More than 230 people have registered for the Center for Michigan’s Education Town Hall meeting on March 10 at Eagle Eye Golf Club just north of East Lansing. If you plan on coming, you have until this Friday to register because we’re all but “sold out” for this free event. Don’t delay! Reserve your seat today by emailing Laura Braun at lbraun@pscinc.com.
This is another in a continuing series of policy town halls produced by the Center for Michigan in cooperation with Public Sector Consultants, Inc. These events are designed to help citizens get more involved in statewide issues, mingle with decision makers, and help set a solutions-oriented policy agenda in Lansing.
Our speakers will discuss school finance, and additional best options for education innovation in the wake of Race to the Top legislation passed by the Michigan Legislature last December.
Our last event in November drew wide media coverage and more than 200 statewide participants to talk about long-term budget and tax policy solutions. In effect, the November meeting previewed some of the “grand bargain” reform discussions now underway at the Capitol.
The March 10 event will feature The Center’s interactive “clicker” voting technology and will focus audience members on the kinds of long-term education policy choices 10,000 people have deliberated in nearly 500 statewide Community Conversations since fall 2007, including:
Our list of confirmed speakers includes some of the most influential and experienced education minds in the state, including Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan, Kalamazoo Valley Community College President Marilyn Schlack, American Federation of Teachers-Michigan President David Hecker, Utica Schools Superintendent Christine Johns, University of Michigan Vice President Cynthia Wilbanks, and University Prep Academy Superintendent Doug Ross, as well as early childhood policy experts Judy Samelson and Jack Kresnak.
As always, this Town Hall features a free lunch afterward — but you have to earn it with provocative questions during the morning discussions!
2 Comments
After a long and successful career in a public school setting I worked for two years as a consultant in a Public School Academy. After this experience I am convinced that effective education of Michigan’s youth has moved beyond that which can be provided by traditional school districts alone. Congratulations for having an “Academy” representative as part of the March 10 Forum.
Thank you John and Phil! You’ve created a critical and much needed public organization; like Phil, I’ve been around the Michigan political scene for over five decades, and I’ve never experienced such sadness as what I feel today, pertaining to the desecration of our democratic system and political process in Michigan. It’s disgraceful! Not only relative to public education but on all levels of our State and National government.
The future of our State and Nation depend on the quality of education that our children receive, and we must never give up fighting for them, if we are to continue to be a World leader and a free democracy.
I look forward to your March 10th conference with eager anticipation!
Thank you again for all that you are doing for Michigan and our kids! Keep up the great work!
Regards,
Sylvia McCollough