SMART Team:

Hey Jim,

Thanks for forwarding Kyle's comments. Ed and I are very much in the loop
for finding funding for OSMTech and of course, aligning it with some of our
other efforts have crossed my mind. I saw Kyle on Thursday evening and she
made the same comment about raising enough dollars to build their own
facility. Ed and I are going to move forward on finding funding for the
OSMTech program as it stands, just so we know that there will be a program
next year. Then that would buy us some time to get really creative. Let's
talk about how it could all fit together. We are certainly "aligning the
silver arrows."

Sherry

SMART Team:

Jim:

Don't be fooled by those numbers....try Brother Rice, Detroit Country-Day, International Academy, blah blah blah....

Let's see how those innovative teaching methods raise the ranks of the undeserving, underserved students of Pontiac.

Let OSM Tech move to a more centralized location, serve a larger population and take the filter off of the front door. They will no longer have to concern themselves with job security....or wait, do they have a better idea?

PB

SMART Team:

November 3, 2003

The pride of the Oakland Science, Mathematics & Technology Academy is in its trophy case -- and there's not one sports championship in the mix.


BY THE NUMBERS
OSMTech Academy in Clarkston provides classes in science, math and technology. Brandon, Clarkston, Holly and Lake Orion school districts send students to the program. The Oakland Intermediate School District oversees the academy. Here is a look at OSMTech's academic statistics.

Class of 2003

ACT composite scores (out of 36 possible points):

OSMTech

27.5
Michigan

21.3
United States

20.8

Source: OSMTech Academy


The school has no athletic teams, so the plaques and gold medals highlight excellence in math, science, engineering, physics and electronics.

Parents, students and teachers say they hope that history of success can help keep OSMTech's doors open. Many observers say it is going to take intense recruiting and fund-raising to save the school from closing in the next two to three years.

The 10-year-old academy, cramped in four classrooms -- two inside and two in mobile units outside -- at the Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northwest, needs to add about 10 students to its enrollment of 116 and raise thousands of dollars to stay afloat, says Regis Jacobs, assistant superintendent for resource management for Oakland Schools, which oversees the academy in Clarkston.

"If we don't surmount these financial issues, we'll be in a deeper and deeper deficit," he said.

The academy is struggling to keep students in its program -- but not for lack of interest. More than 100 students applied for one of the 30 open freshman spots at OSMTech last year, hoping for a chance to spend part of each school day at the academy. With a 14-1 student-teacher ratio and innovative teaching styles, there is demand for the program.

The problem is the local districts that allow students to take courses at OSMTech no longer can afford to do so. Many are beginning to limit the number of participants.

Local districts lose money with each student who attends the academy's half-day program. To help with costs, the district is required to send half of the state allotted amount for each student, plus $100, to the academy.

The academy's problem is similar to a struggle at International Academy in Bloomfield Township. There, a group of supporters is well into raising $86,000 -- the 3-year goal -- to help Rochester Community Schools continue its membership in the academy.

When OSMTech began in 1994, six area districts sent students to what was then a unique program, administrators say. The number soon dwindled to four districts when Waterford and Oxford pulled their students.

Now Lake Orion Schools has announced that by 2006 it will begin phasing out of the program. Like Waterford, the district has created a similar program.

"We were able to replicate their program in our district," said David Beiter, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. "We haven't gotten quite to the point where they are, but they've got a good leap on us."

Seventeen students from Lake Orion attend the program, which Beiter said became too expensive to maintain. He added that Lake Orion students now are beating OSMTech students at some robotics competitions.

"That's one indicator that we are teaching math and science just as well," he said.

With state budget cuts, the academy lost a $90,000 math and science grant this year. And with the threat of the state reducing the per-pupil spending amount, OSMTech is in jeopardy, Jacobs says.

He says OSMTech could face a $130,000 shortfall by 2006 if the drop in enrollment continues.

Students are trying to spread the word about OSMTech.

"Basically what we need to do is reach out into the community and help them understand a little better. I think they really need to understand why this is so important," said Kelly Williamson, 15, of Davisburg and a sophomore at Clarkston High School.

There is a glimmer of hope.

Last week, the Oakland Intermediate School District agreed to lend its support in helping a parents' task force find grant dollars.

Finding dollars and more students will solve part of the problem. The academy also is in the way of a renovation project at the technical campus, which is expanding its transportation cluster classrooms to an area where the mobile classrooms now sit.

Oakland Schools is trying to determine whether it will be able to accommodate the school during its upcoming renovations.



Contact TERESA MASK at 248-351-3691 or mask@freepress.com.

Copyright © 2003 Detroit Free Press Inc.

SMART Team:

Jim:

I'm glad to hear that the Obs is on Kyle's mind!

I planted those seeds at a meeting on October 14 when I told those OSM Tech teachers that they would do well, as far as job security is concerned, to think of relocating more centrally so that they would not have to depend on ONLY the NW quadrant for recruiting...under the direction of L. Motz (?), they were safe and secure in Clarkston...now then, about the underserved.

Paul Briercheck

SMART Team:

Hi Kyle:

Great to hear from you.

The Pontiac SMART Community Complex has become a much discussed topic of late and therefore is gaining the necessary critical mass for success. The concept is based on a community development initiative in downtown Pontiac on behalf of youth and it's citizenry (human services, agencies, etc.). We're currently negotiating for a centralized building to be the cornerstone of the initiative. It has support from the Mayor and the City Council along with many community driven organizations and most importantly residents and members of the community. Recently we have had various individuals from Oakland County, Oakland Schools, Oakland County Community Quality Council and Untied Way of Oakland County visit to discuss possible collaboration efforts. We have been soliciting ideas from everyone interested in educational programming as well as discussing partnership possibilities with K-12 educational institutions. Linda Torony has been a vocal champion of those particular SMART Complex opportunities and our Pontiac Nature Center proposal. Perhaps you may be interested enough to visit and see the facility and add your creative insights to the possibilities. Let me know if the spirit strikes a cord with you.

I am somewhat aware of the current dilemma facing OSMTech (newspaper) although I thought we had gotten past the most recent impasse. What are the current obstacles facing you and the rest of the staff? Can I be of help in any way? Perhaps we could schedule an informal meeting to discuss current strategic efforts and/or collaborative outcomes that would mutually benefit everyone........(it can never hurt to have additional minds focus on the solution specifics). I'm also glad to hear that the parent community is supporting your past success and will act as a catalyst to further same. This gives great testament to your efforts on behalf of the student body. Please let me know if your schedule allows and/or if there is any interest in additional discussion(s).

The observatory continues to make progress on restoration and renovation efforts as well as the deployment of some new digital infrastructure for the Tower Telescope instrumentation. It has also gained some notoriety for informal Group Think activities taking place here. Of course we are preparing for the November 8, 2003 Lunar Eclipse and were able to get some digital sunspot pictures of the most recent Solar activities.

Please let me know what your thoughts might be.

Much continued success.

Best,

Jim