Could promise scholarship work here?

September 17, 2008

Kalamazoo has its Promise, and some people think Washtenaw County should have one too.

The idea of creating a Washtenaw Promise college scholarship program was part of the dialogue at "Impact 2008: Where you impact your region's future,'' a half-day seminar sponsored by the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce at the Kensington Court Hotel.

The audience of more than 200 received an update on the current state of local government and schools and what can be done to make them, and the entire county, economically successful.

Washtenaw Intermediate School District Superintendent Bill Miller brought up the idea of creating a Washtenaw Promise scholarship.

"The Kalamazoo Promise has been a huge economic driver and the growth of the Kalamazoo community economically is helping to improve schools,'' Miller said.

Launched in 2005 and funded by anonymous donors, the Kalamazoo Promise offers college scholarships to every Kalamazoo Public School student who has lived in the district and attended district schools for at least four years. It is an incentive for people to move into the Kalamazoo area and for businesses to expand or relocate to the area, according to a report from the W.E. Upjohn Research Institute.

If Washtenaw County pursued a similar project, panelists said it's unclear what a similar program in Washtenaw County would look like, how much it would cost, how would it be funded, and how businesses, schools, local governments and residents would get involved in making it a reality.

Those attending the conference heard from Miller, Ann Arbor Schools Superintendent Todd Roberts, Washtenaw County Administrator Robert Guenzel and Ann Arbor City Administrator Roger Fraser about the tough economic times facing schools and local governments.

Within the next year, there will be more discussions in the community about supporting countywide funding for school districts, Roberts said. Ann Arbor schools have taken the lead in promoting a proposed enhancement millage aimed at boosting revenues for public school districts in Washtenaw County.

Miller and Roberts noted local schools are saving money by consolidating services, such as payroll, special education transportation, and substitute teachers, with the WISD.

Local governments also need to collaborate in delivering services to residents, Guenzel and Fraser said. The county has had to cut more than 60 positions to balance its budgets for 2008 and 2009, Guenzel said.

"We need a complete overhaul on consolidating government services,'' Fraser said. "If we are going to have meaningful changes in Michigan, it has to start on a local level.''

Liz Cobbs can be reached at lcobbs@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6810.