As local school districts attempt to solve their budget challenges, some fear a special cooperative program will be a victim of the cuts.
Students from several area school districts travel to the Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northwest in Springfield Township to attend the Oakland Science, Mathematics and Technology Academy (commonly referred to as OSMTech).
Because the special program depends on funding from the ‘sending? school districts, and because fewer students seem to be coming, the faculty and some parents are concerned about whether the program will be able to continue.
‘Next year there will be insufficient funds to support the program with the revenue provided by the remaining districts,? according to a report by Dr. Regis Jacobs, assistant superintendent of Oakland Schools. ‘The shortfall will increase over time unless measures are taken to reverse the trend.?
Enrollment is currently at 116 students, Jacobs said, from Clarkston, Holly, Brandon and Lake Orion schools. The Waterford and Pontiac districts were part of the consortium when the academy was founded in 1994, but no longer participate.
The budget currently gains funding from sending districts at one-half of each student’s state ‘foundation grant? plus $100 for special supplies. State grants for science centers have become more doubtful, with $90,000 lost this past year.
With a decision from Lake Orion to cease sending new students to OSMTech next year, projected attendance will be only about 99 students. They need between 125 and 130 students to make the budget balance, Jacobs said, and there is a projected $130,000 shortfall by fiscal year 2006 if something doesn’t change.
Physical space is also a challenge, officials said, as OSMTech was never intended to be a permanent part of the Northwest Campus, used primarily for vocational education programs. OSMTech science labs currently meet in temporary classrooms, which are scheduled to be moved when construction takes place to expand the vocational center’s transportation area.
Jacobs said Oakland Schools officials are working on possible solutions, but supporters should not expect the intermediate school district to supply the money directly.
‘It is the desire of Oakland Schools to come up with a solution that preserves the program,? Jacobs said, but, ‘Oakland Schools cannot be in a position of subsidizing programs for our 28 districts. We operate the program to serve the sending districts.?
Doug Livezey is a Clarkston resident who has a son attending OSMTech. He also chairs a parent support group advocating a new status for the special program.
‘I think there needs to be a change in the way funding is currently viewed,? Livezey said. He and others believe the specialized training in science, math and technology is as important as the vocational education programs in the same building, and therefore deserve to receive money from vocational education funds.
‘Professional careers are also careers that need preparation in the younger years. It shouldn’t be excluded from career-focused educational funding.?
Livezey said his son (a sophomore at Clarkston High School who attends junior-level classes at OSMTech), enjoys the close-knit atmosphere, the flexible class schedule and the teamwork with teachers and other students.
‘It’s the part of his day he looks forward to most,? he said. ‘They’ve all chosen to be there and they’re all interested in this field of study.?
Although attendance may be dwindling because of local district decisions, officials claim students continue to be interested. Livezey said the Clarkston district had about 60 applications for 10 to 15 openings, and OSMTech instructor Kyle Hughes said academy students have mentored younger students in programs such as LEGO robotics.
‘Our kids are reaching out to younger kids,? Hughes said. ‘They all want to come to school here.?
(Attempts to reach Clarkston Community Schools officials for comment on OSMTech were unsuccessful.)
The issue is expected to be on the intermediate school board’s Jan. 13, 2004 agenda.
Livezey said parents have already attended those meetings in force, and Jacobs complimented the group for being a ‘very highly energized group.?
‘If we think it is in the best interests of the students, we will do that again,? Livezey said.