The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Academy grant used for other purposes
New band director at West hired
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: August 17, 2006
A presentation on the new ninth grade academy at Ypsilanti High School led the agenda for Monday evening's meeting of the Ypsilanti Board of Education.
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Executive Director of Educational Services Richard Weigel explained the ninth grade academy was begun because of a Small Learning Communities grant that had not been implemented by the previous administration.
The majority of the grant money was spent on sending administrators and staff to conventions, Weigel said, and the majority of those people are no longer with the district.
For all intents and purposes, the grant money has been used up.
The U. S. Department of Education (DOE) requires implementation of the program the grant was to pay for, however. Weigel reached an agreement with site overseers who visited the district last April as to how to streamline the poorly written grant so as to effectively teach students while meeting grant requirements.
Weigel, who has been employed by the district for the past year, outlined the problems concerning the grant, which was received in October 20054. The biggest problem to overcome was that the grant was for approximately $300,000, while the program outlined would have required an outlay of approximately $1.5 million.
In addition, the grant was supposed to be implemented in the 2004-2005 school year and run through the upcoming 2006-2007 school year. Because of the late implementation, Weigel has asked the DOE for a one-year extension on the implementation period.
Ninth grade teachers had not been informed of the grant until Weigel did so in January of this year. Weigel also admitted being unclear about the meaning of some of the specifications in the grant and will need to include discussion with the teachers on how those specifications can be met.
Having worked with the site overseers, Weigel and the high school staff have now established a SLC academy for the ninth grade that meets the overseers' approval and, at the same time, meets his own goals of improved educational challenges for all the students involved.
The ninth grade class now consists of three academies, grouped by the students' similar interests. This allows the core courses to be taught with a view toward those interests. Studies have shown the relevance of a course to a student's future plans and interests better holds student attention and improves learning, Weigel said.
Weigel's goal was to provide a challenging, rigorous and relevant curriculum for all students.
Weigel also presented findings regarding last year's MEAP scores and schools' Adequate Yearly Progress report. All elementary and middle schools in the district made AYP. The exception was YHS.
The board approved the hiring of Steve Feltner as the new band director at West Middle School. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and YHS. He replaces Matt Kazmierski, who moved to the position of high school band director.
Also hired was Tamara Bond to fill the position of media specialist at Adams Academy. She replaces Jovita Davis, who has moved to East Middle School.
Elizabeth Patterson has been hired as choir director at YHS. She replaces Nichole Brenna, who left the district.
In addition, Alice Gannon Boss was hired as the Culinary Arts and Hospitality teacher for the Regional Career Technical Center. She is a YHS graduate with degrees from both EMU and the University of Michigan. She replaces the late Anne Trapani.
The board accepted the resignations of Jessica Cruz, a kindergarten teacher at Perry CDC; Stephanie Foote, music teacher at Perry CDC; and Lisa Salowich, YHS media specialist.
The board elected trustee Andrew Fanta, Tom Reiber and Floyd Brumfield to serve as delegates to the Michigan Association of School Boards Delegate Assembly. Trustees Linda Horne and David Bates will serve as alternates.
The board has scheduled a retreat for Saturday, October 7. An alternate date of October 28 will serve if there are conflicts with the original date.
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