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Lake Shore earns praise
District solves money woes, test scores rise
by Janet Sugameli, Detroit News,
October 21, 2002
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The Lake Shore school district is a bona fide success story.
Less than 10 years ago, the district battled financial
difficulties and an apprehensive community. Administrators had
even considered shutting down the district.
Today, the district is recognized by Standard & Poor's school
Evaluation Services as among 39 statewide that are financially
fit. In the meantime, students' MEAP scores have climbed for
five years.
Lake Shore, and South Lyon in Oakland County, were the only
Metro Detroit districts receiving the distinction in the S&P
report.
The study is based on what S&P calls the performance cost
index -- essentially, how well is the district doing, based on
its resources.
The report highlights districts that maintain the lowest
performance cost index and above-average MEAP scores.
"It reflects the average amount of money that you spend per
unit of achievement, so they looked at MEAP scores and how
much we spent in order to get those scores, and then they
account for handicapped students, economically disadvantaged
students or geographic differences," said Superintendent John
Brackett.
Lake Shore educators determined how they could improve the
school system and, over the past seven years, have focused on
implementing those improvements among its 3,400 students.
Administrators didn't want to get caught up in "quick fixes,"
Brackett said.
"We were going to focus on those things we felt would make a
significant difference over the long term, and we didn't let
down," he said.
"Every time we made a decision we passed through a litmus test
of how it would impact student learning. We liked what we were
seeing in our students' achievement scores, so we felt like we
were moving in the right direction."
Lake Shore High senior Jennifer Sanning said the challenges
are there for students who embrace them.
"I think we all put in hard work," said Jennifer, senior class
president. "There are a lot of accelerated classes here so we
are more knowledgeable about the MEAP test, PSAT and other
tests are going to be like."
Although it's not Macomb's largest district, she said, Lake
Shore offers a "wide variety of activities and involvement.
Everyone is open to trying new things here too."
Strong teacher-student relationships also create a
"closer-knit school community to help us reach higher
standards. Our school always tends to raise the bar," Jennifer
said.
The district spends an average of $7,800 per pupil, and has a
teaching staff of 189. It operates five traditional schools,
an alternative high school, a child care center and an adult
and community education center.
"There's no real magic or secret of what we're doing,"
Brackett said. "We're not satisfied with what we're doing. We
have a long way to go still."
The recognition from S&P "reaffirms we're on the right track,"
he said.
"This is something that our staff has worked very hard for, so
I hope it's an encouragement to them that all of our efforts
are showing," Brackett added.
The changes were not easy.
In 1991, when Brackett became superintendent, there were
plenty of financial difficulties. Voters approved a millage in
1994 that kept the school doors open.
Administrators have made a commitment to professional
development that reaches through the faculty and into its
non-teaching support staff, such as bus drivers. This year,
when it came time to tighten the district's belt,
administrators made sure professional development wasn't on
the chopping block.
The size of the district makes it easier to communicate, and
it allows us to know everybody and it helps in making
decisions about where do we go, Brackett said.
Lake Shore High teacher John Daly has watched the district's
progress over the past 10 years.
"I have become aware that I am very happy being a teacher,
helping students to see their potential and to let them know
that great things can happen to them too," he said. "With hard
work, surrounding yourself with good people, and having a
positive attitude, good things can happen to them as they have
to me."
Chris Farnham, 17, believes the teachers make the difference.
"Overall, the feeling in the community and the school,
including the teachers and parents, focuses on the students
and having them taught right," he said.
"The teachers have done the best job at that. They help out,
whether that is before or after school, to make sure students
are doing well."
Chris thinks the S&P recognition is deserved.
"Even though we are not the biggest school, we are getting
involved in a lot of stuff and have won a lot of national
competitions," he said. "(The teachers) are opening a lot of
doors for us to win those competitions."
Janet Sugameli is a Metro Detroit free-lance writer.
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