Lincoln School Dist. pays $25,000 to be named one of the top school districts in Michigan

[Bozita]

http://www.annarbor.com/news/lincoln-pays-25000-to-be-named-one-of-the-top-school-districts-in-michigan/

By: David Jesse AnnArbor.com Staff Topics: Education, News, Ypsilanti
5 Votes
WITH POLL: Lincoln pays $25,000 to be named one of the top school districts in Michigan
Posted: 6:02 a.m. Today59 Comments. Comment Now



The banner ad across the Lincoln school district’s website proudly proclaims it has been recognized as one of the best school districts in Michigan.

The criteria for Lincoln and eight other districts being selected?

A $25,000 check.

Nine southeast Michigan school districts paid $25,000 each to a Detroit-area public relations firm to be “named,” a top school district. That firm, in turn, bought airtime on a Detroit-area television station to broadcast a feature on the state’s best schools. A website - bestschoolsinmichigan.com - also features the nine schools.

Mentioned nowhere on the videos or the website is the fact that the districts paid for the honor.

Representatives from the public relations company, Sussman Sikes, did not return multiple messages from AnnArbor.com over the past week. It’s unclear exactly when the program first aired, but it has been featured more than once on WXYZ Channel 7.

A number of other school districts across the region, including Ann Arbor, were approached about paying to be part of the program. Ann Arbor was approached twice, including about a month ago, said Liz Margolis, Ann Arbor’s director of communications.

“Their pitch was that they would love Ann Arbor to be part of a half-hour show, and that they would showcase whatever we wanted showcased in exchange for a fee,” Margolis said. “I couldn’t justify it in my budget, but I also felt it bordered on the line morally and ethically (because there was no selection criteria).

“As long as we were willing to pay the freight, we would be selected as one of the best schools in Michigan.”

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[exboyfil]

1. Kind of like being included in Who's Who

$25K would have bought 50 to 100 computers.

Idiots.

[Earth_First]

2. How many children could $25,000 help by offsetting breakfast/lunch in this district?

This is one of the worst-hit (economic) regions in the country.