Regional VP Alena Zachery-Ross spoke positively about Saturday’s enrollment fair, which enrolled 80 students in one day and increased total enrollment to over half of the 1,200 anticipated by Mosaica.
Parts of Mosaica’s own disciplinary system will be blended with the public school district’s old code of conduct, while also accounting for Michigan law.
More decisions would be made at next Monday’s 4 p.m. board meeting, followed by a district unity gathering at the high school at 5:30. The hiring process will begin starting tomorrow, according to Mosaica’s president.
Key provisions of the multi-part settlement appear to revolve around the short notice of termination of health benefits and the disruption of the Weatherspoon’s short timeline to enact any educational plan before the start of the coming school year.
Once a private management company is selected, Dr. Weatherspoon will appoint a three-member charter board, who will oversee the company’s operations. The publicly elected Board of Education will serve as an advisory role to Weatherspoon and the charter board.
Key to the plan is a request to continue the current tax assessed on the residents of Muskegon Heights to pay for the building of the high school over a decade ago. This tax expires in 2013, but Weatherspoon will propose to continue it beyond that date. Those funds would go toward paying down the district’s debt.
Between academic and facilities improvements, Dr. Weatherspoon believes the tide of students leaving can be stemmed or even reversed. He repeatedly stated Wednesday that academic improvement is inextricably tied to the district’s financial woes.