Tag: Derrick Lopez
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Commentary: Three budgets, three deficits, three crises?
By Paul Rozycki “Flint’s ‘comeback story’ at odds with its bleak fiscal outlook” Chad Livengood, Crain’s Detroit Business, Nov. 10, 2019 “Dismal finances place future of Flint Community Schools in doubt” Mark Bullion, WJRT, Nov. 5, 2019 “With budget issues looming, Genesee County looks to sell Lake Huron property,” “Genesee County commissioners ask departments to…
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Education Beat: School closures put on hold as Flint School officials search for deficit solutions
By Harold C. Ford “We have to get to a number that will allow us to be a viable district…We have too much infrastructure for the number of students we’re trying to educate.” …Derrick Lopez, superintendent, Flint Community Schools The elected and appointed leaders of Flint Community Schools (FCS) have decided to keep looking for…
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School board to meet on deficit elimination plan, school closings Tuesday, Nov. 19
By Harold C. Ford The Board of Education of the Flint Community Schools (FCS) will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Southwestern Classical Academy, 1420 W. 12th St., to consider a controversial deficit elimination plan. The plan is expected to result in the closure of several buildings in the financially…
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Education Beat: School board mulls water system, promotions, residency flap, attrition and retention concerns
By Harold C. Ford The month of October was filled with consequential developments and decisions for Flint’s public schools at the Oct. 9 (Committee of the Whole) and Oct. 16 (Regular Board Meeting) board of education meetings. It included the introduction of “smart water stations”, the launch of a new partnership with the Michigan Association…
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Education Beat: Flint schools lose 60 educators, 833 years of experience in 2019
By Harold C. Ford What had been a steady stream of educators departing Flint Community Schools (FCS) in the first seven months of 2019, became a torrent in August and September. According to FCS records posted at its website, the district lost 60 educators with 833 years of experience from January to September. FCS “Personnel…
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Education Beat: Flint Schools launch balanced calendar as donated AC units help mitigate heat
By Harold C. Ford “We always talk about our kids being our most valuable resource, so let’s act like it.” — Flint Mayor Karen Weaver at Brownell STEM Academy assembly upon delivery of donated air conditioners Aug. 20 Flint Community Schools (FCS) launched its newly adopted balanced calendar for the 2019-20 school year on Aug.…
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Education Beat: Flint Schools move into second year of state partnership with new calendar, staff training, student enrichment
By Harold C. Ford The Flint Community Schools district has just concluded the first year of a critical three-year partnership imposed by the State of Michigan. The district will moves into the 2019-20 school year with a “balanced calendar” that has school starting for students Aug. 7 and with commitments to a program of staff…
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Education Beat: Admin shakeups, contracts highlight end of year for Flint Community Schools
By Harold C. Ford “Our buildings are not worthy of the children that enter them…There are lots of people who have been paid to do lots of things that have not done the things they were paid to do.” …Derrick Lopez, Superintendent, Flint Community Schools Administrative shakeups and the approval of ten service contracts highlighted…
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Education Beat: Flint Schools ending Year One of three-year partnership; two hires debated; middle school locale still uncertain
By Harold C. Ford (Note: The following article is about two recent meetings of the Flint Board of Education on May 8 and May 15. Subsequently, a “Special Board Meeting” was held May 21 at the district’s administration building rather than the usual location at Southwestern Classical Academy. The special meeting had been scheduled for…
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Where will Flint middle school students be in August? After dodges and feints from FCS, Baker campus seems likely
By Harold C. Ford “When parents are looking at where to send their kids (to school), there’s an awful lot of faith involved in the sense that, you may not have any money, but you’re investing your kid in a school district. It’s the job of the school district, the challenge of the school district,…
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