MSD Communication Policy

1 - Below are excerpts of a letter from Dr. Jeremy Hughes, from the MDE, that was posted on another blog:

..." I attended the meeting Tuesday night at MSD and stayed long enough to
get a good flavor for what the parents, students, faculty, and community were
thinking about MSD's communications philosophy...

Dr. Jacque Thompson and I have met. Dr. Thompson has recommended and I have
approved the formation of a special committee (at the Dept. of Educ. we call it
a "Referent Group") to study the achievement of students at MSD and the extent
to which a communications philosophy and methodology contributes to that...as we
certainly know it does...and make recommendations for improvement or change.

The Referent Group would be an advisory group to me, as the Deputy Supt. and
Chief Academic Officer of the department. It would be my intention, after
reviewing the recommendations, to present them to the state superintendent, Mike
Flanagan. It would then be in Mr. Flanagan's hands to determine whether or not
the recommendations should be taken to a further step: presentation to the State
Board of Education. This is the normal process by which issues like this are
handled at the Dept. of Educ.

When the Dept. of Educ. forms a Referent Group on any issue, the group is formed
carefully, to make sure that all points of view are represented at the table,
and that the group contains as well persons or organizations who are
knowledgeable about the research and the world of best practices (what others
out there are doing). I needed you to know this so that you can be assured that
the concept of Bilingual/Bi-cultural will be represented at the table.

We plan to form and convene the Referent Group immediately after the winter
holidays, in early January. Dr. Thompson will be meeting with me within the
next two weeks to discuss the organizations, agencies, iindividuals, etc. who
might be invited to join the Referent Group to make sure that it is a true cross
section of all those involved and those who would be affected by the
recommendations the Referent Group may make..."

Happy holidays to you!

Jeremy M. Hughes, Ph.D.
Deputy Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer
Michigan Department of Education
608 West Allegan Street
P.O. Box 30008
Lansing, Michigan 48909
517-335-0011
hughesj@michigan.gov
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2 - I thought you might be interested in this information.

Dr. Laurene Simms at MSD
Dr. Laurene E. Simms is a culturally Deaf, African-American educator and a professor/director of the Deaf Education program at Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.

Event: Bilingual Education Presentation
Where: SB (Service Building- the cafeteria)
Michigan School for the Deaf
When: Friday, January 13, 2006
Time: 6:30 to 9:00pm
Cost: Free
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