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 Grand
Rapids Schools Slice $18 Million
MIRS, March 30, 2005
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Detroit is not
the only urban school district facing a financial crisis. The
Grand Rapids School Board announced this morning that it is
filling an $18 million gap, but with some very painful steps.
Under the board plan, the local transportation and janitorial
services would be privatized. In addition, 25 administrators
will be out of a job. All school employees have agreed to use
more of their own money to cover health care costs.
The district has depleted its Rainy Day fund to a two-week
reserve, which is far below the recommended level of a 10
percent to 15 percent financial cushion.
One board source told MIRS last night that school closings could
occur as the district continues to lose students and is forced
to take drastic steps to balance the books.
This source complains that part of the district's financial woes
can be traced to the loss of students to charter schools, which
are allegedly "skimming" the best pupils from the district.
When the board went to Senate Majority Leader Ken SIKKEMA
(R-Wyoming) who is from the area for help, this source claims he
told them to first go to the county to pick up more financial
support before coming to him.
This was confirmed by Sikkema spokesman Ari ADLER, who said the
senator told the Grand Rapids superintendent that the
Legislature is looking at the issues of school cost and school
funding, but that district should look at the options it has at
its disposal to raise funds — an ISD-wide millage vote, for
instance.
State, Automakers Collecting Mercury Switches
Gongwer News Service, March 31, 2005
The Department of Environmental Quality and the Alliance of
Automobile Manufacturers announced Thursday a program to collect
mercury switches from junk cars.
The manufacturers have produced a video, viewable on the DEQ's
mercury pollution website, that explains how to remove the
switches. The companies have also agreed to pay for collection
buckets and transportation to disposal facilities.
The pilot will run until September 2006, when the DEQ and the
automakers will review its effectiveness.
"The mercury switch program is an excellent opportunity to
remove a source of mercury from our air and our waters," said
DEQ Director Steven Chester. "I strongly encourage recyclers and
other industries that process scrap vehicles to partner with us,
and make the commitment to help create a clean, safe Michigan."
"The auto industry has been a leader in removing mercury
switches from vehicles and continues to believe that a
comprehensive strategy is necessary to remove mercury from all
consumer products," said Alliance President Fred Webber.
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