Education

Michigan students who default on their college loans are more likely to be sued in federal court.

That's according to a Syracuse University study, which shows the eastern half Michigan has the second highest rate per-capita of suits against students who don't pay their loans.

Dorothy Barrick is with GreenPath Debt Solutions of Farmington Hills.  She says ignoring the debt just makes things worse.

"It's usually the collectors that the debt falls to, and they can be pretty mean," Barrick says. "And once it's with the collection agency, I can understand why they're afraid to call."

Barrick says students who are unemployed or underemployed need to call their lender and ask for a hardship forbearance.

Three members of the Muskegon Heights’ school board have resigned, the same day the district’s emergency manager also announced he’s laying off more than 150 employees.

This is the second week on the job for the emergency manager of Muskegon Heights schools. On Wednesday, Don Weatherspoon made two announcements; that he’s delivered pink slips to 158 employees – including teachers, administrators and support staff. And two, that he’s accepted the resignations of three members of the school board.

All 370 kindergartners entering the Grand Ledge school district will get an iPad next year.

Students will be able to use the devices for their first few years of school for spelling and math lessons. 

Superintendent of Grand Ledge schools Brian Metcalf said the kindergartners will use the iPads until second grade.

"We're really focused on the younger students with the iPad because it does not require the use of a keyboard," said Metcalf. "A touch screen allows the youngest children that do not have the well-developed motor skills to navigate with ease."

Metcalf said each iPad will also be customized to meet every kindergartner's needs.

"The students coming to us now are what we are calling digital natives and the iPads really provide lots of different apps to reach each and every student," said Metcalf.

Metcalf said the district is working with one company that programs apps based on students' test score results and other information.

- Emily Fox, Michigan Radio Newsroom

There’s an ongoing debate about how to sustainably fund the Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System.

According the Bridge Magazine, an online publication of the Center for Michigan, the retirement system is underfunded by $45 billion.

Bridge Magazine staff writer, Nancy Derringer, has taken an in-depth look at this issue.

Derringer notes that Senate bill 1040 would change the way the retirement system is funded. "If you are a new employee your contribution to the retire system would increase to 8%. And they currently pay 3 and 6.2 % of their salary. And then if you are a retiree you currently have your health care premiums 90% paid by the state and you pay 10%, that would switch to 80/20."

The state is set to take a preliminary look at the financial situation of Pontiac's public schools, a step that could eventually lead to the appointment of an emergency manager.

According to Lori Higgins with the Detroit Free Press, the district is currently saddled with a $24.5 million deficit---a figure  that pulled the district out of compliance with its own deficit-elimination plan and earned disapproval from state Superintendent Mike Flanagan. As a result, the state is withholding aid payments to the district amounting to $1.25 million.

More from Higgins at the Freep:

The State House recently passed legislation that would allow an increase in the number of Michigan cyber schools.

Cyber schools provide instruction via the internet. There are two currently operating in Michigan.

Michigan Radio's Jennifer White spoke with Republican State Representative Dale Zorn. He voted in favor of the legislation after promising to vote against it.

He said, “We have to move ahead with education, and sometimes we have to make compromised to get where we need to be. But compromise is one of the most important aspects of being a legislator. If we cannot move forward government becomes stagnant, and we just cannot allow the education of our children to become stagnant.”

The Associated Press reported: