| Brighton Schools Getting new Super; Kenneth Watson? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 2 2006, 12:36 PM (1,892 Views) | |
| bee | Jan 4 2006, 01:24 PM Post #46 |
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Principal
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I understand that One Observor. I wasn't saying anything about where the information came from. It was asked on here about information regarding a lawsuit that had been filed when Liepa was made LPS super. I was just giving the information. B |
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| Tyler_Parent | Jan 4 2006, 02:17 PM Post #47 |
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Principal
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Got it. Personally, (if I were Freeman) I would have placed a paragraph or more speling out the point that was trying to be made there. |
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| fyi | Jan 8 2006, 05:57 PM Post #48 |
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Principal
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Interim leader to tackle big issues By Christopher Nagy DAILY PRESS & ARGUS When Ken Watson reports for duty as Brighton Area Schools' interim superintendent, he'll be faced with settling the contract with the teachers' union, which expired over the summer, as well as helping draft the 2006-2007 school year budget in the face of funding shortfalls. "I have a good deal of sympathy for all school boards because many of the budget problems they are facing are not their creation and are in areas where they have very little discretion," Watson said. Watson was unanimously selected by the Brighton Area Schools Board of Education to be its interim superintendent Thursday. During that meeting, several board members noted that Watson's work in drafting budgets in the face of funding shortfalls while he worked in Livonia Public Schools was part of the reason they voted to tap Watson for the interim post. "I think he can bring some things to us that we haven't thought about," Board President Cindy Cvengros said Thursday. Watson was on the central office staff in Livonia in the early 1990s when Livonia made "significant cuts" in its budget. When he became superintendent in Livonia, the cuts over the previous years had dwindled the district's fund equity to $350,000 in a district that had a $100 million budget. Livonia thrived after Proposal A was initially passed, which restructured the way school receive funds from the state, but prior to his retirement from Livonia schools in 2003, the district was facing the same problems with Proposal A as many other districts around the state. "The economy slowed, and we were losing students," he said. "That's the double-edged sword of Proposal A. One of those things is bad enough, but when you have both happening at the same time, it's like a double drain." When Watson left Livonia, the district was back to making cuts. With Brighton now in a similar situation, Watson said his experience in dealing with cutbacks could be of assistance to the district, especially in finding creative ways to see Brighton through hard times. However, he noted that in hard times, creative and innovative ideas can only take a district so far, and reductions are still reductions and are bound to hurt some areas of a school district. As far as settling the contract with the Brighton teachers, Watson has also had experience in that arena. An interesting aspect to being tapped for the interim role in Brighton is that Watson has long been a family friend of Barry Goode, the president of the Brighton teachers' union. Both Goode and Watson said that friendship wasn't a relevant issue when it came to contract negotiations. "Each of us has a job to do, and you're going to do your job as best as you can for the people you work for," Watson said. "There aren't any compromises in that. ... I expect him to represent his members as best as possible." On the other side of the table, Watson said he would represent the school district's interests as best as possible. Watson was one of two finalists interviewed by the Brighton board last month to fill the superintendent's seat, which was vacated Jan. 3 by Dave Pruneau, who went to work in an Oakland County school district. The interim superintendent will hold the seat until the district concludes a search to find a permanent superintendent, a process which is expected to last anywhere from six months to eight months. The board authorized Cvengros to offer Watson a contract that would pay him $450 per day as interim superintendent, with a maximum payment of $2,250 per week. Although Watson met with Cvengros Friday to discuss the contract, he said he realized that the district wanted to get an interim superintendent in place as soon as possible in order to conduct its search for a permanent superintendent. "I know the district has a high priority on moving forward," he said. Originally published January 8, 2006 |
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| fyi | Jan 8 2006, 06:03 PM Post #49 |
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Principal
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Rich Perlberg: Questions and answers about schools It's time for some questions and answers. Does it bother you that Ken Watson, Brighton's new interim superintendent of schools, is a family friend of Barry Goode, president of the Brighton teachers' union? No. And it didn't bother me that the other finalist for the spot, John Hansen, was endorsed by the teachers' union when he ran for the state Legislature. These guys are professional educators. Watson at Livonia and Hansen at Dexter are former superintendents. It makes sense that they have positive relationships within the teaching community. As former teachers, it's beneficial that they understand the challenges faced by the school's most important employee group. A teacher advancing to the superintendent's office doesn't bother me anymore than a reporter advancing to an editor's desk. So, what does bother you? That it's January and teachers in Brighton — and Pinckney, for that matter — haven't settled a contract that expired last summer. Why is that, do you think? The easy answer is that teachers just won't accept the reality that money is tight and that wages and benefits make up the biggest expense line items. And it's true that the union fiercely protects the benefits that have been gained over four decades of bargaining. It doesn't help matters that many teachers take it as a personal attack whenever this subject is mentioned. But there's more to it. Many union leaders fear — with justification — that any concessions now will start a slippery slope in which future budgets are balanced on their backs. So, are teachers paid too much? I would never say that. We expect them to educate our children. How can we quibble about their pay? Besides, it's an impossible question to answer. According to the nation's largest teachers' union, only two states — California and Connecticut — pay higher salaries to teachers than does Michigan. That same study said that the average Michigan teacher's pay increased by 2.6 percent last year. That won't buy you a home on the Riviera, but it casts doubt on the argument that teachers forgo raises in order to pay for health-care benefits. What's too much? The average pay of a Brighton teacher is about what an automotive engineer makes a couple of years out of school. It's slightly above what a West Virginia coal miner makes. But I would rather that you rephrase the question. How so? Within the resources that are available, what is the best way to structure a wage and benefits package so that qualified people can be attracted to the teaching profession? And what resources are available? Great question. It sounds like a broken record, but Brighton and other Livingston County schools are among the lowest-funded districts in the state. That's hard to believe when you look at the growth and affluence in the area, but it's true. Nearby communities such as Farmington, Southfield, Ann Arbor, Novi, Northville and Rochester (which hired away former Brighton Area Schools Superintendent Dave Pruneau) have thousands of more dollars per student to spend. It's not that they are better money managers; it's mostly an accident of how the state funds schools. That's not to say that districts can't manage their money better, but it's a lot easier game to play if you have more money. What's your point? If the money supply is stagnant, which it appears to be, and if wages and benefits aren't curtailed, then the only other place to cut is student services. That's why Brighton hasn't filled its top curriculum position and that's why it temporarily cut high school busing this school year. The structural budget problems that created this situation still haven't been addressed. That's what bothers me. Rich Perlberg is executive editor of The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus. You can reach him by calling (517) 548-2000 or by sending e-mail to him at rperlberg@gannett.com. Originally published January 8, 2006 |
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| f11 | Jan 9 2006, 10:41 PM Post #50 |
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LPS, transportation for all
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Looks like Watson was vying for interim "super" in Ypsilanti back in april 2005 Board President Andrew Fanta announced there had been three applicants for the position of interim superintendent: Kenneth Watson, formerly of Livonia Schools; Patricia Dignan, formerly of the Milan and Detroit school districts; and James Hawkins, former superintendent of Ypsilanti. The board set April 20 at 6:30 p.m. to hear presentations from the three candidates |
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| fyi | Jan 12 2006, 09:55 AM Post #51 |
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Principal
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Sunday, January 08, 2006 Livingston County Brighton schools offer top job District taps ex-Livonia superintendent to lead system as it searches for permanent administrator. About Kenneth C. Watson Age: 63 Residence: Livonia Education: Graduated from Denby High School in 1960; graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor's of arts degree in 1964, master's of education in 1967 and doctorate of education in 1972 from Wayne State University Experience: Superintendent of 18,000-student Livonia Public Schools from 1994 until retirement in 2003. Family: Wife, Georgia, two daughters BRIGHTON -- Former longtime Livonia superintendent Kenneth C. Watson has been offered the top job at Brighton Area Schools on an interim basis. If he accepts, Watson, 63, is expected to serve the district for several months while the board searches for a permanent replacement for Dave Pruneau, who left last year for Rochester schools in Oakland County. Watson expects to be a working superintendent although he is not interested in seeking the permanent superintendency. He begins work the week of Jan. 16. "They're looking for someone to show leadership," Watson said. "They're not looking for someone to warm the chair -- Brighton is looking for something more than that." The board voted to offer Watson a wage of $450 a day or $2,250 per week with no benefits. The rate was determined by dividing Pruneau's $116,000 salary by 260 working days per year. Watson retired from Livonia Public Schools in 2003 after a 40-year career in the district. He had served as superintendent of the 18,000-student district since 1994. Brighton board members chose Watson on Thursday over retired Dexter Public Schools Superintendent John Hansen citing Watson's success in dealing with Livonia Public Schools financial difficulties, his extensive community involvement and his low-key manner. "Dr. Watson's district went through a lot of pain and agony that he handled successfully over the years," board trustee Greg Kushner said. "That would benefit Brighton in the coming months." Board president Cindy Cvengros agreed. "I, too, feel our financial issue is the largest concern of this district and Dr. Watson's experience in having to make budget cuts will bring some things to us to help lead us through this (financially challenging period)," Cvengros said. Trustee Dawn Boss reported that a long-time member of the Livonia school board said Watson was good at working with the teachers union and handling times when the board was in financial trouble. High school counselor and Brighton Education Association President Barry Goode, 41, said Watson is a man of experience, character and vision. "School superintendent has become a very unattractive job to people in education because there's no money," Goode said. "The state and federal government keep making mandates with less and less money." At the Jan. 5 meeting, the board decided to seek advice from Watson about how to pursue choosing a new superintendent. Watson said he would be glad to assist in the superintendent search. Linda Theil is a Metro Detroit freelance writer. |
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3:38 AM Jul 11