Education news

Category: K-12

Detroit Public Schools seeking bids on 65 vacant properties

Detroit Public Schools wants to sell more than 65 vacant properties and schools. The district is currently seeking offers. Properties are sold "as is" and will not be available for interior inspection. The list of properties and proposal packets are available on the district's web site.

Category: K-12

'Drugs 101' seminar for parents slated for Plymouth

The Canton Police Department has joined forces with Saint Joseph Mercy Health System to provide a free two-hour "Drugs 101: What Parents Want to Know" class to help families recognize signs and symptoms on teenage drug use.

The first two-hour class for adults is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15, in the cafeteria of Pioneer Middle School Cafeteria in Plymouth. Another nine classes will be offered in various locations through May 13.

Parents will learn how to identify drug paraphernalia in a mock teenager's bedroom. The interactive class will also address trends of alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, marijuana and other drugs as well as the legal consequences and physical affects on the body.

To register visit, www.sjmercyhealth.org. For information, call Saint Joseph Mercy Health System at (734)398-7518, or the Canton Police Department at (734) 394-5424.

Additional classes will be held:

* Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, 1:00 p.m. - St. John Neumann Church, Canton

* Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, 6:30 p.m. - Discovery Middle School Cafeteria, Canton

* Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009, 6:30 p.m. - Bentley Elementary Cafeteria, Canton

* Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - Summit on the Park, Chestnut Room, Canton

* Thursday Feb. 11, 2010, 6:30 p.m. - Farrand Elementary Gym, Plymouth

* Saturday, March 6, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - Plymouth Public Library, Plymouth

* Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 6:30 p.m. - Fiegel Elementary Gym, Plymouth

* Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 6:30 p.m. - Field Elementary Gym, Canton

* Thursday, May 13, 2010, 6:30 p.m. - Summit on the Park, Chestnut Room, Canton

Category: K-12

Detroit Public Schools to hold public meetings on bond referendum

Detroit Public Schools will hold a series of town hall meetings to provide the public with details on a bond referendum that would fund the construction of eight new schools and upgrades to 10 existing school buildings.

The issue, dubbed Proposal S, will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot, and would allow the district to tap about $500 million in federal stimulus funds over the next 2 years. Residents' taxes would remain the same if the bond issue is approved, district officials said.

The dates and times of the meetings are as follows:

5 p.m. Sept. 21, Denby, 12800 Kelly Road

5 p.m. Sept. 22, Finney, 4180 Marlborough St.

5 p.m. Sept. 23, Maybury, 4410 Porter St.

5 p.m. Sept. 28, Bethune, 10825 Fenkell St.

5 p.m. Oct. 5, Henry Ford, 20000 Evergreen Road

5 p.m. Oct. 6, JR King, 15850 Strathmoor St.

5 p.m. Oct. 7, Southwestern, 6921 W. Fort St.

5 p.m. Oct. 8, Mumford, 17525 Wyoming St.

5 p.m. Oct. 12, Western International, 1500 Scotten St.

5 p.m. Oct. 14, King High, 3200 E. Lafayette St.

7 p.m. Oct. 14, Marcus Garvey, 2301 Van Dyke St.

5 p.m. Oct. 20, Cooley, 15055 Hubbell Ave.

7 p.m. Oct. 20, Duffield, 2715 Macomb St.

5 p.m. Oct. 27, Northwestern, 2200 W. Grand Blvd.

7 p.m. Oct. 29, Mark Twain, 12800 Visger St.

Category: K-12

Middle school students in Wayne to learn how to combat swine flu

Wayne County Department of Public Health officials and County Executive Robert Ficano launched a "Wash Your Hands" campaign at 10 a.m. Thursday at Discovery Middle School, 45083 Hanford in an effort to reduce the spread of H1N1 and other communicable diseases as we get closer to flu season. The middle school students will learn how to wash hands properly.

Category: K-12

Supreme Court chief justice to discuss Constitution with students

Teachers looking for a lesson plan idea for Constitution Day are getting some help from the Michigan Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly will participate in a webcast in which she reads "The U.S. Constitution," an illustrated book by Norman Pearl and Matthew Skeens, to a group of third- through fifth-grade students. Kelly will also discuss with the students constitutional principles and why the Constitution is important to children.

The webcast focus is on younger students, since there are many materials and resources available to students in middle school or high school, Kelly said.

"We wanted to provide a learning opportunity for younger students that's both substantive and accessible to them," she said in a statement.

Federal law requires schools to teach about the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, the date the document was signed in 1787, or close to that day.

View the webcast here.

In addition to the webcast, the Michigan Supreme Court Learning Center will offer tours of the Hall of Justice, a scavenger hunt and discussions with judges.

Category: K-12

DPS gives away tickets to taping of Cosby ad

Detroit Public Schools will give away a limited number of tickets to the taping of a public service announcement starring actor, activist and comedian Bill Cosby this weekend.

Cosby will tape the segment, which will feature district students, on Sunday at the Detroit Public Library's main branch, 5201 Woodward Ave. The ad will tout the library, the school district and Wayne County Community College District.

Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first served basis. For information, call (313) 872-2202.

Category: K-12

State superintendent issues video welcome, update

In his latest video podcast, State Superintendent Mike Flanagan welcomes students back to school, updates constituents on state initiative and even waxes nostalgic about his school days.

See the video here.

Category: K-12

DPS high schools to start 30 minutes later in second semester

Following student complaints, Detroit Public Schools officials have decided to have high schools start a half-hour later in the second semester.

Students told Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb and comedian and actor Bill Cosby on Tuesday that they need more sleep so they can be prepared for school.

Bobb announced Wednesday that the times would move from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.

"Having well-rested students who come to school prepared to learn is one of our top priorities," Bobb said. "In launching our major back to school "I'm In" enrollment campaign, we have asked just two things of parents: get your children to school on time and help them get a good night's sleep. We believe that moving back the high school start time allows us to help parents meet those important goals."

Bobb and his academic chief, Barbara Byrd-Bennett, said national medical research confirms that teens sleep patterns lead to later waking times.

Category: K-12

Wayne State launches tutoring program for 1-8 graders

First through eighth graders who need help with their reading and writing skills can get help through a special program at Wayne State University.

Spaces are available in the College of Education's reading program, which will provide free tutoring at 5:15-6:30 p.m. on Thursdays from October through April. Sessions will be held in Room 30 of the College of Education building.

Tutoring is provided by students in the master's program in reading. There will be a limited number of spaces, and students will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who don't get in will be placed on a waiting list.

To apply for the program,visit this site or contact Renee Konarzewski at (313) 577-1742 or send an e-mail to ab7419@wayne.edu.

Category: K-12

Worthy, Flanagan added to DPS school safety event

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan have been added to the roster of officials who will participate at a Detroit Public Schools round table.

The School Safety and Security Round Table, hosted by Mayor Dave Bing and Detroit Public Schools' emergency financial managager Robert Bobb, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday at Cass Technical High School, 2501 Second Avenue.

The goal of the roundtable, district officials said, is to hear from security experts, community leaders, parents and students with respect to safety and security policy in the district.

Only those who sign up in advance will be allowed to speak. The deadline to contact organizers is 5 p.m. Saturday. The time limit is three minutes. To participate, call Valerie Mitchell at (313) 870-3772.