State Board Begins Forums to Discuss Public Education

State Board Begins Forums to Discuss Public Education

February 5, 2013

LANSING - The State Board of Education is helping convene a number of community public forums this winter and spring in order to encourage and facilitate public engagement and thoughtful discussion of current education issues, education reforms, financing proposals, and potential legislation.

State Board President John C. Austin said he and his colleagues are eager to encourage broad community, educator and stakeholder participation in these important discussions around education policy and direction for the state.

Forums currently planned are:

• Thursday, May 16, Okemos, 6-7:30 p.m. Chippewa Middle School, 4000 N. Okemos Rd., Okemos. Okemos Parent Council Legislative Committee, Michigan Sandbox Party. Contact: Angie Wilson, 517-898-1373, a.trapnell@comcast.net

• Monday, May 13, Novi, 6-8 p.m. “A Parent’s Guide to Public Education in Michigan” -  Novi Middle School, 49000 Eleven Mile Road, Novi, Michigan 48374,  Hosted by: Novi Community Schools, Novi Education Association, Farmington Public Schools and the Farmington Education Association. Attended by State Board President John Austin, Board Member Eileen Weiser, Michelle Fecteau and other key local and state stakeholders. Contact: Tom Brenner, 248-449-1500, tbrenner@novi.k12.mi.us.

• Thursday, May 9, Grand Rapids, 3-6 p.m.: Grand Rapids Community College, Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center, Room 118/120, 151 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.  Contact:  Kathryn Mullins, Executive Deputy to the President and Board Liaison, 616.234.3908, kmullins@grcc.edu
  
  
• Monday, May 6, Marquette, 4-6 p.m. Marquette Regional Education Service Agency, 321 East Ohio Street, Conference Rooms A & B. Hosted by: Upper Peninsula Center for Educational Development. Contact: Deb Asano 906-226-5133, dasano@maresa.org. K-12 Educators, administrators, teachers representatives, parents, community, civic organizations and education stakeholders
  
  
• Monday, April 29, Port Huron, 6-8 p.m., St. Clair Community College , Room 150, Citizens First Michigan Technical Center, Erie St. and Glenwood Avenue, Port Huron. Contact: Shawn M. Starkey, Executive Director of Public Relations, (810) 989-5767, sstarkey@sc4.edu

• Wednesday, April 24, Traverse City, 5:30-7:30 pm. Education Forum, West Middle School, 3950 Silver Lake Road, Traverse City, MI. Sponsored by League of Women Voters of Grand Traverse Area, and Traverse City Area Public Schools, Contact: Donna Hornberger, dsh_44@yahoo.com

• Thursday, April 18: Detroit, 4-7 pm. Education Public Forum: Hosted by Michigan State University College of Education K-12 Outreach - MSU Detroit Center, 3408 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201. (north of Mack on the east side of Woodward) Contact person: Megan Papoi, MSU College of Education, K-12 Outreach, 517- 884-6856, mpapoi@msu.eduWednesday, March 20, Macomb, 6-8 p.m., Macomb Intermediate School District , Room 100,44001 Garfield Rd Clinton Twp, MI, Contact Judy Pritchett, 586-228-3470, jpritchett@misd.net
  
  
• Monday, March 11, 6-8 pm, Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor: Little Theater, 601 W. Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Hosted By: Washtenaw Alliance for Education. An open discussion of education issues, policies and proposed reforms. Speaker(s): State Board President John Austin, and fellow SBE member Eileen Weiser; local education officials. Contact: Liz Margolis, Ann Arbor Public Schools: margolis@aaps.k12.mi.us
  
  
• Friday, March 1, Women Officials Network (WON) Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Doyle Center, 7273 Wing Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills. State Board of Education President John Austin speaks on Education Reform in Michigan; joined by State Board Vice President Casandra Ulbrich, WON President. Tickets can be purchased at www.womenofficialsnetwork.org or by emailing Pam Hansen at womenofficials@yahoo.com
  
  
• Monday, February 25, 6:45 p.m., Benzonia, MI "Challenges Facing Public Education in Michigan, and What it Means for You: Public Education Forum." Benzie Central High School, 9300 Homestead Road. Sponsored by the Benzie County League of Women Voters; 5:45-6:45 Potluck Dinner: 6:45-8:45 Program featuring State Board President, John Austin, NPR reporter Lindsey Smith, and local education leaders, Contact: Mike Ross: mike.ross0919@gmail.com, 231.882.5913
  
  
• Wednesday, February 6, 6 p.m., Monroe County Intermediate School District Professional Development Center, 1101 S. Raisinville Rd, Monroe. Forum: "Leading the Way: Building the Education for Tomorrow Today" with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education. Sponsored by the Monroe County Association of Boards of Education and the Monroe County Superintendents Association. Speakers: State Board of Education President John Austin, local educators. Contacts: Andrea Murphy, 734.242.5799; andrea.murphy@monroeisd.us, Stephen McNew, Stephen.mcnew@monroeisd.us
  

Additional public education forums are being planned, and will be announced as they are organized.