Group plans trip to rally for education funding
Mar. 9, 2010 · 12:49 p.m.
Stakeholders in Ypsilanti Public Schools are inviting members of the community to join them in a rally for public school funding on Wednesday.
The rally, organized...read more
Plan for Ypsilanti School's restructuring could be presented next week
Mar. 9, 2010 · 3:52 a.m.
Budget reduction plans for Ypsilanti Public Schools are planned to be announced during a special board of education next week.
After Monday night's board meeting,...read more
Former board member cut short at Willow Run board meeting
Mar. 8, 2010 · 11:57 a.m.
Willow Run School board members cut short a citizen during the public comments time at the regular board meeting Thursday night when he began recounting the change...read more
Willow Run approves credit-recovery software
Feb. 19, 2010 · 3:13 p.m.
The Willow Run Board of Education unanimously approved a new $18,000 software package to help failing high school students graduate.
The software, called E-2020,...read more
Residents express concerns with Ypsi Schools
Feb. 17, 2010 · 3:02 a.m.
Ypsilanti community members expressed several frustrations toward plans to close schools in Ypsilanti School District at Tuesday evening’s community forum at...read more
Photo by Lincoln Consolidated
Lincoln hopes to save approximately $250,000 in operational costs by replacing the multiage program at the Bessie Hoffman site with a program that does not necessitate the busing of students. Bessie Hoffman, pictured here, is about 15 minutes from campus.
Board of Education to vote on recommendation next Monday
Jan. 26, 2010 · 4:08 p.m.
Lincoln’s Superintendent recommended the Board of Education move the district’s multiage program to Brick Elementary in effort to save the district money.
The program, offered to approximately 300 students at Lincoln Consolidated, is currently at Bessie Hoffman, a facility located about 15 minutes from the district’s main campus.
According to district officials, Lincoln stands to save $250,000 in operational costs by replacing the program at the Bessie Hoffman site with a program that does not necessitate the busing of students.
The multiage program operates out of 12 classrooms at Bessie Hoffman. Superintendent Lynn Cleary said space could be created at Brick Elementary by moving the fifth grade classes to the middle school and some first grade classes to Model Elementary School. District officials have had brief discussions as to how Bessie Hoffman could be utilized in the future, however, Cleary said "nothing is set in stone."
“That is as far as I will go with the program right now,” Cleary said of the multiage relocation. “What it looks like the year after will be determined by the staff.”
Board President Kimberly Samuelson said the decision to move the program is purely “financially driven.”
“The Board of Education recognizes the success of the multiage program and we recognize that there’s not a perfect answer but we do believe based on the data we received from administrators we will make the best decision for kids,” she said of the proposed move.
The Board of Education is expected to take action on the proposal at its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. next Monday.
About the multiage program
More than ten years ago, several Bessie Hoffman staff members collaborated in a three year training partnership, with the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation, an Ypsilanti-based nonprofit dedicated to research, development, training and public outreach. The partnership lead to instruction through a model promoting team-teaching, block-scheduling, parental involvement and ongoing student assessment.
Bessie Hoffman Multiage Elementary School provides students with a “developmentally appropriate education” by focusing on each student's needs and abilities, rather than their chronological age.
The school is organized differently than the other four elementary schools within the district. Students are instructed by teams of teachers: Kindergarten – First grade (Lower House); Second – Third grade (Middle House); and Fourth – Fifth grade (Upper House). Teachers group students according to their assessed learning needs, and use flexible instructional groupings throughout the school year.
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