time in elective classes. Sixth grade will now have a World Language class. Seventh grade will have a trimester of exploring a foreign language to see which one they would like to learn. Eighth grade will have a full year of one language. Math requirements for High School will start in Middle School. For incoming 6th grade, all classes will have the same math. Seventh grade math will be Algebra prep class.

Next Parent Meeting TBD.