Thursday, April 21, 2011

Grassroots/Friends of Kent County Schools Update

Hi Everyone! I went to the Friends of Kent County/Grassroots meeting yesterday. Bob Emerson was there. He was a Genesee County legislator for 20 years and one of the people to draft Proposal A. they didn't put specific language about K-12 education in it. It was implied. His concern was that there is no collective memory of that struggle and why Proposal A was constructed. 65 of the 110 House legislators are brand new. 30 are in their second term. Only 15 are in their third term. They are all rookies.




He was also the budget director last spring when the barrier was breached and $200 million was "borrowed" from the School Aid Fund. So, now we have this mess.



He also mentioned that $200 million being taken out of the School Aid Fund is being placed in the fund responsible for State worker retirement workers. This retirement fund is $13 billion underfunded. $200 million is a drop in the bucket. Mr. Emerson stated that this is not the time to be funding the retirement liability of state workers when there is a crisis. Also, he pointed out that the public school employee retirement fund is also underfunded and nothing has been put there.



Both the state and house subcommittees on education appropriation have pushed their bills out of committee. The Senate version goes back to cutting the foundation grant to half for half day kindergarten. This is an old one. Again, the people who crafted Proposal A knew that it costs a different amount to educate children at different ages. they gave one grant for all kids figuring that the school districts would use the money wisely. It simply costs more to educate a high school kid than a kindergartener whether half or full day. We strongly disagree with cutting kindergarten funding. The House version contains a provision for a percentage cut to schools rather than a dollar amount which would be more complicated, but possibly more fair, especially to small and poor districts.



The full House and Senate have to vote on each of their bills. Then, each house brings their version to Committee where the House and Senate have to compromise. There is still time to have an impact. We are working with the school board and administration to organize the petitions and figure out the best way to share them with the legislators and the governor. Let me know if you have any ideas. Keep sending your letters and making your phone calls. They are making a difference, but we can't let up!



Please consider going to the Budget Town Hall Meeting being put on by www.thecenterformichigan.net.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Grassroots/Frineds of Kent County Schools Meeting Wednesday April 20 at 7PM

Let's learn about the county wide efforts to address the severe budget cuts and the misuse of the School Aid Fund!--Lucy


Grassroots/Friends of Kent County Schools

Wednesday, April 20 · 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Location Kent ISD - Educational Service Center
2930 Knapp St, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525

From Michigan PTSA

April 17, 2011



Dear Advocate,



The children of this state really need your help!

We are facing the largest cut EVER to education in Michigan, and your voice needs to be heard in this fight.

If you have children in school, their ability to compete for jobs and college admissions is being compromised by what the Governor is proposing. They will not have the advantages that their peers in other states, countries, and even their peers in Michigan who graduated a year or two ahead of them enjoy.

And that's just not fair.
To them, to you, and to the future of this struggling state.

If you don't have children in school, your community, property values and neighbors will suffer.
Already school districts in every corner of the state are making plans to increase class size, eliminate busing and support services, close schools and eliminate programs.

It's time for all of us to band together NOW!

It’s been reported that the House may be voting on the School Aid budget very soon (possibly this week).
Here's what I need for you to do:
You must CALL your state representative NOW and urge him/her to reject the governor’s proposal and CAREFULLY consider other alternatives through additional public hearings.

You must let them know that these cuts are unacceptable and that you are counting on them to stop these cuts.

To find the phone number for your Representatives, use this link:

http://capwiz.com/masb/callalert/index.tt?alertid=41443501



Again, thank you for your continued advocacy efforts!



Kevin McLogan

Vice President for Children's Advocacy
Michigan Parent Teacher Association
1390 Eisenhower Place, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
Phone: 734-975-9500 - Fax: 734-677-2407

Web site: www.michiganpta.org

EGRPS School Board Candidate Forum

The Tuesday night Candidate forum for EGRPS School Board is 7pm in the EGRPS High School Little Auditorium.  Come and hear what the candidates have to say about our schools!

Lucy

Local Education Town Hall Meeting tomorrow, Tuesday April 19 at 6pm

Senate Democratic Leader Whitmer, Representative Dillon to Hold Grand Rapids Town Hall Meeting to Discuss Budget Impacts on Community


Governor Invited to Attend to Hear Concerns of Everyday Citizens





Lansing – Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) and State Representative Brandon Dillon (D-Grand Rapids) will be hosting a Town Hall meeting in Grand Rapids tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. at Burton Elementary School in Grand Rapids. The meeting will give local residents an opportunity to share their concerns about the impacts Governor Snyder’s budget proposals would have within their community.



In the spirit of bipartisanship and open dialog, the Senator Whitmer has extended an invitation to Governor Snyder to either personally participate in the event or have a representative from his administration attend on his behalf so that he can hear directly from the people his budget would impact.





WHAT:Town Hall meeting to discuss Budget Impacts



WHO: Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer

State Representative Brandon Dillon

Kent County Commissioner Carol Hennessy

Thomas Czerwinski, Area Agency on Aging of West Michigan

Senita Lenear, President of the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education



WHEN: TOMORROW, Tuesday, April 19, at 6:00 p.m.



WHERE: Burton Elementary School, 2133 Buchanan Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Video from the public hearing on cuts

http://www.fightschoolcuts.com/ 

This video features Brian Ellis, EGRPS School Board President and Kevin Phillips, Asst. Superintendent of Business reporting on the number of cuts absorbed in our budget over the last several years.  It is worth looking at.

Lucy

Center for Michgian is holding a Town Hall in Grand Rapids on 4-25-11

This is from the Center for Michigan website, http://www.centerformichgian.net/.  This is a nonprofit organization interested in reiventing Michigan.  I copied the page onto the blog, but you have to go to their website to register. 
Lucy


Center visiting Wixom, GR, Lansing


By The Center for Michigan
Published: April 14, 2011

Gov. Rick Snyder and Republican leaders in the Legislature say they have a deal on taxes. Legislative appropriation panels are working their way through budget bills. The wheels are turning in the State Capitol, but is Michigan government on the road you prefer?



The Center for Michigan and partners MiVote.org and Detroit Public Television continue a spring series of townhalls — “Common Sense Conversations” — on Michigan’s tax and budget choices with late April stops in Wixom, Grand Rapids and Lansing.



Our “clicker” technology allows participants to vote on priorities for the state’s future and instantly compare their personal preferences to the group as a whole. Open discussion gives everybody a chance to have their say and “Talk Back to Lansing.” Information collected at these sessions is used by the Center to inform Lansing leaders on what voters are thinking. Be part of the conversation.



REGISTER TODAY for the Common Sense Conversation in Wixom on Wednesday, April 20.



Register for Grand Rapids on Monday, April 25.



Register for Lansing on Wednesday, April 27.

A couple more sample letters...find the email addresses on the link side bar

Dear Ms. Posthumus Lyons—




I understand that the budget bill is coming out of committee and soon the House will vote on the budget, including the School Aid Fund. I want to let you know that I support the notion that Proposal A was passed by Michigan voters in 1994 as a way to fund K-12 schools. When the state took over funding schools, it brought property tax relief and a more equitable funding source to schools. The big flaw in Proposal A was that the pot of money for schools would not keep up when times were tough. Well, during this severe economic downturn, the School Aid Fund was well funded enough to provide for schools this year and next year without cuts. Last year, the legislature borrowed money from the School Aid Fund for other parts of the state budget. This year, that pot of money was so attractive, that the higher education budget was placed in it. While I am supportive of all education, higher education can still raise money through millages for operating dollars and through tuition. Placing higher education in the School Aid Fund obliterates Proposal A and the voters’ wishes. Fix Proposal A or remove higher education from that revenue pot. The schools have had zero gain or cuts for the last seven years. The schools will have to eliminate essential programs that support my kids if these cuts go through. Please vote against the governor’s budget proposal.

Sincerely,



Dear Senator Jansen—

I understand that the Senate is working hard on alternative budget proposals for the State of Michigan. I support your careful review of these issues. I am writing to you today to tell you that I support the notion that Proposal A was passed by Michigan voters in 1994 as a way to fund K-12 schools. When the state took over funding schools, it brought property tax relief and a more equitable funding source to schools. The big flaw in Proposal A was that the pot of money for schools would not keep up when times were tough. Well, during this severe economic downturn, the School Aid Fund was well funded enough to provide for schools this year and next year without cuts. Last year, the legislature borrowed money from the School Aid Fund for other parts of the state budget. This year, that pot of money was so attractive, that the higher education budget was placed in it. While I am supportive of all education, higher education can still raise money through millages for operating dollars and through tuition. Placing higher education in the School Aid Fund obliterates Proposal A and the voters’ wishes. Fix Proposal A or remove higher education from that revenue pot. The schools have had zero gain or cuts for the last seven years. The schools will have to eliminate essential programs that support my kids if these cuts go through. Please vote against the governor’s budget proposal.



Sincerely,

Wednesday April 20 Friends of kent County Schools Meeting

Friends of Kent County Schools Meeting Reminder


The next Friends of Kent County
Grassroots Meeting
Kent ISD - Educational Service Center

Wednesday, April 20, 2011
from 7:00PM - 8:30PM

Please join us....
Our featured speaker will be the former State Budget Director Robert Emerson. As a former state representative and senator, Mr. Emerson has more than three decades of state government experience and was one of the state leaders who helped develop the Proposal A constitutional amendment to fund K-12 education. Mr. Emerson will provide his perspective on the current school funding situation, the impact of funding higher education through the school aid fund, and options for the future.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Meeting with State Rep. Lyons in Lowell

Elizabeth Lykins, Tina Murua, Melissa Janes and I met with Rep. Lyons today.  We were able to share our concern that the 4% cut (as she kept stating the severe cuts proposed to school funding) would be made up with a 20% contribution by teachers to health insurance.  We explained that even if this salary cut for teachers goes through, this makes only half of the $1.5 million deficit for next year.  Ms. Lyons was needing some language from the original Proposal A language and we were able to show her the language in the letter from EGPRS which has the Prop A language.  Elizabeth and Tina were able to ask a strategic question.  If placing community colleges and universities in the School Aid Fund is legal under proposal A, then the millages that community colleges have asked for and voters have passed to provide operating dollars must be illegal.  If those millages were legal, then it is illegal to place community colleges and universities in the School Aid Fund.  Ms. Lyons furiously wrote down this argument and plans to take it with her to Lansing.  Ms. Lyons acknowledged that education is important and listened to our stories about our schools.  Please continue to call our legislators about your stories.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

State Rep. Lisa Lyons Constituent meeting time 4-11-11 iun Lowell 3-4:30pm

Let me know if you are interested in bringing our message directly to Ms. Lyons at the kaiser Kitchen, 700 E. Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331.  We will be carpooling from Lakeside Elementary, leaving at 2:30pm, planning on returning about 4:30pm.

Petitions

Petitions are due at the end of this week.  If you haven't signed yet or you want ot turn some petitions, Legislative Committee will be at Gaslight Starbucks with petitions on Wed and Thu, 4-13 and 14 from 7:30-9am and from 4-5:30pm for commuters.

Please let anyone on the Legislative Committee know of any parent meeting for any group you belong to that is happening this week!  lucylafleur@sbcglobal.net

May 12 Advocacy Day

Michigan PTSA will have a rally at the Capitol on our Advocacy Day, May 12. There are other groups who will be supporting and attending this rally, including MASB and SOS. Michigan PTSA has also been working with a coalition to have a statewide Teach-In to address what the proposed budget means in communities across Michigan.



EGRPS Legislative Committee has a small budget to either send or subsidize attendees.  Let me know if you are interested.  lucylafleur@sbcglobal.net