| Michigan Schools from Ann Arbor to DeWitt are | | | | costs are high on the list. Operations Director of |
| looking for ways to stretch their budgets, meet | | | | Grand Ledge Public Schools, Matt Losch, reports that |
| national accountability standards, and still provide | | | | his district spends an average of $420 yearly for |
| children with practical skills for the futures. The ways | | | | each student. That means over $2 million for a single |
| different districts of Michigan Schools are approaching | | | | district of the Michigan Schools. With rising fuel costs, |
| this dilemma are as varied as the schools themselves. | | | | Michigan Schools are actively seeking solutions. Some |
| From sharing classroom space to outsourcing work, | | | | of the answer include: replacing older buses with |
| the job of running a public school system the size of | | | | more fuel efficient models, outsourcing dispatch |
| Michigan Schools is changing with the times. FREE | | | | operations, replacing employed mechanics with a |
| TECHNOLOGY FOR MICHIGAN SCHOOLS Every year | | | | private contractor, and purchasing in larger quantities. |
| each district in the Michigan Schools must dip into | | | | The outsourcing alone is expected to save up to |
| their operational budget to pay licensing fees for | | | | $100,000 by eliminating salaries and benefits. Some of |
| district computers to use the Microsoft Office(R) | | | | Michigan Schools' Grand Ledge Board Members |
| applications. Last year that cost each Michigan | | | | expressed their concerns about contractor's bids, and |
| Schools' district about $24,000; a price tag that is | | | | the need to lay off employees. Representatives of |
| expected to double for the upcoming school year. | | | | the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) |
| DeWitt Public Schools has found a way around that. | | | | attended several board meetings on the topic and |
| Microsoft's Project allows a district to download the | | | | also expressed concerns. Losch has said that any |
| entire software for free. All Michigan Schools can | | | | mechanic laid off will have a chance to interview with |
| take advantage of this cost savings and install the | | | | the selected contractor. Schools around the nation |
| application on all computers, as well as in the | | | | are feeling pressure to invest the time and money |
| students' homes. DeWitt Schools Superintendent Tina | | | | needed to meet No Child Left Behind requirements |
| Templin says that, "Our students will be expected to | | | | for reaching higher standards and reducing class sizes. |
| be versatile in a variety of technology tools upon | | | | Michigan Schools endeavor to balance rising costs, |
| their graduation, not just the one application | | | | greater technological requirements, and the |
| promoted in the states." Open Office is considered | | | | ever-present issues of racial disparity. While cost |
| the global standard. All Michigan Schools are likely to | | | | effective methods like those listed are crucial for |
| be interested in cost saving software that prepares | | | | Michigan Schools, officials realize that they are just |
| students for success. OUTSOURCING | | | | one part of the big picture. |
| TRANSPORTATION AT MICHIGAN SCHOOLS As | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, |
| Michigan Schools look for ways to eliminate | | | | providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and |
| expenses, it's no huge surprise that transportation | | | | private K-12 schools. |