Mike's Monday Memo for the week of October 23 2006

Here’s what’s up for the week of October 23, 2006:

1.	Proposals -	As Election Day approaches, I encourage you to make your vote count. Learn about the proposals and get informed on all the candidates as well as the issues. Your vote is important!
2.	United Way -	There is still time to sign up and be part of the 2006-2007 United Way Campaign of Bay County. Many of our students and their families benefit annually from the contributions we all make. If you gave a contribution last year and you want it to stay the same, it does not automatically carry over. You need to complete and sign a new pledge form every year.
3.	BAISD Wellness Report -	For the past several years, through a relationship with Covenant Health Care and the YMCA, employees of Bay-Arenac ISD have been able to take advantage of a corporate membership at the YMCA at reduced rates. This year, during the renewal process, the YMCA raised their rates substantially. Due to rate increases, the administration has notified Covenant that Bay-Arenac ISD will no longer participate in the corporate membership program with the YMCA. Therefore, effective January 1, 2007, the wellness benefit through the YMCA will no longer be available. Employees who wish to continue to use the YMCA will do so at their own expense. The administration will continue to look at methods to support and encourage employee health and wellness.
4.	Blood Drive –	There will be a blood drive at the Educational Service Center on Tuesday, October 31st from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Academy Room. Please sign up ahead of time with Shelley Szilagyi. Everyone that donates blood will receive a free t-shirt! To sign up, please email Shelley at szilagyis@baisd.net and she will set up a time with you. Thank you!
5.	Don’t Forget to Change Your Clock –	Just as a reminder, that this Saturday, October 28th, our clocks will fall back one hour. This is the time of the year that the daylight hours are short and the nights seem sooooooooooo much longer!
6.	“Fall into the Holidays” –	Remember that a Bazaar and Harvest Luncheon will take place on November 4th from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the BAISD Career Center. There will be area vendors, a white elephant sale, gourmet food items, and more! Proceeds from this event will benefit the Career Center’s student clubs.
7.	State Aid 2006-2007 -	Just as a point of information, the state-aid increase, or at least part of it, for this school year may be in jeopardy. The State of Michigan had indicated that the LEA’s increase would be approximately $210.00 per student. That amount may be less due to the fact that sale tax revenues are down. I’ll keep you posted.
8.	Next Regular Board Meeting -	Just as a reminder, the next regular Board of Education work session is Monday, November 6th at 4:00 p.m.
9.	Annual Report -	If any of our staff is interested in seeing a copy of our 2005-2006 Annual Report, please contact Brenda. It is sometimes nice to be able to look back on the past year and see a sample of some of the great things we (you) have done for our students and the community.
14.	Birthday Wishes –	Happy Birthday!
		10/23	Cathy Hamann-Lee Billie Rase	10/27	Jorri Novak
		10/25	Carol Sevener	10/29	Jenny Geno
		10/26	Andrew Phillips
Words to live by this week:		“Counting time is not nearly as important as making time count.”                                                                                              -Anonymous