Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Panelists at Novi's education forum discuss how Michigan's public schools should be funded.
Despite the lower attendance at the education forum at Novi Middle School Monday, the panelists -- teachers, administrators and politicians -- had much to discuss including public finance of education. “Our funding structure and our school structure are not congruent,” said Casandra E. Ulbrich, vice president of the state board of education, D-Rochester Hills. Proposal A was a running theme throughout the forum. Proposal A education funding and property tax reforms, approved by Michigan voters in 1994, were meant to fund local schools. However, Proposal A restricts the number of new millage for operations that districts can ask voters to approve. Also, schools must ask all voters in the intermediate school district in which they are …
Panelists talked about teacher evaluations and its effect on teacher recruitment at Novi's education forum.
Teachers, administrators and politicians came together at an education forum at Novi Middle School Monday to discuss Michigan's responsibility toward educating its population. Panelists spent part of the evening talking about teacher evaluations. "For one thing, we have to stop bashing teachers,” said Kathleen Straus, D-Detroit, of the state board of education. Teacher evaluations are not meant to destroy them but are meant to help them do their jobs better, she said. A teacher from the audience told the panelists that he was concerned about his performance being based off of his students' tests because of a new evaluation starting next year where 25 percent of a teacher's performance is based on student scores on standardized tests. …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Teachers, administrators and politicians gathered in Novi to discuss Michigan's responsibility toward educating its population.
Cuts to education funding in Michigan are a big concern for educators and parents of children in public schools. “We’re diverting a whole bunch of money from our public schools and I think it’s terrible,” said Michigan Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood, D-Taylor, at an education forum at Novi Middle School Monday night. Local teachers, administrators and politicians came together at the forum to answer the question of what Michigan's responsibility is toward educating its population. “All of our schools are being required to do more with less,” said Sheila Paton, treasurer of the Plymouth-Canton Community school board. Panelists spent the first part of the evening discussing student performance. Bill Rustem, Governor Rick Snyder's director of …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
WXYZ Channel 7 anchor JoAnne Purtan will moderate Monday's public education forum in Novi.
Teachers, administrators and politicians will come together Monday in Novi to answer the question of what Michigan's responsibility is toward educating its population. The Novi Education Association is holding the education forum, moderated by WXYZ Channel 7 anchor JoAnne Purtan, 6:15 to 9 p.m. Monday in Novi Middle School's auditorium. Northville Public Schools board of education Trustee Scott Craig will also attend. "We really wanted to make sure we give the parents and the general community an opportunity to learn about the education reforms taking place in Michigan," said Seth Furlow, Novi Education Association's public relations chair and science teacher at Novi High School. He said there was a similar forum in Ann Arbor a few weeks…
Thursday, May 9, 2013
City residents will receive tickets of $50-$100 if they don't follow the new water restrictions.
The City of Northville exceeded its water limit last year according to contracts with the City of Detroit. The city had to pay a penalty fee of $120,000 for the year, said Jim Gallogly, director of public works. Because the rates went up, the city decided to make water restrictions mandatory year-round. Starting in a little over a week, City of Northville residents will only be allowed to water their yards and gardens on odd or even days depending on the last digit of their home addresses. In addition, those residents with underground sprinkler systems can only use them between midnight and 5 a.m., Gallogly said. Those that water with a hose can do it between 11 a.m. and midnight on their assigned days, he said. "They can't do it in the …
The Marketplace Fairness Act was approved this week in the U.S. Senate, and is headed to the Republican-controlled U.S. House for consideration. Both Michigan's senators voted for the bill, which would require merchants to collect state taxes on internet
Michigan's U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both Democrats, voted in support of a bill that requires merchants to collect state sales taxes for online purchases. The Marketplace Fairness Act passed the U.S. Senate 69-27 on Monday. Next up, the legislation goes to the GOP-led House. President Barack Obama has previously said he supports the bill. Supporters say the bill would level the paying field for traditional local retailers and collect much needed tax revenue for state. Opponents, including anti-tax activists and retailers, say it will be overly burdensome on small businesses and would effectively result in a tax increase. Neither Levin nor Stabenow issued public statements after Monday's vote explaining their support of the…
Friday, May 3, 2013
Precinct 16, taken from portions of precincts 3 and 4 has been added, effective immediately.
Hoping to cut down on long lines and delays at the voting polls, a new precinct has been added in Northville. Precinct 16, taken from portions of precincts 3 and 4 has been added, effective immediately, according to the Observer and Eccentric. The new polling location will be at the township hall located at 44405 Six Mile Road, according to the Northville Township website. According to the Observer and Eccentric, state law says voting precincts can not have more than 2,999 voters, and both precincts 3 and 4 were quickly approaching that limit. For more information or questions, contact Katie Anderson, the Northville Township's voter registration official, at (248) 662-0541 or kanderson@twp.northville.mi.us.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The majority of the project was paid for by Northville's Downtown Development Authority, and funding did not come from residential taxes.
The two-story covered walkway, also known as the Comerica Community Connection, that connects Main Street near Comerica Bank to the Marquis Parking Lot opened recently in downtown Northville. However, the project is not fully complete. The plans include a plaza at the back end near the parking lot. "We're hoping in the next three to four weeks the construction will start on it," said Lori Ward, Northville Downtown Development Authority (DDA) director. She said the project is planned in coordination with a parking lot resurfacing project, so construction should take about four to six weeks. Since the project is not complete, Ward said there is not a final total for its cost. "The original contract amount was $697,000 dollars," she said. "…
42.431104
-83.482611
Comerica Bank
129 E Main St, Northville, MI
/articles/northville-s-covered-walkway-costs-750-000
1779935
/locations/9333501
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
What do you think should go at the site of the former Northville psychiatric hospital?
A recent step brings Northville Township closer to demolition of the former psychiatric hospital on Seven Mile Road and closer to beginning the $82.6 million master plan for its redevelopment. The Northville Township board of trustees approved last week the spending of an additional $288,000 from the township's general fund so the former psychiatric hospital’s powerhouse could be safely demolished. The recreational redevelopment plans for the property include a community center, picnic areas and an energy park with a solar field and wind turbine. However, nothing is final and the plans remain up for discussion. Northville Patch reader John said in his comment on a previous story that a place for outdoor performances should be considered. "…
42.42401
-83.448429
41001 7 Mile Rd, Northville, MI
/articles/readers-weigh-in-on-seven-mile-property-plans
/locations/9328779
Monday, April 29, 2013
Northville Township Board of Trustees approved an additional $288,000 for demolition of former psychiatric hospital’s powerhouse.
The Northville Township Board of Trustees approved using money from it’s general fund to have asbestos removed by hand from the former psychiatric hospital’s powerhouse. Last week, the Board of Trustees approved the spending of an additional $288,000 from the general fund, according to the Observer & Eccentric, so the structure could be safely demolished. During the State of the Community address in April, Township Supervisor Robert Nix told the audience that an additional $350,000 to $400,000 had been added to the cost of the demolition when asbestos was found on the property. The demolition project is in part funded by a grant, but Nix said the township plans to use the revenue acquired by the REIS development on the property -- the …
Michael Corliss
12:32 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
Times were tough for Michigan there for a while, and schools had to skimp, just like everybody else. That's life, I guess. But now that the School Aid Fund is recovering along with the economy, Snyder and his cronies are using it as a cash cow for his wealthy business buddies. That's just wrong. however you look at it. more ›