The Rostrum, April 2011

Rostrum the

In the spread ...

Staff shows solidarity as budget cuts loom APRIL 29, 2011 VOLUME IV ISSUE 8 DEXTER HIGH SCHOOL 2200 N. PARKER ROAD DEXTER, MI 48130

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Friday, April 29, 2011

? g n i k r o w p o t s s r e h c a Could te

de strike lu c in ld u o c h ic job action wh e z ri o th u a to ty asks for authori n o ti ia c o s s a ' State teachers

news editor

as a belief ans hold such to most A mer ic in in be g tr ue it mocracy and e de ak d m in ge so ra al en e ld It wou ichigan ar teachers in M ider has proposed your word. that businesses would While many Sn y k el ic lik R . g w ith local cuts Gov , many less sted in dealin s can be by the budget public education budget re te in ay be m s hers if contract to Michigan’ ncerned teac governments hers can udents are co e strike ing that teac th ny parents and st dget cuts w ith a state-w id A d. re no r tivities ig te ac e ex bu n to thes her and D protest these to call at tentio r science teac a te do id pu sa m eo co , om er .”

Howev ident Joe R esident is a good idea ociation pres Education Pr by the of Education A ss a done deal, rd oa B holding om ncerned strike is far fr n Education A ssociation is a job Larr y Cobler is also co funding and t ga ol hi ou ho ic ab sc M t el cu he fe “T ove to hers e IO affiliate ean a lot state’s m ing how teac d members ar ichigan AFL-C votes regard said. “A job action could m could said he and other boar addresses M t ng ho gathered to ou w Ki ab b rs he Bo ng t ot hi en of e et s UAW presid and thousand action,” Romeo gs teachers might do. Ther at the at tempting to do som n s at the State ga ve al hi ha ic os M op rs in on rd Membe ions, Working er’s budget pr oa un yd B l Sn ua 11. (Susan ck of different th n-school day demonstrati id Ri 20 iv . , he a it. “Ind gan Gov ators,” March 16 no there could be e ng our legisl Ouimet protest Michi ing, Michigan, Wednesday, ti e; ac pl be a massive, nt am co ex en r be e sam ative l in Lans nsing fo capitol in La achers in Michigan wear th that said. “State Represent have been Capito etroit Free Press/MCT) le te /D ib n l sa ss re al Tu po ar re W is he It w r day ir t. l nato of a special T-sh school day, but until and Se dent Marshal n the bounds a color shir t or r views w ithi t relationship

by Superinten we can show ei on d th te ne te vi do ht in ra ig st be m d on ul ey a grea to dem something co votes and looks at what th ked to to visit the district so ain to them . “Dex ter has e are e d expl be as on, the law,” he said rd and the DE A, and w our an ill ti w di do r ad e te w ex t In ME A has all th D . ha er w be oa h th n B it em . he ca w e th se w el th ts ct ow cu n ra ng inte oards betwee ing these do, we won’t kn if there w ill just be somethi to directly lieve of School B how devastat or I discussing ways t session. I think we all be .”

A ssociation ch ke hi ri w aw st k, en a or join a strike, ht ily w as in ar et icate W jo N ss un a e t ce m ns in th en ne m io s t at ud co or no el st at gislators Legisl ctive way to gislative R rent and fe Le Le pa A job action is ef e r t th ei at t the os l th th m al ou d e h ab of id an sa dialogue w this w ill be th eeting w it ol because A nd Romeo and to have a when you have a for the last fe have been m missing scho r, ge ea ts ai sa ar is en ch es y th m ud t nt c st “A ou ifi t concern abou w ide strike are premature. in the from the Washtenaw C r meeting w ith them on a spec mething that is of ten lost ehe So a possible stat reason to expect a change ex ter months and have anot have been able to point issue. monstration.” to Michigan D e e w de no s e th ve ch as es by hi ha m th d w I ct ne al according e, ng pa an ri eg tim pl ill im du e ng ould ve 16 ar hi ti s ay yt ga ke M d on an r ter teachers w treme ne A lso stri calendar base iation,” Romeo said. them the ex unit y membe id doubts Dex m sa to r m t le s co ou ob nd ch C fu d ea oc g , w, an ice Education A ss think, though, that cuttin thing cuts w ill have. Finally ter,” portunit y to vo ts La icipate in a strike. ppen in Dex ld take the op cu ill do no part ou w et sh dg et Romeo does ct bu dg ri st bu that w ill ha gh ed di n os ou k r io in en op ou at th pr or in uc od e t rn ed n’ go th ve a w ic do go “I ns about ho k we have e that the er in f from the publ at th af nc st I un co , t r rt in ei fo t or th ga or ” pp un supp t is ildren. and su rs’ he said. “A but harm. “I not seem to our teachers tter impact their ch id he suppor ts teache h be do d it a ul s w h at co or it th ip at w sh sl ve up gi on ely relati come he sa ion and belie their and state le k together to id there are lik A nd while public educat eak ts, he also sa for teachers to that we can wor essage across.” gh ri l na io democracy or ts should be forced to br ut it m r point than en portant, Const way to get ou local governm Ethics and moralit y are im l and better ways to make a zen has the right ti ca . “ ci hi id y et sa er un he ev clearly word,” . “I think e actions are the values strike I believe. Thes contrary to

Kevin Skiver

Due to the downturn in the economy, it has been increasingly difficult for the state government to find money.

These struggles have affected many people and entities including school districts.

Under the state budget proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder, school districts would see a cut in revenue of about $320 per student for the 2011-2012 school year This means that Dexter could see a nearly $3 million decrease in its budget next year if Snyder’s budget is approved in its current form by the state legislature. Something Snyder said he’d like to see done by May 31.

But timing is part of the problem according to Principal Kit Moran.

“The problem is that the state completes their cycle at an awkward time for us,” Moran said. “As we plan for next year, they’re proposing to cut several million dollars from the school’s budget. In other words, we don’t know how much we have for next year. It could be bad, really bad or terrible. The only thing we can pretty much guarantee is that we won’t have more

money.”

However, budget cuts are the tip of the iceberg for the district’s problems, according to Moran.

“If there are major cuts, we have to decide what to cut,” he said. “Someone will be unhappy. If someone came to Dexter to play basketball, they’ll be upset if we cut basketball. If someone came to Dexter to do orchestra, they’ll be upset if we cut orchestra. Cuts will always leave someone unhappy. It’s our job to minimize just who’s unhappy.”

Dexter Education Association president and technology teacher Joe Romeo also knows about the effects of the proposed budget.

Using what he said is an arbitrary number to illustrate an example, Romeo said, “One more problem the district may face is that teachers could get laid off.

If I was asked to pick 10 teachers to leave the school next year, I couldn’t do it. There are too many good, young teachers here, but it’s not fair to lay off veteran teachers close to retirement.”

The last problem Michigan’s school districts may face is that they may not even be able to make up their own budget plans if they are in financial trouble.

“Another proposition by Gov. Snyder is for new

financial managers, which will be dispatched to struggling districts,” Moran said. “These people will have full control over what the district does. If they see something that they think a district doesn’t need, they’ll have full power to cut it. So they can say, ‘Womens and mens basketball isn’t important, so that’s gone.’ That’s scary stuff, because then what’s cut is completely out of the district’s control.”

These budget cuts could also hurt one of the aspects of the district that sets it apart, according to Romeo.

“If there are teachers laid off, classes will need to expand to accommodate the lack of teachers. Dexter is great for its ability to have one-on-one time between teachers and students,” Romeo said. “If classes expand from 27 students to 30 students, some of that one on one time is lost.”

Needless to say, no one enjoys cuts, and they always end up hurting someone, which is particularly hard on Moran.

“It’s like a family,” he said. “If someone’s pay gets docked, the family goes around at the dinner table. It’s really difficult to reach a consensus, since everyone has different needs. Now, the district has the needs of 1200 students – plus their parents – to consider.”

The budget, new teachers and a lot of worry

Other bills being considered

an analysis by staff writer

Dan Edwards

•Senate Bill 171 is the budget bill for community colleges. The Senate Appropriations Community Colleges Subcommittee recommended cutting community college funding by $10 million.

•Senate Bill 178 will cut university funding by 15 percent. The Senate Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee meets Tuesday to make decisions on the proposal.

Money photo by Tracy O used with permissions under a Creative Commons license

Friday, April 29, 2011

Severe budget cuts could hit district for '11-'12

r staff write h y H a n s e n Murp

Senate Bill 183 was approved by the Senate Appropriations K-12, School Aid, Education Subcommittee. It includes a $340 per pupil cut.

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Photo by Carl Schimmel

New in town: English teacher Sarah Ashman is new to Dexter this year. Ashman said she is worried about Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget proposals and what it means for new teachers’ jobs.

Michigan has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country along with a rapidly rising debt. Some think the best way to solve the problem is with drastic budget cuts and lower taxes.

In fact, that was the premise that newly-elected Republican Gov. Rick Snyder depended heavily on to get elected. He said he would balance the budget, erase the state’s debt and turn Michigan back into a glorious state. But looking at what Snyder’s current agenda says, this isn’t what many educators had in mind.

To help balance the budget, Snyder is proposing a 8- 10 percent cut to Michigan’s schools and a $1.4 billion cut in other programs.

The current proposal would also take $700 million in public school funds and give it all to

colleges and universities, which really irritates Principal Kit Moran. “I think the state really needs to get their act together,” Moran said.

Fiscal conservatives say these cuts are about saving the budget, but this plan uses all of that money they saved and gives it to corporations in the form of $1.8 billion in corporate tax cuts.

This means students, teachers and administrators will lose according to Moran. “We’re planning for the worst here,” he said. “We may have $3 million dollars less to work with then last year.”

And that may mean teacher cuts because 80 percent of the school’s budget goes into paying the teacher salaries and benefits.

And because of seniority rules in the teachers’ contract, where teachers who have been teaching the least amount of time are the first cut in times of trouble, new teachers such as English teacher Sarah Ashman are worried, but not just for her job. She

said she’s also worried about the future of public education in Michigan.

“It’s always a mistake when someone thinks you’re helping the future by cutting education,” Ashman said. “Teachers are getting slammed a lot in the press for looking selfish and wanting more.

But every person with a job has been influenced by a teacher.”

Moran agrees and said he hopes to avoid letting any teachers go, but he also said he knows there aren’t any promises.

“I know we won’t be adding any more teachers next year, but we’re going to try to not let any of our current ones go,” he said.

Teachers will be notified about the status of their job by May 31, and Ashman says she’s concerned about what’s happening now and for the future. She said, “New teachers are always worried, but with Snyder’s new budget, it’s extra scary.”

Photo by Carl Schimmel

An uphill battle: English teacher Patrick Stolkey is also a first-year teacher. Based on seniority rules, teachers first hired are often first fired.

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Friday, April 29, 2010

Prom 2011: Advice for your special night

Go with your friends: By friends, I don’t mean your mother. As sweet as she is, she has no place at prom.

Have a date: Couples, you’re all set. Single ladies, don’t be afraid to ask a guy. Single guys, don’t be afraid to put a ring on it. But if you’re really desperate, you can always put an ad on Craig’s List. Just be aware that as prom draws closer, the pickins get slim. Yet another reason to make plans ahead of time. You don’t want to be the guy taking the girl with one eye and a club foot.

Play games: Surprisingly, the games at prom are fun. If you want to have a good time, muster up the courage to sing some karaoke. However, there is one vital tip. Please don’t take karaoke seriously. The audience is looking for a good laugh not an episode of “American Idol.” Get up there and sing some Enrique.

So you faked someone’s real life for a week and made a joke out of it. Still feel awesome?

Wait ... Who else sleeps in the school?

How do you feel about faculty members watching you sleep?

I watch them sleep... I mean what’s the difference?

How would you describe Mr. Snider’s laugh?

Adorable!

Can you speak of the laxatives?

It’s been a popular word with survivors.

S--- happens.

Be honest. How often do you actually bathe?

Often ... Tyler licks me clean twice daily.

Expect to dance: I know we’re all disappointed about how the dances turned out this year, but sorry people, prom isn’t any better. Think of prom as more of an event rather than a dance. Other than background music, the DJ isn’t the center event. Expect to play games and admire the wonderful decorations. And if you really want to get your groove on, come to my house. See previous section.

Leave right away: The fun is only beginning when you arrive so stay around to play the Nearlywed Game and earn yourself a T-shirt. The rest of the night can be your personal Monopolyfest so try to enjoy the company of your friends and the wonderful decorations that took a very long time to make.

Oh yeah.

Like a 12-yearold girl.

Tucker Whitley

Wear sweats: If you didn’t already know, this is a formal event. I don’t want to be seeing anyone in plaid pajama pants and a superman T. Also, don’t forget it’s a masquerade. You are supposed to wear masks.

Have a wardrobe malfunction: Nip slips are so 2006. Cover ‘em up ladies. Keep one thing in mind when picking out your attire: What would Connie say?

with Junior Sho Harvey

Serena Bidwell (12) H--- ya!

... what?

5X5 It made me sleep better.

sports editor

Get plastered at prom: Not only is it embarrassing, but no one likes that guy/girl. People don’t forget, so stay classy. No one wants to witness someone puking on the puttputt course.

Ryan Sikorski (12)

Evan Oxner (12)

sports editor

Lindsey Gagneau(12)

Go somewhere before and after: Prom is something to do in between the other fun stuff. Go out to dinner before and hang out with your friends after. If you don’t have friends who host parties then feel free to come to my place. Attractions include: monopoly, pin the tail on the donkey, continuous “Avatar” screenings, and, of course, strawberry cupcakes.

Lisa Crompton

get involved editor

It makes me feel safe.

Very similar to a 5-year-old girl.

Q- Sho! Let’s get right down to the point.

Where the h--- is your hair?

A- It’s in a plastic bag somewhere. I dunno exactly where that is.

Tyler Dunham (12)

Make plans ahead of time: You may have the urge to procrastinate, but this may be the only thing in high school that should not be done the night before. Gentlemen, prom is a big deal to the women of your life: girlfriend, mom, significant other. If you want to make the night special for them, it will take some planning ahead.

Tucker Whitley

QA &

uPage

They don’t watch us sleep, But they make us listen to Mrs. Marsh’s obnoxious snoring.

Ponies and rainbows ...

My life is a joke already.

Q- What really inspired this decision?

A- Many things but mainly because a lot of people were pushing for it, and it was time for a change.

Q- Do you have a girlfriend right now?

A- Yes.

Watching?

Koenig and I cuddled.

So cute, which fits perfectly with his personality and good lucks.

Avery Marvel poisoned us with them.

That’s strictly between the survivors.

What happens with Team Rainbow stays with Team Rainbow

Ask the third floor bathroom.

I’ve never heard of the word bathe before.

Once ... a week.

I don’t ... I thought that was why we were doing this interview over Facebook.

Didn’t you hear?

You get bonus points for not bathing.

Q- Do you have anyone on the side right now? Don’t worry, we won‘t tell Angelina.

A- Nope.

Q- Come on. So where do you get your breathtakingly good looks?

A- My mommy.

Q- How much time did you spend on your hair when it was long?

A- Probably like 30 minutes each day.

Q- I’m starting to warm up to your hair.

What does Angelina think of it?

A- She loves it.

Q- Was this hair cut expensive? Because let’s be honest, you used to have a lot of it.

A- Well, it was like $25 for the haircut.

Q- Well Sho, I’m happy for you. You have a fantastic day, good sir.

A- (Sho gives me the Sho Harvey head nod.)