On May 4, the new PICO affiliate Flint Area Congregations Together (FACT) in Michigan organized a candidates' forum for those running for the Flint Board of Education, asking them to work closely with members of the community to address issues of school violence, low student performance, and high dropout rates in the city's schools.

During the event hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Flint at a local elementary school, FACT members presented research showing that the Flint school system is facing major challenges, including poor facilities, low student performance, and high dropout rates. FACT members asserted that these challenges, coupled with shrinking resources, require that the school district have a well thought-out educational improvement plan that engages the support of the entire community. 

Leaders from FACT asked the candidates to commit to working with FACT and other community partners to develop an educational improvement plan by the end of 2008 to reduce dropout rates and improve student performance; to conduct an instructional audit of Flint schools; to engage with community members to visit other successful urban school districts; and to reduce the presence of violence and criminal activities in the schools by working with residents to implement conflict resolution/violence prevention programs as well as professional development days to help prevent bullying. All four candidates, including the School Board President, expressed their support for FACT's proposals.

For more information on Flint Area Congregations Together (FACT), visit www.flintfact.org