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Milan News-Leader
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VOL. 129, NO. 52

Milans adult ed program meets federal requirements

Its only one of seven, among 161, to do so
By Lori Maranville
Special Writer

Only seven out of 161 adult education programs in Michigan met federal benchmarks and Milan Area Schools administers one of the seven. Superintendent Bryan Girbach acknowledged the programs success in meeting 2011-2012 perfor-

mance standards during a meeting of the Milan Board of Education Dec. 12. Of 161 such programs across Michigan, Milan and Chelsea were the two Washtenaw County school districts that met all of the adult education standards set by the U.S. Department of Education. The distinction puts Milans diploma-granting program at the Federal Corrections Institute in line for receiving more than $10,000 in grants. The FCI program at Milan, which is the only Federal Bureau of Prisons diploma-granting program in the country, is run on pri-

vate and state Section 107 grants and receives no K-12 funding, Girbach said. Milan Area Schools administers both the FCI program at the prison and an adult education program at Milan Middle School. This was a wonderful accomplishment for both pieces of our adult education programs, said Girbach of the passing grade. Jennifer Monahan, director of FCIs adult education program, said the program is a vital part of the community. Its our neighbors; its our community. We need to give them more than just a GED, said Monahan,

pointing to the high cost to society when inmates end up back in prison. Giving inmates the chance to complete their high school diploma gives them opportunities they wouldnt otherwise have when they are released from prison, she said. Because Milans program participants did so well in meeting benchmarks, Monahan said, they may receive back some of the funding previously cut from the program. FCI graduates will receive their diplomas during a ceremony May 14.

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Senior program may continue

LIFE program to pay user fee at center
By Marion Dupuis
Special Writer

Paddock Elementary School in Milan is working with the Parent-Teacher Organization to develop a book mobile.

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London Townships senior program may be safe for the time being. It appears that LIFE, an acronym for Living Independently for Everyone, has unofficially agreed to pay London Township a $400 fee for the use of the senior center. In recent months, the Township Board has grappled with closing the nutrition program and senior center because of dwindling use and funding. London Township Clerk Lewis Irby said a recent check from LIFE, the senior nutrition program, was received. It appears the rent amount of $400 was included, he said. During a meeting Nov. 12, the London Township Board unanimously passed a motion proposing a $400 monthly fee for the LIFE Center. Frankie Foidel of LIFE told the board that she would take it back to her board for approval or denial. Township Supervisor Barbara Henley reported during the Dec. 10 township meeting that Foidel had not gotten back to her and wasnt sure if the fee was approved. Foidel did not return calls for comment as of The Milan News-Leaders deadline. In other news, London Township renewed a three-year contract with Mitchell Seaton of London Township to remove snow at $65 a push. Henley said only two bids were received from the bid publication and one bidder retracted his offer, leaving Seaton the lone bidder. Marion Dupuis is a freelance writer and can be reached at marionj.dupuis@gmail.com
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Board hears positives of reading literacy program

But summer reading loss needs to be addressed
By Lori Maranville
Special Writer

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The Milan school board heard a report from Paddock Elementary School Principal Sean DeSarbo and reading specialist Tracy Terris earlier this month. Both spoke of the need to address summer reading loss and presented data showing a significant drop in the percent of students meeting or exceeding reading benchmarks from the spring to the fall. For example, 61 percent kindergartners met or exceeded independent

reading benchmarks in spring 2012. Only 36 percent of first-graders taking the same test in the fall of 2012 met or exceeded the benchmarks. Educators are aggressively responding with plans for summer reading programs and exploring the possibility of opening the school libraries for students to check out books over the summer. DeSarbo said they are working with the ParentTeacher Organization to possibly organize a book mobile to bring books to the students in their neighborhoods.

He said the group also discussed organizing a community book drive. They really want to address this, DeSarbo said of the parent group. Im just really blown away with the support of the PTO and how they are responding, he said. DeSarbo said the school staff will continue to pro-mote literacy night activities for families and educate parents on the importance of reading to their children. At Paddock, were focus-ing on how we can get books into the hands of our kids, Terris said. DeSarbo said staff is seeing an improvement in reading scores for students
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