Superintendent’s Corner: Operating Millage Renewal, County-Wide School Districts and More

Summer 2013 Project Update:  Work is underway across the district on a variety of capital improvement projects.   These projects, funded with sinking fund revenue as well as proceeds from property sales, are designed to provide safe, secure, and up to date learning environments for all of our students.   Thanks to all those who said “yes” to the sinking fund millage in November, 2012, needed capital improvement projects are being planned and will be completed each year for the next ten years.   For an updated overview on the projects being completed this summer, you can click here.

Royal Oak Schools Tax Rates:  When the sinking fund proposal was presented to voters in November, 2012, we believed that this new 1.0 mil levy would be partially offset by reductions to debt and hold-harmless taxes.   Last month, when the Board of Education approved tax rates for the 2013-2014 school year, they were able to reduce the debt and hold-harmless rates so as to totally negate the new 1.0 mil sinking fund levy.   This means that our total Royal Oak School millage rate in 2013 is the same as it was in 2012. 

Operating Millage Renewal: On November 5, 2013, voters in the Royal Oak School District will vote on an Operating Millage Renewal Proposal. The millages in the proposal have been in place since the approval of Proposal A in 1994 and were last renewed in 2006. The proposal would authorize an 18 mill levy on non-homestead properties; non-homestead property taxes are not levied on owner occupied primary residences. The proposal would also authorize a 3.4 mill hold-harmless levy on principal residences. The 3.4 mill authorization is a reduction from the 3.5030 hold-harmless authorization approved by voters in 2006. For additional information, including sample ballot language, click here. 

Arts Du Jour:  Arts du Jour is the official charity preview event of Ford Arts, Beats & Eats. The event will take place in Downtown Royal Oak onThursday, August 22, 2013 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. The purpose of Arts du Jour is to raise money and awareness for local charities, while giving attendees a special preview of the 2013 Ford Arts, Beats & Eats Festival. Included among the charities benefiting from the event this year are Royal Oak High School athletics and Blessings in a Backpack.   For more information, click here; to purchase tickets, click here (be sure to scroll down to purchase from the specific charity of your choice). 

State Superintendent Flanagan and County-Wide School Districts: Last week, State Superintendent Michael Flanagan proposed moving to a model for school districts in which many services now provided through local school districts would become services of county-wide or regional districts.   In his proposal, Flanagan suggested that such a move be mandated. (To read Flanagan’s letter to the legislature, click here.) During our most recent Royal Oak Board of Education meeting, I shared my initial reaction to this proposal and board members offered comments.  The Board did not take any official action regarding Flanagan’s proposal. Thoughts shared included the following: a) an affirmation of the value that can come through investigating new models for the delivery of services, b) a concern regarding mandates that erode the decision making power currently vested in Board members who are directly elected by citizens of the community, and c) the degree to which there is a disconnect between “solutions” such as county-wide districts and the causes of school district failures (including, disinvestment in education at the state level, erosion of enrollment due to unlimited charter expansion, and mismanagement).  To view the section of the Board meeting in which this topic was addressed, click here. 

2013-2014 Food Service Lunch Price Adjustment:  Paid lunch prices at Royal Oak Schools have not been adjusted in at least 10 years.   As a participant in the National School Lunch Program, we are required to price paid lunches to comply with Section 205 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.  As a result, lunch prices for the 2013-2014 school year will reflect a $.10 (ten cent) increase from the previous year.   The grades K-5 lunch price will be: $2.35.  The grades 6-12 lunch price will be: $2.60

Family Information Updates:  Are you changing your e-mail address?  Do you have a new phone number?  You can edit your contact information or change your password to something you'll remember at the MISTAR ParentPortal.   If you are moving, you cannot update your address using the Parent Portal.   All address changes must be made with the district central enrollment office which is located at 1123 Lexington Blvd, Royal Oak, MI  48073.

Moving?  If your family will be moving outside of the Royal Oak School district boundaries, and your child will be in grades K-8 next school year, you can apply to remain in the district through our Schools of Choice program (seats for grades 4-8 are limited and the application deadline isJuly 26, 2013.). If you are moving outside of the district boundaries and will be in grade nine or above, you need to register to attend school in your new district of residence. If you are moving, please contact the district enrollment office as soon as possible. We want to help you be in the right place for the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year.   If you have new neighbors, please encourage them to contact the district central enrollment office to enroll their children in our Royal Oak Schools.  

2013-2014 School Calendars:  Information regarding our 2013-2014 school year calendar has been posted to the district website and can be accessed by clicking here.   There are three documents related to the calendar available: the calendar itself, a letter providing an overview of the calendar, and a question and answer document.