What About Dowagiac Schools Loss Of Students?

One of the things the city is not thinking about is the negative effect on the community if they increase the utility deposits to $500.
If a landlord has new tenants, who want to move in, chances are good that they will not be able to afford first and last months' rent, security deposit and the utility deposit.
The city is requesting a $500,000 grant for more downtown apartments. In their application and press release, they stated that these apartments are needed for low-income people and college students. Does anyone really believe that low-income residents and college students can afford a $500 security deposit?
Last month, the City of Dowagiac had 80 electric shutoffs. If these people are forced to pay between $250-$450 more, plus their past due electric bill, do you think they will pay the bill or move to another community?
Let's say that just 25% of these families decide to move and not pay the increase in their deposit; that would be 20 families moving. If each family had just one child in Dowagiac schools, that would mean that the school would lose 20 students. 20 students at $7000 a student would be a huge loss for Dowagiac Schools, and this is just ONE MONTH
Think about it and call you councilman.

Dowagiac School Forum Is Nothing More Than A Pep Rally

After reading John Eby's thought-provoking article in today's DDN , it brings up a few questions.

Have you ever noticed that whenever the Dowagiac Chamber runs a news story or a TV spot for the city, they ALWAYS have the same store owners talk to the media?

Well, it seems to be the same with the School's forum. Look at the names of those representing the city. It is a "Who's Who" of people who think that Dowagiac is a utopia, and everything is just fine.

Why didn't they select residents who, at the very least, have children in the schools? In order to foster change, you need to have people with different views of the city and schools. It is the same with both the school forum and the chamber. The same people are chosen to represent the citizens' views. It is always people who think everything is perfect in Dowagiac.

This was not really a forum to hear suggestions and concerns of the community. It was more like a pep rally. We need more than a pep rally. We need changes, honesty and representation, and a reality check.

If positive change is to happen in the schools or in the City of Dowagiac, real concerns from real people have to be considered. The views of a hand-picked few who think Dowagiac is a utopia, will not foster change that is needed.

The first step to make positive change, is to first admit you have a problem. We are sure that with the hand-picked group chosen for this forum, the real views of residents never came to the discussion table.

Howard

Is Dowagiac Schools Making the Right Cuts?

With Schools across the country making tough decisions on where to make cuts, we figured we would let residents know how Dowagiac compares to other schools in Michigan.
We originally was going to compare Superintendents pay for the different schools in Michigan. We had to change our story because Dowagiac was the only school out of the 12 we contacted that refused to give us the salary of the superintendant without filling out FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act) paperwork.
So we decided to compare school districts superintendents. Here is what we found:
Niles Public Schools has 1 superintendent and no Assistant Superintendent
Coloma Public Schools has 1 superintendent and NO Assistant Superintendents.
Bridgman Schools has 1 Superintendent and NO Assistant Superintendent
Decatur Schools has 1 Superintendent and NO Assistant Superintendent.
Benton Harbor has 1 Superintendent and NO Assistant Superintendent.
Flint Schools has 1 Superintendent and NO Assistant Superintendent
Hartford Schools has 1 Superintendent and NO Assistant Superintendent
Dowagiac Schools has 1 Superintendent and TWO Assistant Superintendents
Many schools have a hard choice ahead of where to make cuts in their budget due to state funding cuts.
The Dowagiac Informer has a hard time understanding why all of the other schools we contacted run their district with 1 Superintendent and Dowagiac has three.
The information on the number of Superintendents in Dowagiac Schools came in an e mail from the Admin Office.
Keep an eye on Next weeks Informer when we will compare the salaries of the Superintendents after we fill out the paperwork requested from the Dowagiac Union Schools.

Dowagiac Schools hit harder with the flu than most think.

43-48% Of Pat-Ham Students Home Sick

School Districts all across Michigan have been canceling classes due to student illness.

We have received over 10 e-mails from parents and school staff stating the some schools have had as many as 48% of their students home sick.

We spoke with Dowagiac School Superintendent Peg Stowers on Wednesday. She stated that Friday 43% of Pat-Ham students were home.

One day last week almost 20 school districts from Muskegon South were closed due to student illness.

With 43%-48% of students at one school in Dowagiac were home sick, why didn’t Dowagiac Schools follow other districts and cancel classes?

We have heard time and time again that the administration puts the safety of students first. With 43-48% of students home sick, why would Dowagiac Schools not cancel class.

We contacted many school in the area and found out that all of them follow the suggestions of their local health department.

However some schools have guidelines in place to consider closing school:

• Bridgman Schools: Considers closing schools when 30-35% of students are home ill.
  

• Buchanan Schools: Considers closing when 25-30% of students are home ill.
  

• Grand Rapids Public Schools: Considers closing schools when 25% of students are home ill.
  

• Kent County Health Department: Recommends schools consider closing when 25% of a schools students are home sick.
  

One may ask why the Dowagiac Schools would even consider keeping Patrick Hamilton School open with 43-48% of their students home sick.

By looking at the guidelines other schools use, 43-48% of students home sick would seem enough to close that school.

Most parents are doing their job by keeping their children home if they are sick. It would seem that the Dowagiac Schools would be doing their part by closing a school when 43-48% of the students are home sick.

According the Berrien County Health Department they recommend that schools consider closing when the absentee rate reaches 30-35%

According to the Kent County Health Department the H1N1 Flu virus can live on a surface for 2-8 hours.

Although parents and schools can help remind students to wash their hand and to cover their mouth when they cough. It doesn’t do much good if a virus can live up to 8 hours on a surface.

One question parents need to ask is why Pat-Ham School remained opened when 43-48% of the students were home sick, especially when the virus can live up to 8 hours on a desk.