LANSING, Mich. — School superintendents from across Michigan today detailed how the lack of action by the Legislature on a K-12 budget is hurting kids as schools reopen their doors for the new school year.
“My district, and all districts statewide, are reopening with no idea how much funding to expect because state lawmakers have not passed a K-12 budget,” said Dan Behm, Forest Hills Public Schools superintendent. “That hurts our schools and our kids, and it’s time for state lawmakers to step up, do their jobs, and pass a responsible budget today.”
“We call on the Legislature to pass a school funding plan that meets the unique needs of all students across Michigan,” said Erik Edoff, L’Anse Creuse Public Schools superintendent. “One-time money that simply takes from one fund to pay another is not an actual solution. It's time for lawmakers to step up and pass a K-12 budget that makes a sustained, long-term investment in our schools and kids.”
“In the last 25 years, Michigan has seen the least growth in school funding in the nation, and the unique needs of our students will only continue to go unmet without a state budget and a bold plan to invest more resources in our kids,” said Dr. Randy Liepa, Wayne RESA superintendent. “Fortunately, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed a budget that is a great first step toward making long-needed investment in our schools, and I urge lawmakers to support her plan.”
“The school funding plan on the table makes long-needed improvements in every classroom in every school across Michigan, and rejects the one-size-fits-all approach of our current, broken school funding approach that ignores the needs of far too many students,” said Ken Gutman, Walled Lake Consolidated School District superintendent. “It’s time for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to reject gimmicks and schemes and make a lasting investment in our schools that helps all kids succeed.”
“We call on our lawmakers to work with the governor and pass a responsible budget that invests in our children,” said Dr. Mike Shibler, Rockford Public Schools superintendent. “Each day that goes by without a budget is another day of uncertainty for schools, which hurts students.”
Gov. Whitmer’s school funding plan includes a weighted funding formula that serves the needs of all students, with additional resources for special education, at-risk students and those living in poverty and Career and Technical Education programs. The plan also triples the number of literacy coaches statewide.
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