Thanksgiving is over and so is the vacation break for our state lawmakers as they head back to Lansing. On their agenda for the remainder of the year are failing school districts in the state. State Senator Phil Pavlov notes that a special hearing will be held on Thursday, where the Senate Education Committee will hear from the Governor's Education Supervisor and state Reform Officer, who is in charge of failing schools. The State Department of Education used to deal with schools that were failing academically, but Governor Synder used his executive power to move that office into his administration. Pavlov says he wants a discussion not only on schools that are failing financially, but those that are failing academically as well. Pavlov also noted that in the past there has been an enormous amount of bureaucratic red-tape involved, and that as time goes by we are losing kids. Committee members want to know what is the process for dealing quickly and effectively with schools that are not meeting the grade.
