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389 St. Clair, Grosse Pointe
Information: 313-432-3000
Human Resources:
313-432-3020
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& Instruction: 313-432-3040
Community Education:
313-432-3880
www.gpschools.org
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Information: 313-432-3880
GP PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Central Library
10 Kercheval; 313-343-2074
Park Branch
15175 Jefferson; 313-343-2071
Woods Branch
20680 Mack; 313-343-2072

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received one of only four awards given nationally for outstanding magazine covers.
A municipal election short on contested races concluded with few surprises and much relief for educators, who face steep state funding cuts but were at least rewarded with a continuation of existing tax millages.
Comments
ADK Decision: Tax Relief and Makes GPPSS a Better District
The logic of this decision is overwhelmingly in favor of a district-wide no fee All Day Kindergarten (ADK) program. I wrote a blog entry over a month ago providing my rationale for this decision and I would encourage everyone to read it. But I want to call a few key points out:
1. To the argument made here that this decision was made "without a nod to taxpayers" I submit the exact opposite is true. This move eliminates the unfair double tax extracted from families who have been enrolling students in the former fee-based Extended Day Kindergarten program. Michigan school districts receive full per pupil funding for all students, even half day kindergarten students. To charge those families extra for sending their children to an all day program for which we already receive funding is taxing them twice.
2. On top of this, the fee for the former program was being raised every year - equivalent to a annual tax hike. Taxpayers across the district should recognize this decision as an elimination of an unfair tax that was increased every February.
3. There was public discussion of this decision at least twice preceding this vote. It was made quite clear we would be voting on this a full month before we did vote. There were two community survey touching on the topic completed by more than 1,200 residents. There were multiple references to the issue on the district web site. At some point residents must take it upon themselves to remain engaged in these discussions.
4. The students who will benefit the most from a no-fee ADK are the ones who could least afford it. The community always asks, what are we doing to make improvements? How can we better prepare students to excel? Well, this is a great example. Ask families who have had children in Extended Day Kindergarten how well those students were prepared. If advocates for half-day kindergarten want to remove their children mid-day then they will be allowed to do so. Meanwhile, those who choose to stay will get a richer experience. That is the intent. The choice remains with the parent.
Having been on the Board for over four years and listened to the concerns of taxpayers, I am proud of my advocacy for this decision. It makes us a better district. We are often compared to Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham and neither of them have such a program as this. It is my goal that Grosse Pointe Schools be recognized as THE best district in the state. This decision is progress in that direction.
Read the papers. While well-heeled districts in the Tri-County area are closing elementary schools (Farmington, Bloomfield Hills) or are close to operating in a deficit financial position (West Bloomfield) Grosse Pointe Public Schools is investing MORE in core educational services with this decision.
Brendan Walsh