School Funding Crisis: 2011
New Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has proposed an unprecedented shift in School Aid resources from K-12 schools to universities and community colleges. Ferndale Superintendent Gary Meier opposes the proposed raid on the School Aid Fund. He says, “The proposal to share the School Aid Fund with community colleges and universities is not what voters agreed to in the legislation (Proposal A) which created the current public school funding structure. I believe, as do my colleagues across the state, that the School Aid Fund should remain dedicated to K-12 education as Michigan voters agreed to do when approving Proposal A in 1994.”
We can't allow the budget to be balanced on the backs of our children. The budget proposed by Governor Snyder will devastate our schools. We can't let that happen. Our children deserve better. We deserve better. If we don't stand up for our children, no one else will. It's time to draw a line in the sand and send the message that we won't tolerate these cuts. This budget isn't shared sacrifice — it's forcing our children to pay the price for poor decisions.
Meier and other education leaders, including the Michigan Association of School Boards, want Michigan taxpayers to know that the School Aid Fund, as it stands now, is healthy. Meier asks Ferndale Schools families, staff and community members to ask the legislature to keep the promise of Proposal A and keep the School Aid Fund exclusively for K-12 education. If the legislature rejects the governor’s proposal, foundation allowances could actually increase by $260 rather than the significant cuts Snyder has proposed.
Here is a joint resolution among all the Ferndale Schools unions and Board of Education, supporting the School Aid Fund remaining dedicated to K-12 education.
What can supporters of our schools do?
Let Michigan’s legislators know the importance of rejecting Governor Snyder’s shift of funding community colleges and universities into the School Aid Fund. They need to hear from individuals at the local level. Tell them how the Ferndale Schools has absorbed cuts in our school funding over the past decade while remaining full service, and strategically restructuring and diversifying to ensure long-term financial stability. Tell them we can’t afford to absorb any more cuts without threatening our programming, including potential layoffs, which could negatively impact student learning.
Here are links to more information about this school funding crisis,
and what you can do to help:
http://gomasa.org/stop-the-raid
Proposal A: Dedicated Revenue to Schools? A presentation explaining Proposal A, and what will happen if the School Aid Fund also funds Higher Education.
Here is a summary of those who serve our school district, tell them to keep their promise to the voters and children of Michigan.
Governor Rick Snyder, Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov
Senator Vincent Gregory, 14th District,
senvgregory@senate.michigan.gov
Representative Ellen Cogen-Lipton, 27th District, ellenlipton@house.mi.gov
Representative Rudy Hobbs, 35th District,
rudyhobbs@house.mi.gov
Michigan Legislators List (PDF file)
Extensive information is posted on the State of Michigan website about the Governor's budget proposal www.michigan.gov/budget
