Spotlight 02-17-15, Vol. 77, No. 7

Posted by Richard Perlberg 
on Feb 19, 2015
 
PROGRAM
Bill Metz introduced fellow club member and Brighton Area Schools Superintendent Greg (Fifty Shade of) Gray. Greg was able to tell a story about the strong state of Brighton schools.
 
Brighton Rotary Spotlight
Peggi Mintz, President
February 17, 2018, Vol. 77, No. 7
 
GUESTS: Reggie Osborne wk3; Abby Cooper wk3; Joe Bottum, son of Ed.
 
MEET & GREET, LUNCH & LEARN: Because of an unavoidable conflict, the meet-and-greet with Brian Donovan and Kim Welsh-Gemuend-Coates will be rescheduled for next week’s meeting.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
  • Don’t forget to bring a few extra Bucks for Polio next week as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Rotary International.
  • Dennis Calio will be out for about four weeks because of knee surgery.
  • Mike Bourke read a thank you letter from St. Patrick School in Brighton for providing 8th grade Junior Achievement program.
  • Frank Mancuso reminded us that Walk for Warmth is this weekend.
  • Bill Gartley thanked businesses for displaying collection canisters for Interact.
  • George and Melanie Moses accepted the responsibility for Adopt-a-Highway. First clean-up date will be the week of April 11-19 with subsequent dates in July and October. Orange is the new black.
  • Bill Anderson has put together a first-rate bowling team for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
  • Brian Parsons noted newspaper story about Ironwood Rotary contest where people bet how long it will be before a car breaks through the ice. People in the UP will bet on anything.
  • President Peggi Mintz said two new member proposals will be arriving via e-mail.
 
SERGEANT AT ARMS
                Two fined for being late; one fined for taking the sergeant-at-arm’s warm car; Tom Coates fined as the only male who admitted to going to sea “Fifty Shades of Gray.”
 
PROGRAM
   Bill Metz introduced fellow club member and Brighton Area Schools Superintendent Greg (Fifty Shade of) Gray. Greg was able to tell a story about the strong state of Brighton schools.
The district is wiping out a $15.5 million deficit and setting a goal of building a healthy fund equity of 10 percent. Strong performance has resulted in substantial improvement of district’s bond rating and district will soon be able to cover cash-flow shortages (due to state’s payment schedule) without borrowing.
   More important, the district’s students continue to benefit from a strong, involved administration and faculty. Greg noted impressive increases in math scores, a solid administrative team, an increase in Advanced Placement Classes from four to 18, and the existence of 110 clubs at the high school, from Ping Pong to musicals.
    Favorable interest rates on the $88.5 million bond issue passed 3 years ago mean that the bond will be repaid in 15 years rather than 30, saving taxpayers $31 million. This summer, Brighton High School and the Miller school will see the majority of the work. At the high school, the new pool will be open by October, the old pool area will become a fitness center, HVAC will be upgraded and there will be great improvement to the parking area, to name some of the projects.
    Greg thinks the enrollment decline, experienced throughout the state, is plateauing at Brighton and the district should settle into an optimum size of between 5,500 and 6,000 students, down from a peak of 7,300.
  Next week, Peggy Mintz  is responsible for the program which will feature Shelter Box.
 
50-50
After Melanie Moses came oh-so-close by drawing the King of Spades, Tim Zizka found the ace and took home the jackpot.