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.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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