On Tuesday, the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents will meet and discuss the university’s agreement to help run the Education Achievement Authority.
When the EMU Board of Regents voted to continue its agreement with the Education Achievement Authority last year protesters were vocal. Now it is time for Eastern’s Regents to decide on whether to continue its agreement
The criticism is, in part, political. The EAA is a district made by Governor Snyder. Plus, it was supposed to contain failing districts from all over the state.
Instead it is made up of only schools in Detroit
Another criticism focuses on the cost. The FBI is investigating how contracts were made at the EAA.
Professor Robert Carpenter says the biggest problem is harm to the University’s reputation. It is working with the EAA as kids in the district fail
University Spokesperson Geoff Larcom says it has been documented some public schools refused to give EMU students opportunities shadowing in protest of the EAA agreement.
He says last year the University president recommended the board withdraw from the deal. The board made up mostly of members appointed by Governor Snyder did not.
7 Action News reached out to board members about their plans.
"We greatly appreciate and value the Eastern Michigan University faculty members who have brought their extensive expertise to the review, discussion and evaluation of the EAA. The matter of the EAA is on the agenda for tomorrow's Board of Regents meeting and will be considered at that time,” is the statement we received from Mike Morris, chair of the Board of Regents.
"We appreciate the support and partnership with Eastern Michigan University. Our mission has been to turn around the lowest performing schools, and carrying that mission out is critical to the future of our 7000 students. We hope the board sees value in our work and will continue our relationship during this time while the future of education in Detroit is being debated,” said EAA Chancellor Veronica Conforme in a statement.
“We have worked closely with Eastern officials. Throughout the last few months, I have met with some of the regents, the president, and the dean of education about how we might collaborate moving forward. Additionally, two members of the EMU Board of Regents, Mike Morris and Mary Treder Lang, also sit on our Board of Directors at the EAA,” continued Conforme.
