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00SL2
F L I N T O I D
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Flint schools to apply for federal bond to jump start sinking fund facilities improvements
Published: Wednesday, September 01, 2010, 8:29 PM Updated: Wednesday, September 01, 2010, 9:18 PM
Khalil AlHajal | The Flint Journal
FLINT, Michigan — The
Flint school district will apply for a Qualified School Construction Bond worth $15 million
after the board of education authorized the move on Wednesday.
The funds would be repaid over three years using revenues from the sinking fund millage that voters approved last month.
The bonds have spending restrictions similar to sinking funds, limiting usage to building and site repairs and improvements.
District Chief Financial Officer Andrea Derricks said Qualified School Construction Bonds, which are subsidized by federal stimulus funds, were distributed during the last school year.
Some districts didn't spend all the money they were allocated before a July 30 deadline, resulting in about $90 million in remaining funds, according to Derricks.
"They're considering reopening that process and reallocating that $90 million," Derricks said.
She said the bond would allow more immediate usage of sinking fund money the district is set to receive in the coming years.
"We would get $15 million within six months to hit the buildings hard and fast," she said.
Derricks said the first expenditures would go toward energy efficiency improvements that would save the district more money.
Board members Antoinette Lockett and David Davenport voted against authorizing the application.
"The issue for me is that there was no previous discussion about usage of the sinking fund dollars," said Lockett.
Superintendent Linda Thompson said the funds would only be used toward improvements allowed under state sinking fund guidelines, based on a facilities study conducted ahead of the millage proposal.
The district has not yet released specific plans for specific schools.
© 2010 MLive.com. All rights reserved.
Source: http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/09/flint_schools_to_apply_for_fed.html
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Cracked staircases at Sarvis Center to be replaced with limestone
Published: Wednesday, September 01, 2010, 9:45 PM Updated: Wednesday, September 01, 2010, 10:15 PM
Khalil AlHajal | The Flint Journal
FLINT, Michigan — The Flint school board on Wednesday
approved having two deteriorating concrete stair cases at entrances of the Sarvis Center replaced with limestone material at a cost of $31,500.
The northeast and west stair cases were
built in 2008 and could be replaced at the expense of the contractor because the precast concrete was not poured to specifications, according to Superintendent Linda Thompson.
[Photo] A staircase at the entrance of the Flint school district's Sarvis Center will be removed at the cost of the contractor that built it because the concrete was poured wrong. The district will pay $31,150 to have it and a second stair case replaced with limestone rather than precast concrete in order for them to last longer.
But the district is choosing to have them replaced with limestone, which will last longer and match staircases at the buildings other entrances, Thompson said.
Only board member Antoinette Lockett voted against the measure, saying she was unsure the district should again deal with the same contractor, Sorenson Gross Construction Services.
The Sarvis Conference Center is used as a banquet hall and houses Flint school board meetings and other district functions.
© 2010 MLive.com. All rights reserved.
Source: http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/09/cracked_staircases_at_sarvis_c.html
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New hires, recalls and layoffs approved by Flint school board
Published: Wednesday, September 01, 2010, 9:18 PM Updated: Wednesday, September 01, 2010, 9:45 PM
Khalil AlHajal | The Flint Journal
FLINT, Michigan — The Flint school board on Wednesday approved hiring six new teachers, six new paraprofessionals and recalling 10 previously laid off employees.
Another four employees were laid off.
District Human Resources Director Karen Pugh said the four were employed through federal Title I funds.
"Each school has its own Title I budget and after the dust settled, we had to reduce some positions," Pugh said.
Each of the four laid off employees had been in the district for less than one year.
Pugh said all the newly hired employees either had different skill sets and certifications or different seniority lists and pay scales than the four laid off employees.
The board also approved three employee resignations and two retirements Wednesday.
© 2010 MLive.com. All rights reserved.
Source: http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/09/new_hires_recalls_and_layoffs.html |
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Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:28 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The Flint schools illegally used school resources and personnel to lobby the public for the money for the sinking fund. According to some attornry general opinions, certain provisions of the Campaign Finance Act were created to prevent schools from such lobbying.
They certainly excluded some of the facts such as presented here. The Limestone sounds almost more cosmetic and why are taxpayers footing part of the cost.
They told us the sinking fund would be used for repairs that certainly don't fall under energy efficiency. Are they still subsidizing the churches that rent facilities? |
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Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:54 am |
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