Jan 21
IRON MOUNTAIN — This storm hit a large area of the central U.P.
For Dickinson County, it’s their first major snow of the year. But below that snow, was all that ice, which made for dangerous conditions.
Over 60 U.P. s
Jan 19
The week of January 22-28 has been declared “National School Choice” week by, well,…National School Choice Week. NSCW is a coalition of organizations, mostly private schools and charter school operators, whose mission is “..effective education options for every child.” This mission sounds good, but when it comes to education reform groups words are often misleading.
Baltimore Education Reform Examiner Morna McDermott studied the partners of NSCW and found them to consist largely of profit-driven interests seeking a share of the billions of dollars spent on public education every year. As she said, “A rose by any other name still spells privatizing education.”
McDermott noted that many of the organizations associated with NSCW are also associated with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC is a billionaire-backed group that also includes countless far-right legislators; and authors legislation for them to introduce in states across the country. With no excep
Jan 19
State of the City: Abilene’s future hinges on water supply, public schools
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Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News Abilene Fire Department Deputy Chief Jim Frazier, center, and other attendees listen to the State of the City address by Mayor Norm Archibald Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, at the Abilene Civic Center.
Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News Mayor Norm Archibald delivers his annual State of the City speech Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, at the Abilene Civic Center.
Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News Abilene Independent School District Superintendent Heath Burns delivers the state of the AISD address at the Abilene Civic Center Monday, Jan. 23, 2012.
Jan 16
Children born in the summer will no longer have an advantage over younger applicants when it comes to securing pre-school education.
Major changes to pre-school places were announced as part of a shake-up of admissions criteria by the Education Minister yesterday.
The biggest adjustment will see the birthday criteria changed and the definition of social disadvantage will also be re-assessed, in a bid to include low-income families.
At the Assembly yesterday, Education Minister John O’Dowd outlined what the new criteria will be to secure a full-time place at a nursery.
“The key change is that I’m going to remove the July-August birthday criteria, which is disadvantaging young children,” he said.
“It has been a demand for some time and recognised in a number of reports.
“I will use the first legislative opportunity to remove that.”
Children born in July or August will no longer get priority for places, and Mr O’Dowd said he would review and broaden the definition of social disadvantage.
Jan 15
Oxford University’s Professor Andrew Hamilton was the top-earning vice-chancellor but his pay rise was less than 0.5%. Grant Faint/Getty Images
The heads of elite universities were awarded an average pay rise of £9,700 last year, taking their average earnings beyond £333,000, the Guardian can reveal.
Analysis of 13 top university leaders’ pay packets has prompted calls for the prime minister’s clampdown on executive pay to reach beyond banks and big business to include universities as well, although the average rise of 3.9% is below the rate of inflation.
An examination of the universities’ most recent financial statements, from 2010-11, shows the vice-chancellors of Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Nottingham, Bristol and Southampton were all given a pay rise, despite a squeeze on many university budgets.
Hamilton was closely followed by Birmingham University’s Professor David Eastwood whose earnings reached £419,000, comprised of a £323,000 salary, £29,000 bonus, £16,000 for other expenses and £51,000 for pension contributions.
Sally Hunt, general secretary of the lecturers’ trade union – the University and College Union – argued that the findings meant the government’s crackdown on excessive executive pay should extend to universities.
All three of the main political parties are vying to lead calls for a crackdown on executive pay. In the pas