KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM/FM) — The parents of Woodward School for Technology and Research and the Washington Writers’ Academy in Kalamazoo can be assured those schools will stay open, possibly for generations to come.
That wasn’t so certain a few months ago, when they received letters from the Gov. Rick Snyder’s School Reform Office that those schools were closing and parents should look for alternatives. The angry backlash generated by those letters from parents, legislators and educators prompted Snyder to hand the issue back to Michigan Superintendent of Schools Brian Whiston.
The deal struck between the state and the district eliminates those threats, even if the district fails to meet school improvement goals.
Supt.t Michael Rice said the program they are embarking on focuses on using better teaching tools in a culture that encourages learning. He said the School Reform Office is reduced to a silent partner in this agreement, and the lawsuit that challenges its authority remains active.
Kalamazoo Public Schools trustees unanimously expressed delight that the deal means that the district will retain total control of the Woodward and Washington magnet schools, that parents no longer have to be concerned about the schools closing.
Trustee Ken Greschak said the agreement essentially ratifies and supplements what they have planned to do all along: Raise learning levels at those two schools. In fact, some of the changes had been approved as far back as last year. President Patti Scholler Barber said, instead of creating paperwork and issuing threats and being an adversary, the state is now working as a partner, and they can focus on the mission at hand, which is teaching children.
The agreement calls for reaching specific but attainable goals with reviews at 18 and 36 months. If they fall short, it’s up to the district, not the state, to propose remedies.
A similar deal was also struck Thursday for public schools in Detroit. Deals were struck earlier this week in Benton Harbor and Muskegon Heights.
