MSU forms school resource site in Detroit

Via Skillman grant, the center aims to boost the city's 100 public, private and charter schools.

Marisa Schultz / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Michigan State University is expanding its presence here with the opening of a resource center aimed at helping teachers and principals improve city schools.

With a two-year, $1.9 million grant from the Detroit-based Skillman Foundation, MSU's College of Education will operate an education resource center out of Youthville Detroit on Woodward Avenue. MSU will hold seminars and workshops, analyze data and maintain a Web site of resources.

"I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to bring the resources of Michigan State University to the students, teachers and principals in this great city," said Barbara Markle, an assistant dean in the College of Education and executive director of the new resource center. "We want to impact as many students as possible."

At least 15 MSU faculty and staff members will work with the resource center, helping an estimated 100 public, private and charter schools in the city that are part of the Skillman Foundation's Good Schools: Making the Grade program. Participating schools have applied for and received grants from the foundation in an effort to become high-performing schools. MSU will offer specialized guidance to the schools as they work to achieve their goals.

MSU's new partnership with the Skillman Foundation also means the end of Marygrove College's partnership with the foundation. Skillman's Good Schools program is in its fifth year and Marygrove College has been the resource partner until now.

"I have no doubt (MSU) will do a good job, but I just hate to see Marygrove not be a part of it," said Freddie Neal, principal of Detroit's Barton Elementary School, which received a one-year grant through Skillman's Good Schools program. Marygrove is based in Detroit and staffers gave his school ample attention, offered prompt answers and invited staff and students to the college, he said. "We are establishing a new relationship, and new relationships take time to grow," Markle said. But she reiterated MSU's commitment to Detroit.

The Skillman Foundation issued a request for proposals last year to run a resource center, and MSU and Oakland University responded. The foundation granted MSU's request because of its extraordinary reputation, the foundation's longstanding relationship with an MSU faculty member and MSU's use of data and research in evaluating school performance.

"Research is so crucial to the process," Skillman program officer De'Angelo Alexander said in a statement. "We need the brain trust at MSU to help us change the playing field in Detroit."

Detroit's Maybury Elementary received a $50,000 grant from the Skillman Foundation in an effort to improve the writing skills of its students. The grant money bought interactive whiteboards, called SMART Boards, to improve teaching by engaging more students. Principal Ellen Snedeker said the challenge for many school teachers can be embracing new technology; that's where MSU's expertise could really be helpful, she said.

MSU will begin site visits of the schools this month.

You can reach Marisa Schultz at (313) 222-2310 or mschultz@detnews.com.