What we learned tonight at the Friends of Kent County Schools (Grassroots) meeting is that the School Aid Fund is now responsible for community colleges at a rate of $196 million and universities at a rate of $700 million. While some money will travel with them, the amount in the School Aid Fund that actually funds K-12 education will decrease by $300 million or a $300 cut per child in Michigan. There is no reinstatement of the $170 cut that was made last year. This cut is devastating. the foundation grant that each district receives to educate our children is going to be equivalent to what was spent in the 2005-06 school year although costs have gone up in all categories.
Please be aware that universities received a 15% cut in this proposal. Community colleges are held even.
Lucy Lafleur
