Local Districts Named 2014 Best Communities for Music Education (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 27, 2014) The NAMM Foundation rates school districts across the county in music programs, and this year they have named 376 districts to their 2014 Best Communities for Music Education List. In Oakland County, Berkley, Bloomfield Hills, Ferndale, Oxford and Rochester Schools…
Six Year Old Playing with Lighter Starts House Fire (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 24, 2014) A six year old boy set fire to a pile of clothes Monday morning in the bedroom of his Royal Oak Township home on Glenlodge Street. The fire began at approximately 7 A.M., said Ferndale Fire Chief Kevin Sullivan, whose…
Gary Meier Announces Retirement from Ferndale Schools (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 20, 2014) After 14 years as Superintendent of Ferndale Schools, Gary Meier has announced that he is retiring. In a memo to Ferndale Schools staff, Meier wrote: “It is with many mixed emotions that I write this letter to formally advise you of my…
Preferential Polices Stricken from Ferndale Schools Contracts (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 20, 2014) At some point in the 1970s, language giving preference to the hiring and promotion of minorities, including non-Christians, made its way into teacher contracts at Ferndale Schools. The wording “Special consideration shall be given to women and/or minority defined as: Native American,…
Gov. Snyder Confirms Financial Emergency in Royal Oak Township (State of Michigan Press Release, March 19, 2014) Gov. Rick Snyder today confirmed his earlier determination that a financial emergency currently exists in Royal Oak Township. Under Public Act 436 of 2012, the Local Financial Stability and Choice Act, elected officials in the township now have…
Local Celebrities Read to Roosevelt Students (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 18, 2014) To an adult, it is twenty minutes away from their day jobs. But to the youngsters at Roosevelt Primary in Ferndale, the guests who come to their classrooms on Reading Day are celebrities and heroes. The tradition takes place each year in…
Roaring 20s Dinner Raises Money for Ferndale Education Foundation (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 15, 2014) The Ferndale Education Foundation had it’s annual dinner Friday with a Roaring 20’s Theme. With feathers, fringe and furs the fine ladies of Ferndale mingled with dapper gentlemen in suits. They enjoyed a delicious meal, watched dance, band and acting…
MEAP Scores Released, Improvement in Reading Celebrated (Michigan Dept. of Education Press Release, Feb. 28, 2014) Reading test scores for Michigan fourth graders improved for the fourth consecutive year, the Michigan Department of Education reported today. Results from the Fall 2013 Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) are reflective of what children had learned the previous…
Ferndale Schools Take Advocacy Trip to Lansing (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 19, 2014) Dozens of concerned parents, teachers, students, administrators and Ferndale School Board Trustees gathered in front of Ferndale High School for an early morning rally and photo opportunity Wednesday, and to send a caravan off on an advocacy trip to Lansing. Armed…
How Are Michigan Schools Funded: Kevin Deegan-Krause Explains (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 18, 2014) How Michigan schools are funded is a complicated subject, but one that Ferndale School Board Trustee Kevin Deegan-Krause hopes to help the public better understand. Deegan-Krause, who is also a political science professor at Wayne State University, gave two presentations…
School Funding Discussions Feb. 18, Advocacy Trip Feb. 19 (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 16, 2014) The Ferndale School Board and other advocates are focusing some of their efforts on Lansing as they grapple with the problem of less funding for public education. On Tuesday, Board Trustee Kevin Deegan-Krause will give two presentations on school funding,…
Ferndale Superintendent Takes Pay Cut, Hopes Others Will Too (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 12, 2014) Concessions continue as Ferndale Schools tries to negotiate their way out of a $2.4 million budget shortfall by asking employees for temporary pay cuts. Superintendent Gary Meier and Director of Finance Maureen Adams accepted 7.38% reductions in their contracts for…
Bridge Magazine Ranks Michigan School Districts (Crystal Proxmire, Feb. 9, 2014) Bridge Magazine looked at public school districts and public charters and compared them based on performance weighted by economics to determine how schools are performing compared to expectations. The publication used three years’ worth of data and ranked the schools. A score of 100…
Ferndale Schools State of the District Address Feb. 12 (Ferndale Schools Press Release, Feb. 9, 2014) Wednesday, February 12, 2014 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM 5:30-7:00 Meet the Board | 7:00 Address (Free and open to the public) Local Kitchen and Bar, 344 W. Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale The Reception will feature an opportunity to…
Ferndale Schools State of the District Address Feb. 12 (Ferndale Schools Press Release, Feb. 9, 2014) Wednesday, February 12, 2014 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM 5:30-7:00 Meet the Board | 7:00 Address (Free and open to the public) Local Kitchen and Bar, 344 W. Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale The Reception will feature an opportunity to…
Ferndale Schools State of the District Address Feb. 12 (Ferndale Schools Press Release, Feb. 9, 2014) Wednesday, February 12, 2014 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM 5:30-7:00 Meet the Board | 7:00 Address (Free and open to the public) Local Kitchen and Bar, 344 W. Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale The Reception will feature an opportunity to…
Mode Shift’s Road Map To Understanding SEMCOG (David Sands, Mode Shift, Feb. 2, 2014, orig. wearemodeshift.org/mode-shifts-road-map-understanding-semcog) It was a noteworthy 2013 for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. The organization not only helped jumpstart the new Regional Transit Authority, but it’s been busy developing a regional non-motorized transportation plan and conducting an analysis of rapid transit…
Education Advocacy Trip to Lansing Planned for Feb.19 (Ferndale Schools, Jan. 31. 2014) Join the Ferndale Board of Education, administration, union leaders, municipal leaders, PTA and your neighbors and travel to Lansing to advocate for the fair funding of our schools. Although legislator schedules are tentative, this schedule is being designed to allow participants maximum…
Jazz Bands Play at Treat Dreams for Blues Fest (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 31, 2014) As part of the annual Ferndale Blues and Music Festival, Jazz Bands from Ferndale Middle School and Ferndale High School played a special concert at Treat Dreams. Parents and supporters enjoyed the student performances, as well as the custom…
Jazz Bands Play at Treat Dreams for Blues Fest (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 31, 2014) As part of the annual Ferndale Blues and Music Festival, Jazz Bands from Ferndale Middle School and Ferndale High School played a special concert at Treat Dreams. Parents and supporters enjoyed the student performances, as well as the custom…