We have our first meeting right when we get back in January. January 3, 2011 in the front conference room at the Woodcliff Administrative Building at 11:45am.
I will send an agenda out closer to the time.
Thank you to those committee members took time to help me plan for next semester and beyond for this committee.
One idea we are working on is to increase our profile in the schools, we are thinking of advocating for reporting earlier during the school building PTA meetings since we are part of the PTA Council rather than a building committee.
Another idea is to have some kind of forum to address school funding since we are facing a huge deficit next school year and budget decisions will likely have to be made once the new year rolls around. We are thinking that parents need a continuous review of the basics of school funding in order to understand the changes that are made.
If you have any other ideas for increasing both our profile and our effectiveness, please come to a meeting and send your thoughts to me at lucylafleur@sbcglobal.net.
Until then, Happy Hollidays.
Lucy Lafleur and the committee
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Edujobs dollars have been distributed! Thanks for your work!
Here is a message from Ron Koehler at Kent Intermediate School District from last Friday. He is thanking everyone who contacted our legislators about the Edujobs dollars. Thank you from me too!! Lucy
If you have the time, contact your legislators via email and thank them for distributing these dollars via the 2x formula. I expect to see many of you during the next month, but if I don’t, have a great holiday season. I look forward to working with you on behalf of children when the Legislature and our new administration begins work in January. Cheers!
Ron Koehler, KISD
Thanks!
As this session of the legislature comes to a close, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your efforts on behalf of children. Your hard work is valuable, and it is making a difference. Last night the Legislature passed a school aid supplemental bill (HB5887) that distributed the federal EduJobs funds via the 2x formula. Most of our districts will benefit greatly from this, as those at the base foundation level will receive $222 per pupil while those with the highest foundation grants will receive just half that amount. This would not have happened without your hard work over the years, communicating to legislators the basic unfairness and inequity of distributing increased funding equally among all districts. If you have the time, contact your legislators via email and thank them for distributing these dollars via the 2x formula. I expect to see many of you during the next month, but if I don’t, have a great holiday season. I look forward to working with you on behalf of children when the Legislature and our new administration begins work in January. Cheers!
Ron Koehler, KISD
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Is the State Playing Games with the Federal Dollars for this School Year?
Everyone who has been paying attention can see that there are some games happening with the finalizing of the federal Edujobs dollars for this school year's budget. Unlike the bullying bill, the budget bill appears to be at the top of the docket for this week and through Tuesday next week as the lame duck session closes before the holidays.
Our schools were promised these federal dollars which should replace the cuts that happened last year. During this current session, our legislators have not gotten the job done to apply those cuts and the schools still have not seen the federal dollars.
Also, the expenses for school districts to meet the new requirements that were placed into law in order to compete for Race to the Top will be a burden on all school districts without further financial help from the State. Michigan did not win the Race to the Top but our school districts are obligated by law to meet the requirements.
Please write to Seator Jansen and Representative Hildenbrand and request that they get the federal dollars to the schools. Also, ask that they consider the financial burden meeting the requirements to Race to the Top will have on the districts.
See some examples below that can be cut and pasted using your email. The addresses are next to this post. Thank you for your consideration.
Lucy Lafleur
Dear Senator Jansen--
I have been following the budget negotiations carefully and am aware that the federal Edujobs dollars have not yet been released to the schools. I also am aware that the negotiations have to do with funding the requirements for the Race to the Top legislation. Our schools received severe cuts last year and they are surviving on this reduced budget although federal dollars have been promised. During this last push before the holidays, please release the federal dollars to the schools and carefully consider how the Race to the Top requirements are a financial burden on schools. We are counting on you to represent your consituents who are very concerned about public education.
Sincerely,
Dear Representative Hildenbrand--
I have been following the budget negotiations carefully and am aware that the federal Edujobs dollars have not yet been released to the schools. I also am aware that the negotiations have to do with funding the requirements for the Race to the Top legislation. Our schools received severe cuts last year and they are surviving on this reduced budget although federal dollars have been promised. During this last push before the holidays, please release the federal dollars to the schools and carefully consider how the Race to the Top requirements are a financial burden on schools. We are counting on you to represent your consituents who are very concerned about public education.
Sincerely,
Our schools were promised these federal dollars which should replace the cuts that happened last year. During this current session, our legislators have not gotten the job done to apply those cuts and the schools still have not seen the federal dollars.
Also, the expenses for school districts to meet the new requirements that were placed into law in order to compete for Race to the Top will be a burden on all school districts without further financial help from the State. Michigan did not win the Race to the Top but our school districts are obligated by law to meet the requirements.
Please write to Seator Jansen and Representative Hildenbrand and request that they get the federal dollars to the schools. Also, ask that they consider the financial burden meeting the requirements to Race to the Top will have on the districts.
See some examples below that can be cut and pasted using your email. The addresses are next to this post. Thank you for your consideration.
Lucy Lafleur
Dear Senator Jansen--
I have been following the budget negotiations carefully and am aware that the federal Edujobs dollars have not yet been released to the schools. I also am aware that the negotiations have to do with funding the requirements for the Race to the Top legislation. Our schools received severe cuts last year and they are surviving on this reduced budget although federal dollars have been promised. During this last push before the holidays, please release the federal dollars to the schools and carefully consider how the Race to the Top requirements are a financial burden on schools. We are counting on you to represent your consituents who are very concerned about public education.
Sincerely,
Dear Representative Hildenbrand--
I have been following the budget negotiations carefully and am aware that the federal Edujobs dollars have not yet been released to the schools. I also am aware that the negotiations have to do with funding the requirements for the Race to the Top legislation. Our schools received severe cuts last year and they are surviving on this reduced budget although federal dollars have been promised. During this last push before the holidays, please release the federal dollars to the schools and carefully consider how the Race to the Top requirements are a financial burden on schools. We are counting on you to represent your consituents who are very concerned about public education.
Sincerely,
Bullying Bill
It appears that the bullying bill will be tabled for the lame duck session and will need to be reintroduced in the next session. I just heared from Michael Zois from Senator Mark Jansen's office. Please continue to write to Senator Jansen now and in the new year about this important peice of legislation. I will keep you informed.
Lucy
Lucy
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
New PTA Advocacy Call to Contact Mark Jansen about Bullying Bill SB159
Please contact Mark Jansen about Senate Bill 159 before next week. You can use the email posted next to this post or you can use the link from the ptsa page online. See the alert from PTSA Michigan's Advocacy Director, Kevin McLogan. Lucy
Take Action Against Bullying NOW!
First of all, thank you to those that responded to my message earlier this month regarding anti-bullying legislation. Your voice has made a difference, but we are not there yet.
If you were not able to respond last time, there is still time for your voice to be heard.
Senate Majority Leader Bishop has said that this will be the last week of session. That means that the Senate will meet Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. And that is it. End of session.
A new anti-bullying bill will need to be drafted for the next session.
You may have received a message from your senator that they support SB 275. This bill is not as strong as SB159, it doesn’t have the provisions or guidelines to be effective in the fight against bullying in our schools.
I need you to go to the Michigan PTSA Legislative Alert page RIGHT NOW and send an e-letter (you can edit as you like, and a personal story is always effective). This will only send the message to your senator. Phone calls to their offices would be great as well, but it is imperative that you take action NOW.
The page will expire on Thursday, but it is active now.
Again, I thank you for your advocacy efforts!
Kevin McLogan
Vice President for Children’s Advocacy
kevinmclogan@yahoo.com
Note new e-mail address
First of all, thank you to those that responded to my message earlier this month regarding anti-bullying legislation. Your voice has made a difference, but we are not there yet.
If you were not able to respond last time, there is still time for your voice to be heard.
Senate Majority Leader Bishop has said that this will be the last week of session. That means that the Senate will meet Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. And that is it. End of session.
A new anti-bullying bill will need to be drafted for the next session.
You may have received a message from your senator that they support SB 275. This bill is not as strong as SB159, it doesn’t have the provisions or guidelines to be effective in the fight against bullying in our schools.
I need you to go to the Michigan PTSA Legislative Alert page RIGHT NOW and send an e-letter (you can edit as you like, and a personal story is always effective). This will only send the message to your senator. Phone calls to their offices would be great as well, but it is imperative that you take action NOW.
The page will expire on Thursday, but it is active now.
Again, I thank you for your advocacy efforts!
Kevin McLogan
Vice President for Children’s Advocacy
kevinmclogan@yahoo.com
Note new e-mail address
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
New Facebook Page
Thanks to Mary Reed Kelly for getting our Facebook page up. Check out East Grand Rapids Public Schools Legislative Committee on Facebook!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Check Out Our New Posts
See our new posts below about the federal dollars, bullying and the minutes from our most recent meeting.
Lucy
Lucy
About the Federal Dollars from Your Leg Committee and Grassroots President
From Lucy: Below is a reminder from Rockford Superintendent Mike Shibler about the federal funds that were promised to the schools at the beginning of this school year. East Grand Rapids Schools along with every other school district is depending on these funds to make it through this school year. We don't know what will happen next year when there will be no more federal funds to support the School Aid Fund. In the mean time, we need to remind our legislators to send these federal dollars to schools.
Sen. Mark Jansen (517) 373-0797 SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov
(He's still our Rep until January) Rep. Dave Hildenbrand (517) 373-0846 rephildenbrand@house.mi.gov
(Our new rep in January) Lisa PosthumosLyons lisa@lisaformichigan.com
With the election out of the way, legislators need to return to work and appropriate the federal school stimulus funding to our schools. You may recall they appropriated these funds in late September but did so in a manner that prompted the US Education Department to reject the funding formula. Our schools are planning on these dollars to operate. Please contact your legislators and the governor encouraging them to immediately resolve this issue by applying the 2x formula for school funding to the federal Edujobs funds. It is imperative they do this next week. Thanks for your assistance with this.
Mike Shibler
Sen. Mark Jansen (517) 373-0797 SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov
(He's still our Rep until January) Rep. Dave Hildenbrand (517) 373-0846 rephildenbrand@house.mi.gov
(Our new rep in January) Lisa PosthumosLyons lisa@lisaformichigan.com
With the election out of the way, legislators need to return to work and appropriate the federal school stimulus funding to our schools. You may recall they appropriated these funds in late September but did so in a manner that prompted the US Education Department to reject the funding formula. Our schools are planning on these dollars to operate. Please contact your legislators and the governor encouraging them to immediately resolve this issue by applying the 2x formula for school funding to the federal Edujobs funds. It is imperative they do this next week. Thanks for your assistance with this.
Mike Shibler
Call to Action from Michigan PTSA about Bullying
Michigan Parent Teacher Student Association
1390 Eisenhower Place, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
Phone: 734-975-9500 - Fax: 734-677-2407
Web site: www.michiganptsa.org
After taking the month of October off, the Legislature will resume session after the election to finish the legislative year, and in many cases, their legislative career. When they get back, we need to do a full-court press on anti-bullying legislation. We have worked together for many years to pass a comprehensive bill to address this issue and the recent suicides of bullied teens and young adults have brought the real human tragedy of our inaction to light. We have an opportunity to effect change in the next few weeks.
Please contact your legislators and demand that they take action on Senate Bill 159. Michigan is among just five states in the nation that have not passed an anti-bullying law, while the 45 other states have been adopting these laws since 1999. A first attempt to pass Matt's Law didn't make it to the floor of the Senate for discussion before being dismissed in 2008. A vote on a new version of the anti-bullying bill introduced in 2009 must come before the current legislative session ends on December 31st or that bill, too, will fail to become law. The law requires all Michigan school districts to have an anti-bullying policy and within those policies, districts are urged to spell out what is appropriate student behavior and how bullying will be handled. Senator Glenn Anderson wrote this bill in January of 2009 and it has not progressed. This bill must be moved out of the Education Committee! This bill needs to be placed before the Senate for a vote. It has been studied sufficiently and THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW.
It is more crucial than ever to pass the law. Too many students are taking their own lives because of bullying. The policy is important to both protect kids from bullying and to help teach students about bullying. Students report bullying is alive and well in schools. About 30% of Michigan students − more than 265,000 kids − in grades six through ten say they have been bullied, and 19% − 168,000 students − say they have participated in bullying, according to state statistics.
I urge you to take action on this important issue. Now is the time.
(From Lucy: Sen. Mark Jansen (517) 373-0797 SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov)
If you feel comfortable contacting your Legislator on your own, great! But if you need some help, I will have a form letter that you can personalize and send directly to your Legislators from Michigan PTSA’s CAP WIZ site (http://capwiz.com/npta2/mi/home/). This will walk you through the process and can be very effective.
Nothing good will happen without you and advocates like you.
Please contact me if there is anything that I can do to help you with your advocacy.
Thank you,
Kevin McLogan
Vice President for Children’s Advocacy
248-307-1037
kmclogan@wowway.com
1390 Eisenhower Place, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
Phone: 734-975-9500 - Fax: 734-677-2407
Web site: www.michiganptsa.org
CALL TO ACTION:
Take Action Against Bullying NOW!
After taking the month of October off, the Legislature will resume session after the election to finish the legislative year, and in many cases, their legislative career. When they get back, we need to do a full-court press on anti-bullying legislation. We have worked together for many years to pass a comprehensive bill to address this issue and the recent suicides of bullied teens and young adults have brought the real human tragedy of our inaction to light. We have an opportunity to effect change in the next few weeks.
Please contact your legislators and demand that they take action on Senate Bill 159. Michigan is among just five states in the nation that have not passed an anti-bullying law, while the 45 other states have been adopting these laws since 1999. A first attempt to pass Matt's Law didn't make it to the floor of the Senate for discussion before being dismissed in 2008. A vote on a new version of the anti-bullying bill introduced in 2009 must come before the current legislative session ends on December 31st or that bill, too, will fail to become law. The law requires all Michigan school districts to have an anti-bullying policy and within those policies, districts are urged to spell out what is appropriate student behavior and how bullying will be handled. Senator Glenn Anderson wrote this bill in January of 2009 and it has not progressed. This bill must be moved out of the Education Committee! This bill needs to be placed before the Senate for a vote. It has been studied sufficiently and THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW.
It is more crucial than ever to pass the law. Too many students are taking their own lives because of bullying. The policy is important to both protect kids from bullying and to help teach students about bullying. Students report bullying is alive and well in schools. About 30% of Michigan students − more than 265,000 kids − in grades six through ten say they have been bullied, and 19% − 168,000 students − say they have participated in bullying, according to state statistics.
I urge you to take action on this important issue. Now is the time.
(From Lucy: Sen. Mark Jansen (517) 373-0797 SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov)
If you feel comfortable contacting your Legislator on your own, great! But if you need some help, I will have a form letter that you can personalize and send directly to your Legislators from Michigan PTSA’s CAP WIZ site (http://capwiz.com/npta2/mi/home/). This will walk you through the process and can be very effective.
Nothing good will happen without you and advocates like you.
Please contact me if there is anything that I can do to help you with your advocacy.
Thank you,
Kevin McLogan
Vice President for Children’s Advocacy
248-307-1037
kmclogan@wowway.com
Minutes from November 1, 2010 Meeting
Superintendent’s Report: There is not much to report. We are waiting for the January changes in the budget due to the election.
Candidate Forum: We had a successful candidate forum on October 18, 2010. We had about 40 people attend. We could see from the candidates that the overall philosophy is either cut taxes to improve jobs and then education funding will improve or invest in education up front and see that an educated work force brings jobs.
We concluded that neither candidate was fully informed about issues in education and we would like to be involved in educating the winner of the election. The committee will formulate a one page summary of our most important issues with contact information so that the new legislator will utilize our information when considering education.
We meet again on January 3, 2011
Lucy Lafleur
Candidate Forum: We had a successful candidate forum on October 18, 2010. We had about 40 people attend. We could see from the candidates that the overall philosophy is either cut taxes to improve jobs and then education funding will improve or invest in education up front and see that an educated work force brings jobs.
We concluded that neither candidate was fully informed about issues in education and we would like to be involved in educating the winner of the election. The committee will formulate a one page summary of our most important issues with contact information so that the new legislator will utilize our information when considering education.
We meet again on January 3, 2011
Lucy Lafleur
Thursday, October 21, 2010
A Question about Race to the Top
Many changes were made to education in the State of Michigan in response to the Race to the Top incentives. We did not win the grants, but we are obliged to comply with the changes. Apparently, EGRPS is already doing some of the requirements, such as teacher evaluations, which is a model for other districts. Some of the other provisions, such as a merit pay scale, however, we aren’t doing. We are in Year 1 of a 3 year window. Is the legislature going to provide funding for districts to meet these requirements? Should we rescind these laws?
A Question about Retiree Benefits and the Budget
We learned that the State of Michigan’s compromise with the teachers resulted in a 3% increase in teacher contribution to the retirement program. This is a plan to allow the retirement program to remain solvent and for the percentage of the student foundation grant going to retirement to remain close to the same (around 19% of every salary dollar—from the student foundation grant-- goes to retirement benefits). Since that compromise was made, the teachers’ union has sued the State over this and that 3% is now being taken from the teacher’s salary, but it is not being used for retirement, it is being placed in a holding pot while the lawsuit is resolved. It seems like this is an example of continuing partisan wrangling. Do you have a plan for compromising with the opposite party once you are in office? Do you have any insight into keeping our promise to retirees without bankrupting our current operations?
A Question about Consolidation/GR Press Article
This past summer, the Grand Rapids Press had a 10.0 article about consolidating school districts in the State of Michigan. In the article, the reporter highlighted that there are 550 school districts in the state and that there is some duplication of services. Since consolidating services has been on the agenda of the Legislative Committee since before this article was written, we revisited the issue with the administration since the beginning of this school year. What we found was that this school district is collaborating with both the KISD and other districts on a number of services which are saving money and preventing cuts. We are contracting with GRPS for food services. We are sharing a school psychologist with Forest Hills. We have adopted the KISD business software to increase efficiency. We also collaborate with KISD on special education, OT and transportation services. Will you be backing collaboration like these examples or consolidation? Do you back fundamental tax structure changes that would be required to make consolidation work?
A Question about Preschool Funding
Last year during the severe budget cuts, preschool education was severely cut. There is much literature that shows that money spent in good preschool education results in less money spent later on prisons and health care. An editorial in the Grand Rapids Press last February sited this research when it condemned the cuts. Would you support these cuts?
A Question about Technology
EGRPS has amazing technology in our schools. An article in the GR Press on September 8, 2010 reviewed all of the high tech changes in schools that are happening despite severe cuts over the last year. Our district passed a technology bond which has allowed us to expand our technology. We are at the end of this funding source and the administration and the school board are looking into ways to provide upkeep to what we have and to expand it. Our sinking fund does not allow the purchase of technology. Do you think it is time to change this? Do you have any other suggestions for funding technology?
A Question about Federal dollars and the structural deficit
During the last three school years, the School Aid Fund has been propped up with federal stimulus dollars and this year with the last of the stimulus dollars and with one time money coming from the Edu-jobs money which was a law that was passed this past August. These federal dollars are more than $350 of the approximately $7500 per pupil funding provided to each school district for every public school student. Next school year, the federal stimulus dollars will not be there. What are you going to do about this structural deficit that continues to plague Michigan schools?
A Question From Monday About Proposal A/School Aid Fund “Surplus”
My understanding is that Proposal A was passed in 1994 for the purpose of providing property tax relief to Michigan residents and to try to make education funding more equitable across school districts by having the State of Michigan collect statewide taxes and distribute the money to school districts on a per pupil funding basis which is supposed to level the playing field.
The taxes that are collected for schools is placed in the budget in the bucket called the School Aid Fund, which was supposed to be only used for K-12 education.
The estimation for the taxes for the School Aid Fund were made last January and they were dire due to the economy. In May, the taxes collected were $200 million mmore than anticipated. The money was taken out of the School Aid Fund and used elsewhere in the budget. I contacted my legislators to tell them that this was unfair and illegal under Proposal A. What would you have done?
The taxes that are collected for schools is placed in the budget in the bucket called the School Aid Fund, which was supposed to be only used for K-12 education.
The estimation for the taxes for the School Aid Fund were made last January and they were dire due to the economy. In May, the taxes collected were $200 million mmore than anticipated. The money was taken out of the School Aid Fund and used elsewhere in the budget. I contacted my legislators to tell them that this was unfair and illegal under Proposal A. What would you have done?
How Did Hot Topics in Education Legislation Go?
We had a good turnout for Monday night’s candidate forum, Hot Topics in Education Legislation. About 30 people heard the public education positions of the candidates for 86th district, Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R) and Frank Hammond. We will be posting the prepared questions as they were asked on Monday. My overall impression is summed up by committee member Tina Murua’s assessment: “It's a question of whether
funding schools will bring good jobs (Hammond's position); or good jobs will bring funding to schools (Posthumus-Lyons position). With that in mind, don’t forget to vote November 2!
Lucy
funding schools will bring good jobs (Hammond's position); or good jobs will bring funding to schools (Posthumus-Lyons position). With that in mind, don’t forget to vote November 2!
Lucy
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Questions for the Forum
Please let me know if you have a question for our prospective legislators for the October 18, 2010 Hot Topics in Education Legislation event. We have some great topics already and we will have question slips for the audience, but we would love to know what voters are concerned about.
Lucy
Lucy
Time Magazine Article
In preparing questions for the October 18 Hot Topics in Education Legislation forum, I wanted to share an article in the most recent Time Magazine. Zakaria, Fareed. The New Challenge From China. Time. October 18, 2010. In this article, the reporter interviews the premier of China and goes on to tell us that China is changing its tactics to from investing in infrastructure to investing in people. In the last 10 years, China has doubled its universities, quadrupled its college students and tripled the share of GDP or Gross Domestic Product that is spent on education, particularly higher education. Our kids are going to be competing head to head with these students while in the last decade, k-12 and higher education have received nothing but budget cuts. Do we have the political fortitude to change this trend?
Lucy
Lucy
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Questions for the Candidates
This is our chance to meet the new legislator for Michigan House District 86! Although we don't yet know if it will be Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R) or Frank Hammond (D), we need to make our voices known and we need to let them both know we are passionate about public education!
If you have questions, please submit them to lucylafleur@sbcglobal.net.
If you have questions, please submit them to lucylafleur@sbcglobal.net.
The Three Main Points from the October 4, 2010 meeting
1. Candidate Forum, Hot Topics in Education Legislation, Monday, October 18, 2010 7pm at the Community Center. Please plan on coming and please encourage parents in your circle to come. Questions for the candidates are being formalized and Committee members will ask them as well as asking for questions from the audience that night.
2. $154 in per pupil funding was restored for each public school student in Michigan in due to federal funding through the Edu-jobs bill passed in August. Although this replaces all of the money cut last year, the money is one-time federal dollars and still does not address what the state is going to do next year when all federal dollars have dried up.
3. The 3% increase in teacher contribution to the retirement fund is being placed in a holding fund due to an MEA class action lawsuit. So, the % of each salary dollar spent on retirement is going to rise over the next few years even though teachers are paying more.
2. $154 in per pupil funding was restored for each public school student in Michigan in due to federal funding through the Edu-jobs bill passed in August. Although this replaces all of the money cut last year, the money is one-time federal dollars and still does not address what the state is going to do next year when all federal dollars have dried up.
3. The 3% increase in teacher contribution to the retirement fund is being placed in a holding fund due to an MEA class action lawsuit. So, the % of each salary dollar spent on retirement is going to rise over the next few years even though teachers are paying more.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
October 18, 2010 Candidate Forum called Hot Topics in Education Legislation
Hot Topics in Education Legislation has been set for Monday, October 18, 2010 at 7pm in the Community Center in East Grand Rapids. We will be asking the tough education related questions to the candidates for Michigan House 86th District, Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R) and Frank Hammond (D). Let's get to know our future legislator and let him or her know that we are interested in funding for education in Michigan!
Also, Grassroots is a Kent County Intermediate School District related education advocacy organization that meets monthly in the Kent ISD building, 2930 Knapp St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525. The first meeting is at 7pm October 7, 2010.
Also, Grassroots is a Kent County Intermediate School District related education advocacy organization that meets monthly in the Kent ISD building, 2930 Knapp St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525. The first meeting is at 7pm October 7, 2010.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The EGRPS Legislative Committee is Non-partisan
At the Middle School PTSA meeting last week, a question was raised about partisanship, candidate endorsements and the EGRPS Legislative Committee. The Committee is a PTSA Committee and therefore the primary mission of the committee are to meet the needs of the children of this community who attend public schools (see the full Mission Statement above). We are non-partisan and our purpose is to educate parents and community members regarding legislative actions on the local, state and national level that affect public education. Members of the committee include parents, EGRPS administration and the EGR School Board. We currently do not have a teacher on our committee, but we are working on that.
Look for information on a Candidate Forum that will be held in the Community Center in October!
Lucy Lafleur, Chair
Look for information on a Candidate Forum that will be held in the Community Center in October!
Lucy Lafleur, Chair
Sunday, September 19, 2010
What's this about a School Aid Fund Surplus?
Legislative Committee meeting, 9-13-10
At the meeting, we discussed the history of the “surplus” money in the School Aid Fund which is being used by the Michigan State Legislature to prop up the General Fund in the State of Michigan Budget.
Last winter, the projections for sales taxes and other taxes that go into the School Aid Fund were very low. In May, it was found that more was collected than those projections had anticipated which resulted in more money being in the School Aid Fund than anticipated.
In addition to this "surplus", in August, the US Congress (or the federal government) passed a massive $10 billion bill with the purpose of keeping teachers employed. Michigan received $320 million of this new federal money.
Our State legislature has decided to use the federal dollars to fund schools this year--even giving the schools $11 back of the $165 taken away last year and use the unanticipated sales tax money and apply it elsewhere in the budget. This is unprecedented because when Proposal A was passed in the mid 1990's for the purpose of moving school funding to the State of Michigan, the School Aid Fund was to be dedicated to K-12 schools only. Aside from this, the main problem is that all federal dollars run out next school year. In the 2011/12 school year, we may have a $300 decline in per pupil funding.
We need to let the legislators know we want the School Aid Fund to stay with K-12 schools.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
A Special Legislative Alert from the Kent County Grassroots Advocates
The EGRPS Legislative Committee urges you to read the Legislative Alert sent by Ron Koehler from the Kent County Education Advocacy Group Grassroots. His Alert is asking us to contact Governor Granholm and Senator Jansen and tell him that the money cut from the School Aid Fund is not a "surplus" and should not be sent to the General Fund to fund everything in state government but education. Hands off education funds! Please find contact information next to this post.
Lucy Lafleur
lucylafleur@sbcglobal.net
From: Grassroots
Stop the transfer of School Aid Funds to the General Fund! At the urging of Governor Granholm, the House last week transferred School Aid Fund "surplus" to the general fund. These are not surplus dollars, but instead are funds that were cut from your local schools.
Senators are expected to vote next week on the transfer. We need to contact our senators and let them know this is unacceptable.
Background: Schools received a cut of $165 per student in this fiscal year. Late in the spring, unexpectedly high sales tax revenues boosted the balance in the School Aid Fund. Instead of returning those dollars to our schools and students, Gov. Granholm and the House said these revenues represented a "surplus" and plan to use those dollars to balance the state budget.
Transferring these dollars to the general fund defies the will of the people who passed Proposal A to stabilize school funding and represents a precedent that may be difficult to reverse in the future.
Your message should be simple: Tell the Governor and Sens. Jansen, Hardiman and Jelinek to stop the raid on the School Aid Fund. Our children deserve better.
Contact Information For more information, contact Ron Koehler at rkoehler001@comcast.net
Lucy Lafleur
lucylafleur@sbcglobal.net
From: Grassroots
Stop the transfer of School Aid Funds to the General Fund! At the urging of Governor Granholm, the House last week transferred School Aid Fund "surplus" to the general fund. These are not surplus dollars, but instead are funds that were cut from your local schools.
Senators are expected to vote next week on the transfer. We need to contact our senators and let them know this is unacceptable.
Background: Schools received a cut of $165 per student in this fiscal year. Late in the spring, unexpectedly high sales tax revenues boosted the balance in the School Aid Fund. Instead of returning those dollars to our schools and students, Gov. Granholm and the House said these revenues represented a "surplus" and plan to use those dollars to balance the state budget.
Transferring these dollars to the general fund defies the will of the people who passed Proposal A to stabilize school funding and represents a precedent that may be difficult to reverse in the future.
Your message should be simple: Tell the Governor and Sens. Jansen, Hardiman and Jelinek to stop the raid on the School Aid Fund. Our children deserve better.
Contact Information For more information, contact Ron Koehler at rkoehler001@comcast.net
Monday, August 30, 2010
Welcome Back to School!!
2010/11 is going to prove to be a great educational opportunity for your EGRPS student/s but it can also be a great learning opportunity for you too! Our local media have been working hard all summer with in-depth articles about school funding and how to make it work in this changed economy that we are living in here in Michigan. I encourage you to take a serious look at these articles and look for comments in this space weekly over the school year.
Our plan for this school year:
- We plan to discuss and interpret school funding issues as they affect us in EGRPS and in the State of Michigan. We will review these issues with the EGRPS administration and school board and bring you the best information as it affects you and your student/s.
- We plan to bring you a Candidate Forum in October with the candidates for the House 86th District.
- We plan to off you an opportunity to meet with State Senator Mark Jansen who is both our Senator and a leader on the Senate Education Committee in Lansing.
What we are asking of you:
Watch for Legislative Committee updates in your building newsletter.
Please attend your PTA meetings in order to get updates from Superintendant Shubel, from the School Board and from your Legislative Committee Representative.
Please read the articles from the Grand Rapids Press about consolidation and the series by Michigan Radio on Michigan school funding. Educate yourself on the issues.
Watch this site for at least bi-weekly updates.
Chair EGRPS Legislative Committee
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Help Keep School Aid Dollars in the School Aid Budget. Write Senator Jansen and Representative Hildenbrand today! Ask that they pledge their commitment to fully funding SCHOOLS with SCHOOL AID DOLLARS.
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Friday, June 4, 2010
Letters to State Officials Regarding the School Aid Fund
According to recent Grand Rapids Press articles, the State of Michigan may have more money in the School Aid Fund than they had anticipated in January 2004. To our dismay, our State of Michigan Legislators, including Senator Mark Jansen, are considering taking money out of the School Aid Fund to pay for other items in the budget. Although we feel strongly that Community Colleges need to be funded (Senator Jansen suggests paying for Community Colleges with School Aid dollars), the School Aid Fund was approved by voters in 1994 under Proposal A for the purpose of funding K-12 schools. We need to ask our legislators to leave the School Aid Fund for K-12 schools and to fully fund it by June 30, 2010 so that our schools can get their business done without guessing, borrowing and having mid-year cuts next year.
Take a look at the letters below. Please consider pasting them into an email and sending them to our legislators. The addresses are in the next column. They do listen when they hear from us. We need to work together!! Thanks--Lucy Lafleur
Dear Senator Jansen--
I have learned that the School Aid Fund may have more money than anticipated in January 2010. While this is very good news for our schools, I have also learned that some unwise decisions are being considered in Lansing regarding the utilization of these funds for areas of the budget that do not have to do with schools. Please resist this and vote against the use of the School Aid fund for anything other than funding our K-12 public schools.
Regards from an East Grand Rapids Voter,
Dear Representative Hildenbrand--
I have learned that the School Aid Fund may have more money than anticipated in January 2010. While this is very good news for our schools, I have also learned that some unwise decisions are being considered in Lansing regarding the utilization of these funds for areas of the budget that do not have to do with schools. Please resist this and vote against the use of the School Aid fund for anything other than funding our K-12 public schools.
Regards from an East Grand Rapids Voter,
Take a look at the letters below. Please consider pasting them into an email and sending them to our legislators. The addresses are in the next column. They do listen when they hear from us. We need to work together!! Thanks--Lucy Lafleur
Dear Senator Jansen--
I have learned that the School Aid Fund may have more money than anticipated in January 2010. While this is very good news for our schools, I have also learned that some unwise decisions are being considered in Lansing regarding the utilization of these funds for areas of the budget that do not have to do with schools. Please resist this and vote against the use of the School Aid fund for anything other than funding our K-12 public schools.
Regards from an East Grand Rapids Voter,
Dear Representative Hildenbrand--
I have learned that the School Aid Fund may have more money than anticipated in January 2010. While this is very good news for our schools, I have also learned that some unwise decisions are being considered in Lansing regarding the utilization of these funds for areas of the budget that do not have to do with schools. Please resist this and vote against the use of the School Aid fund for anything other than funding our K-12 public schools.
Regards from an East Grand Rapids Voter,
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Notes on PTSA Advocacy Day 2010 with some stats and some letters
PTSA Advocacy Day in Lansing was very successful! Upon mulling over the most important ideas, I have come up with these:
I learned more about the State of Michigan Fiscal Agency May Revenue Conference which estimates that the School Aid Fund (SAF) has $300 million more in it at this time than had been anticipated in January of 2010. Does this mean we are in the clear? No! We are now struggling with legislators who are looking at the School Aid Fund and considering raiding it to pay for other state services.
Remember: The School Aid Fund receives money from several pots of money.
1. Sales Tax 42%
2. Income Tax 19%
3. 6 mills on all Property-State Property Tax 16%
4. Lottery 6%
5. Other taxes/Sin Taxes 10%
6. General Fund 15%
The general fund used to provide more funds to schools, but less has been going into the SAF from the general fund and the legislators are looking to raid the "surplus" of SAF to prop up the general fund.
We need to tell our legislators to leave the School Aid Fund alone and use it for K-12 education.
Hmmm... We learned today that the states in the US have the highest proportion of adults with a 4 year college degree have the highest per capita income and have higher personal income and sales taxes. Michigan ranks 37th in the proportion of college degrees, 39th in personal income and about the middle with tax burden. Should we settle for "middle of the road" in all of these categories?
We need to ask our legislators to expand the sales tax to services in order to fully fund our schools.
Our schools are burdened with guessing how much money they will receive from the State of Michigan each year. The school districts, including EGRPS, have to pass a balanced budget each June 30. The State of Michigan doesn't have to pass a budget until October 1st. The law recently changed and the school districts don't even receive money from the state for the new school year until October 20th. I couldn't run my household budget wondering just how much money I will get in 3 months.
We need to ask our legislators to make the passage of the School Aid Fund a priority and to fully fund it by June 30, 2010 so that our schools can get their business done without guessing, borrowing and having mid-year cuts.
Take a look at the letters below. Please consider pasting them into an email and sending them to our legislators. The addresses are in the next column. They do listen when they hear from us. We need to work together!! Thanks--Lucy Lafleur
Dear Senator Jansen--
I have learned that the School Aid Fund may have more money than anticipated in January 2010. While this is very good news for our schools, I have also learned that some unwise decisions are being considered in Lansing regarding the utilization of these funds for areas of the budget that do not have to do with schools. Please resist this and vote against the use of the School Aid fund for anything other than funding our K-12 public schools.
Thank you,
Dear Representative Hildenbrand--
I have learned that the School Aid Fund may have more money than anticipated in January 2010. While this is very good news for our schools, I have also learned that some unwise decisions are being considered in Lansing regarding the utilization of these funds for areas of the budget that do not have to do with schools. Please resist this and vote against the use of the School Aid fund for anything other than funding our K-12 public schools.
Thank you,
I learned more about the State of Michigan Fiscal Agency May Revenue Conference which estimates that the School Aid Fund (SAF) has $300 million more in it at this time than had been anticipated in January of 2010. Does this mean we are in the clear? No! We are now struggling with legislators who are looking at the School Aid Fund and considering raiding it to pay for other state services.
Remember: The School Aid Fund receives money from several pots of money.
1. Sales Tax 42%
2. Income Tax 19%
3. 6 mills on all Property-State Property Tax 16%
4. Lottery 6%
5. Other taxes/Sin Taxes 10%
6. General Fund 15%
The general fund used to provide more funds to schools, but less has been going into the SAF from the general fund and the legislators are looking to raid the "surplus" of SAF to prop up the general fund.
We need to tell our legislators to leave the School Aid Fund alone and use it for K-12 education.
Hmmm... We learned today that the states in the US have the highest proportion of adults with a 4 year college degree have the highest per capita income and have higher personal income and sales taxes. Michigan ranks 37th in the proportion of college degrees, 39th in personal income and about the middle with tax burden. Should we settle for "middle of the road" in all of these categories?
We need to ask our legislators to expand the sales tax to services in order to fully fund our schools.
Our schools are burdened with guessing how much money they will receive from the State of Michigan each year. The school districts, including EGRPS, have to pass a balanced budget each June 30. The State of Michigan doesn't have to pass a budget until October 1st. The law recently changed and the school districts don't even receive money from the state for the new school year until October 20th. I couldn't run my household budget wondering just how much money I will get in 3 months.
We need to ask our legislators to make the passage of the School Aid Fund a priority and to fully fund it by June 30, 2010 so that our schools can get their business done without guessing, borrowing and having mid-year cuts.
Take a look at the letters below. Please consider pasting them into an email and sending them to our legislators. The addresses are in the next column. They do listen when they hear from us. We need to work together!! Thanks--Lucy Lafleur
Dear Senator Jansen--
I have learned that the School Aid Fund may have more money than anticipated in January 2010. While this is very good news for our schools, I have also learned that some unwise decisions are being considered in Lansing regarding the utilization of these funds for areas of the budget that do not have to do with schools. Please resist this and vote against the use of the School Aid fund for anything other than funding our K-12 public schools.
Thank you,
Dear Representative Hildenbrand--
I have learned that the School Aid Fund may have more money than anticipated in January 2010. While this is very good news for our schools, I have also learned that some unwise decisions are being considered in Lansing regarding the utilization of these funds for areas of the budget that do not have to do with schools. Please resist this and vote against the use of the School Aid fund for anything other than funding our K-12 public schools.
Thank you,
A Call to Action!!
I attended the EGRPS Board of Education Meeting on Monday, May 24, 2010. I was heartened to see so many in attendance. Here is a summary of the public comments made during the first 40 minutes of the meeting. There were 4 comments regarding the essential skills of Trent Wadsworth, the Auditorium manager who is being threatened with a slash of his position from full time to half time. There were five people who voiced concern over the impending loss of funding for the Youth Development program. In both cases either current students or recent graduates were among the commentators. The wrestling coach reported on the struggles the team has had and the plan for the team to decrease the costs involved. A parent commented that the team is looking to decrease the costs for the team by half and submitted a proposal. Two wrestlers voiced their concerns about eliminating the program. A comment was made concerning the loss of the Middle School counselor. A first grade paraprofessional commented on the essential services provided by these professionals, asking that the program not be eliminated. She submitted a report with statistics regarding the need for these services. A comment was made by a long term library volunteer on how difficult it will be to man the libraries with volunteers and how difficult it will be for the students who have received literature suggestions and research assistance by the paraprofessional in the library.
The layoffs which were proposed included: Kindergarten Teacher at Breton (.5 FTE), a full time High School Counselor, the (.6 FTE) Middle School Social Worker, the Breton Social Worker (.6 FTE) and the Health Teacher at the High School (.3 FTE). The proposals were approved by the Board, but the layoffs will only occur if necessary. Notification has to be made in the semester prior to the layoff according to the teacher's contract.
Mr. Kevin Phillips reported on the May Revenue conference in Lansing and how this will impact EGRPS. In January of each year, the State Fiscal Agency attempts to estimate how much money will be collected in taxes and whether this money will be enough to pay for all of the expenses in the State of Michigan budget that is passed the previous October 1st of each year. The January 2010 Estimation was very bleak and this is where the plan to cut $250 per pupil in funding K-12 education was derived from. This was not unexpected. Michigan is going through a severe downturn in the economy and the budget is no longer being propped up with federal stimulus dollars. When the May conference tallied the numbers, however, the money collected from the state was looking less bleak and that the School Aid Fund might have $300 million more than was anticipated in January. Much of this coming from $180 million in federal stimulus that is being carried over from last year. Mr. Phillips is reporting that many of the proposed cuts will not happen if the per pupil funding is not cut by as much as originally anticipated. That is, if the $300 million is actually used for K-12.
Mr. Phillips also reported on the Retirement Bill which was recently passed by the legislature. This incentive by the State of Michigan is to urge teachers with a combination of years of service and age to retire at a slightly higher rate, which will allow them to keep their benefits. Those who choose to stay working will have a mandatory 3% contribution of their salary to a State of Michigan fund to fund retiree health benefits. This change in the law will not benefit EGRPS a whole lot. EGRPS has been careful to offer retirement incentives in the past, so there may not be a large pool of retirees under this program. EGRPS will have some help from the state in implementing this program for the first year. In 2011-12 and 2012-13, the wage replacement will be gone and districts will have the higher retirement costs until the incentives are paid off in 5-6 years.
Lucy Lafleur
The layoffs which were proposed included: Kindergarten Teacher at Breton (.5 FTE), a full time High School Counselor, the (.6 FTE) Middle School Social Worker, the Breton Social Worker (.6 FTE) and the Health Teacher at the High School (.3 FTE). The proposals were approved by the Board, but the layoffs will only occur if necessary. Notification has to be made in the semester prior to the layoff according to the teacher's contract.
Mr. Kevin Phillips reported on the May Revenue conference in Lansing and how this will impact EGRPS. In January of each year, the State Fiscal Agency attempts to estimate how much money will be collected in taxes and whether this money will be enough to pay for all of the expenses in the State of Michigan budget that is passed the previous October 1st of each year. The January 2010 Estimation was very bleak and this is where the plan to cut $250 per pupil in funding K-12 education was derived from. This was not unexpected. Michigan is going through a severe downturn in the economy and the budget is no longer being propped up with federal stimulus dollars. When the May conference tallied the numbers, however, the money collected from the state was looking less bleak and that the School Aid Fund might have $300 million more than was anticipated in January. Much of this coming from $180 million in federal stimulus that is being carried over from last year. Mr. Phillips is reporting that many of the proposed cuts will not happen if the per pupil funding is not cut by as much as originally anticipated. That is, if the $300 million is actually used for K-12.
Mr. Phillips also reported on the Retirement Bill which was recently passed by the legislature. This incentive by the State of Michigan is to urge teachers with a combination of years of service and age to retire at a slightly higher rate, which will allow them to keep their benefits. Those who choose to stay working will have a mandatory 3% contribution of their salary to a State of Michigan fund to fund retiree health benefits. This change in the law will not benefit EGRPS a whole lot. EGRPS has been careful to offer retirement incentives in the past, so there may not be a large pool of retirees under this program. EGRPS will have some help from the state in implementing this program for the first year. In 2011-12 and 2012-13, the wage replacement will be gone and districts will have the higher retirement costs until the incentives are paid off in 5-6 years.
Lucy Lafleur
Monday, May 17, 2010
Advocacy Day in Lansing Tuesday, May 24, 2010
Another opportunity to roll up our sleeves next week. Please consider Advocacy Day. Email if you are interested. mailto:lucylafleur@sbcglobal.net.
http://mptsa.orbro.com/mailmerge/519/1273843507_MPTSA_Advocacy_Day_2010_Reg_Form2.pdf
Updated Schedule of Events:
8:00am: Continental Breakfast and Registration
9:00am: Welcome
Overview of School Funding
—Bernie Porn, Epic MRA
Panel Discussion on School Funding
—Donna Lutke, MEA
—Tom White, SOS
10:45am: How to Lobby the PTA Way; What Do We Want Our Members to Ask For?
—Kevin McLogan, MPTSA VP for Children’s Advocacy
—Debbie Squires, MPTSA Past President
11:30am: School Funding Discussion
—State Representative Terry Brown
—Liz Bauer, State Board of Education
Boxed Lunch
12:45pm: Move to Capitol to Meet with Legislators
Attendees should schedule appointments with their legislators in advance.
Appointments with House Members should be scheduled before 1:30!
REGISTER NOW!!!
Registration form is attached.
The Focus is School Funding!!!
Michigan PTSA
Advocacy Day
Tuesday, May 25
Radisson Hotel, Lansing
MPTSA Advocacy Day 2010 Reg Form2.pdf
http://mptsa.orbro.com/mailmerge/519/1273843507_MPTSA_Advocacy_Day_2010_Reg_Form2.pdf
Updated Schedule of Events:
8:00am: Continental Breakfast and Registration
9:00am: Welcome
Overview of School Funding
—Bernie Porn, Epic MRA
Panel Discussion on School Funding
—Donna Lutke, MEA
—Tom White, SOS
10:45am: How to Lobby the PTA Way; What Do We Want Our Members to Ask For?
—Kevin McLogan, MPTSA VP for Children’s Advocacy
—Debbie Squires, MPTSA Past President
11:30am: School Funding Discussion
—State Representative Terry Brown
—Liz Bauer, State Board of Education
Boxed Lunch
12:45pm: Move to Capitol to Meet with Legislators
Attendees should schedule appointments with their legislators in advance.
Appointments with House Members should be scheduled before 1:30!
REGISTER NOW!!!
Registration form is attached.
Michigan Parent Teacher Student Association
3300 Washtenaw Avenue, Suite 220, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104-4294
Phone: 734-975-9500 - Fax: 734-677-2407
Web site: www.michiganptsa.org
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
State of Michigan Board of Education's Bipartisan Recommendations for Education
State Board of Education Unanimously Adopts Balanced, Bi-Partisan Plan to Reform and Finance State's Education System
From the Michigan Department of Education website www.michigan.gov/mde
May 11, 2010
State Board President Kathleen N. Straus stressed the urgency in which these reforms must be implemented.
"We really have an emergency in Michigan," Straus said. "Many school districts have done what we've asked them to do - share services, share superintendents, and cut, cut, cut their budgets. Yet they're rewarded by getting more cuts in their state funding. This is destroying Michigan's education system."
Straus stressed that public education is essential for the revival of Michigan's economy and its future.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan said that he fully endorses the State Board plan. "This is a landmark plan," Flanagan said. "What makes it unique is that it's not pie-in-the-sky; it's a very balanced approach that can work."
- Universal preschool for all four-year-olds;
- Mandated kindergarten for all children;
- Keep the K-12 funding levels prior to the fiscal year 2010 cuts;
- Strongly encourage districts to stop reducing the school year below 180 days;
- Encourage schools to continue to innovate and explore innovations such as year-round schooling, and alternative calendars that increase learning time and improve learning retention;
- Yearly progress requirements for schools and districts;
- Synch the state budget cycle with the budget cycle of local school districts, and a guarantee from the state that there be no mid-year pro-rated cuts in state funding;
- Incentives to provide a post-secondary education opportunity for every child;
- Urging local school districts to provide more education choices for their students by opening their own charter schools;
- Create strong incentives for school districts to consolidate services, and if progress is not made, establish a district consolidation process
- Move newly-hired public school employees to a defined contribution pension system;
- Reform the health care benefit structures for school employees, consistent with the direction of reforms for all public employees;
- Maximize the capture of an Internet Sales and Use Tax for Michigan;
- Lower the state sales tax, and extend it to services;
- Tax private pensions;
- Reduce targeted tax credits and so-call tax loopholes; and
- Implement a graduated income tax, taxing wealthier citizens at a higher rate, while reducing income tax rates for most citizens.
The State Board's plan was a culmination of working together in a bi-partisan manner that focused on the overall need to accomplish real change.
Letters to Senator Jansen and Representative Hildenbrand regarding revenue for schools
Mark Jansen SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov;
Dear Senator Jansen--
Having listened to the severe budget cuts being made in my school district and having read in the newspaper about severe budget cuts in neighboring school districts, I feel very disappointed in my elected leaders. Over and over, we hear about how an educated workforce is the only solution to our state’s woes, yet the Legislature continues to cut both K-12 education and the universities. I am asking you, as my State Senator, to negotiate a budget that includes Governor Granholm’s proposal to lower the sales tax and expand it to services. This new revenue will put our public schools back on their feet. This action must be done before the beginning of the school’s fiscal year, July 1, 2010. Our future depends on it.
Regards,
David Hildenbrand rephildenbrand@house.mi.gov
Dear Representative Hildenbrand--
Having listened to the severe budget cuts being made in my school district and having read in the newspaper about severe budget cuts in neighboring school districts, I feel very disappointed in my elected leaders. Over and over, we hear about how an educated workforce is the only solution to our state’s woes, yet the Legislature continues to cut both K-12 education and the universities. I am asking you, as my State Representative, to negotiate a budget that includes Governor Granholm’s proposal to lower the sales tax and expand it to services. This new revenue will put our public schools back on their feet. This action must be done before the beginning of the school’s fiscal year, July 1, 2010. Our future depends on it.
Regards,
Dear Senator Jansen--
Having listened to the severe budget cuts being made in my school district and having read in the newspaper about severe budget cuts in neighboring school districts, I feel very disappointed in my elected leaders. Over and over, we hear about how an educated workforce is the only solution to our state’s woes, yet the Legislature continues to cut both K-12 education and the universities. I am asking you, as my State Senator, to negotiate a budget that includes Governor Granholm’s proposal to lower the sales tax and expand it to services. This new revenue will put our public schools back on their feet. This action must be done before the beginning of the school’s fiscal year, July 1, 2010. Our future depends on it.
Regards,
David Hildenbrand rephildenbrand@house.mi.gov
Dear Representative Hildenbrand--
Having listened to the severe budget cuts being made in my school district and having read in the newspaper about severe budget cuts in neighboring school districts, I feel very disappointed in my elected leaders. Over and over, we hear about how an educated workforce is the only solution to our state’s woes, yet the Legislature continues to cut both K-12 education and the universities. I am asking you, as my State Representative, to negotiate a budget that includes Governor Granholm’s proposal to lower the sales tax and expand it to services. This new revenue will put our public schools back on their feet. This action must be done before the beginning of the school’s fiscal year, July 1, 2010. Our future depends on it.
Regards,
Some Public Pulse template letters
Here are some Public Pulse template letters for the Grand Rapids Press. Email to pulse@grpress.com.
1. This one is about the Fund Balance--the savings account used by the EGRPS school district to even out erratic state funding and to keep interest payments as low as possible.
Fiscally responsible school districts hold back money from their budgets during stable years. This money is called a fund balance. Due to the crazy way the schools are funded in this state, the fund balance is used by school districts to cover expenses during the months between when their fiscal year starts (July 1) and when they receive the first check from The State of Michigan (October 20). Most districts have to borrow money to operate for this quarter of the school year. The more money the schools have in fund balance, the less interest the schools have to pay on the borrowed money. The schools also use this money to buffer budget cuts during difficult times, like we are living in now. I applaud the stewardship of the East Grand Rapids School District and their use of a fund balance to operate our schools in impossible fiscal times.
2. This one is about asking for the Legislature to revisit Governor Granholm's proposal to expand the sales tax to services to fund schools. This one was published by the GR Press on Monday, May 10, 2010, but additional letters can be sent in agreement.
Having listened to the severe budget cuts being made in my school district and having read in the newspaper about severe budget cuts in neighboring school districts, I feel very strongly that my legislators have let down the whole State of Michigan, including me, my husband and my children. Over and over, we hear about how an educated workforce is the only solution to our state’s woes, yet the Legislature continues to cut both K-12 education and the universities. I am urging the Legislature to return to Governor Granholm’s proposition to lower the sales tax and expand it to services. This new revenue will put our public schools back on their feet. Action needs to be taken before July 1, 2010, the start of the schools’ fiscal year. Our future depends on it.
1. This one is about the Fund Balance--the savings account used by the EGRPS school district to even out erratic state funding and to keep interest payments as low as possible.
Fiscally responsible school districts hold back money from their budgets during stable years. This money is called a fund balance. Due to the crazy way the schools are funded in this state, the fund balance is used by school districts to cover expenses during the months between when their fiscal year starts (July 1) and when they receive the first check from The State of Michigan (October 20). Most districts have to borrow money to operate for this quarter of the school year. The more money the schools have in fund balance, the less interest the schools have to pay on the borrowed money. The schools also use this money to buffer budget cuts during difficult times, like we are living in now. I applaud the stewardship of the East Grand Rapids School District and their use of a fund balance to operate our schools in impossible fiscal times.
2. This one is about asking for the Legislature to revisit Governor Granholm's proposal to expand the sales tax to services to fund schools. This one was published by the GR Press on Monday, May 10, 2010, but additional letters can be sent in agreement.
Having listened to the severe budget cuts being made in my school district and having read in the newspaper about severe budget cuts in neighboring school districts, I feel very strongly that my legislators have let down the whole State of Michigan, including me, my husband and my children. Over and over, we hear about how an educated workforce is the only solution to our state’s woes, yet the Legislature continues to cut both K-12 education and the universities. I am urging the Legislature to return to Governor Granholm’s proposition to lower the sales tax and expand it to services. This new revenue will put our public schools back on their feet. Action needs to be taken before July 1, 2010, the start of the schools’ fiscal year. Our future depends on it.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Some Facts About the Non-Homestead Millage Vote
YOUR YES VOTE is worth $1,100,000 to the EGR schools!!
Election day is Tuesday, May 4th. VOTE YES on Operating Millage Proposal:
- No change in taxes on EGR homeowners
- Renews 18 mill tax on EGR business, industrial, agricultural and rental properties only.
- No primary EGR residences will be affected
- YES = $1,100,000 directly to EGR Schools budget
With a proposed $2.5 million EGR School Budget cut:
YOUR YES VOTE KEEPS $1,100,000 in their coffers!!
YOUR YES VOTE PREVENTS the schools from a $3.6 million shortfall!!
YOUR YES VOTE = an easy way to help your schools! Spread the word!!!
OPERATING MILLAGE PROPOSAL
This proposal will allow the school district to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance.
Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in East Grand Rapids Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, be increased by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 3 years, 2010, 2011 and 2012, to provide funds for operating purposes (17.8669
mills of the above is a renewal of millage which expired with the 2009 tax levy and .1331 mill is a restoration of millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963); the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2010 is approximately $1,100,000?
The Legislative Committee encourages you to get out and vote!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
May 4, 2010
Please get out and vote for the Non-Homestead Property Tax. This tax is about $350 per student each school year!!
Dates to Remember
April 26 7pm School Board Meeting. Wealthy Auditorium. The budget committee will publicly offer recommendations for cuts.
May 4 Vote!! For the Renewal of Nonhomestead property tax
June 7 5:30pm Budget Hearing. Wealthy Auditorium. The budget for the 2010/11 school year will be proposed.
June 14 7pm School Board Meeting. The balanced budget will be adopted.
May 4 Vote!! For the Renewal of Nonhomestead property tax
June 7 5:30pm Budget Hearing. Wealthy Auditorium. The budget for the 2010/11 school year will be proposed.
June 14 7pm School Board Meeting. The balanced budget will be adopted.
Recent Newspaper Articles Addressed by the Legislative Committee 4-4-10
At the last Legislative Committee meeting, we addressed some Grand Rapids Press articles. Please find the links to these articles on the blog.
1. The first set of articles had to do with the EGRPS fund balance. One of the articles criticized the use of a fund balance, or a savings account, by school districts. Assistant Superintendent of Business, Kevin Phillips, reported to us that the professional organization that he belongs to recommends a 15% fund balance to be used to buffer erratic state funding, to buffer budget cuts and to minimize the interest on loans taken out by school districts to pay for expenses incurred during the schoolistrict's fiscal year, beginning July 1st before the first State payment of School Aid funds around October 20 each year.
EGRPS is following these guidelines and is utilizing the fund balance during this school year and in the 2010/11 and the 2011/12 school years to soften the blow of severe budget cuts over a million dollars in deficits. We will go from 15% to around 11% by the end of the 2011/12 fiscal year.
We then addressed the ongoing Press articles about EGRPS cutting the custodial staff. Mr. Phillips explained that the Administration is looking carefully at bids that will save the district $500,000 (out of a $1.1 million expense in a $28 million budget) and keep the cuts out of the classroom. In fairness to the custodial staff, if they are able to cut their costs by $350,000, then the district will keep them on and forego the outsourcing of the services.
Your Legislative Committee Recommends Action!!
If we are concerned about budget cuts in the schools, we have to contact our elected representatives.
Representative Dave Hildenbrand (517) 373-0846 rephildenbrand@house.mi.gov
Senator Mark Jansen (517) 373-0797 SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov
Governor Jennifer Granholm (517) 335-7858
Dates to remember:
April 26 7pm School Board Meeting. The budget committee will publicly offer recommendations for cuts.
May 4 Vote!! For the Renewal of Nonhomestead property tax
June 7 5:30pm Budget Hearing. The budget for the 2010/11 school year will be proposed.
June 14 7pm School Board Meeting. The balanced budget will be adopted.
1. The first set of articles had to do with the EGRPS fund balance. One of the articles criticized the use of a fund balance, or a savings account, by school districts. Assistant Superintendent of Business, Kevin Phillips, reported to us that the professional organization that he belongs to recommends a 15% fund balance to be used to buffer erratic state funding, to buffer budget cuts and to minimize the interest on loans taken out by school districts to pay for expenses incurred during the schoolistrict's fiscal year, beginning July 1st before the first State payment of School Aid funds around October 20 each year.
EGRPS is following these guidelines and is utilizing the fund balance during this school year and in the 2010/11 and the 2011/12 school years to soften the blow of severe budget cuts over a million dollars in deficits. We will go from 15% to around 11% by the end of the 2011/12 fiscal year.
We then addressed the ongoing Press articles about EGRPS cutting the custodial staff. Mr. Phillips explained that the Administration is looking carefully at bids that will save the district $500,000 (out of a $1.1 million expense in a $28 million budget) and keep the cuts out of the classroom. In fairness to the custodial staff, if they are able to cut their costs by $350,000, then the district will keep them on and forego the outsourcing of the services.
Your Legislative Committee Recommends Action!!
If we are concerned about budget cuts in the schools, we have to contact our elected representatives.
Representative Dave Hildenbrand (517) 373-0846 rephildenbrand@house.mi.gov
Senator Mark Jansen (517) 373-0797 SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov
Governor Jennifer Granholm (517) 335-7858
Dates to remember:
April 26 7pm School Board Meeting. The budget committee will publicly offer recommendations for cuts.
May 4 Vote!! For the Renewal of Nonhomestead property tax
June 7 5:30pm Budget Hearing. The budget for the 2010/11 school year will be proposed.
June 14 7pm School Board Meeting. The balanced budget will be adopted.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Get Answers From Your Legislators - Let Them Know How Much You Value Education
·
Education Town Hall Meeting
Monday, February 8, 2010, 7:00 pm
In the East Grand Rapids High School Little Auditorium, 2211 Lake Drive, SE, EGR, MI 49506
The EGRPS Legislative Committee invites you to bring your questions and comments regarding K-12 education.
Representatives Robert Dean and Dave Hildenbrand, and Senators Bill Hardiman and Mark Jansen, as well as candidate for Senate, David LaGrand, and others will be here to answer your questions.
EGRPS Superintendent, Dr. Sara Magana Shubel will moderate the discussion.
We’ll Discuss:
- The Impact of Deep Cuts to Education Funding
- Race to the Top Legislation and Federal Stimulus Dollars
- Restructuring the Way Schools are Funded in MI
- Your questions and comments
IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN MICHIGAN!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Michigan Budget Outlook: What is the “Revenue Estimating Conference” and why is it important to K-12 education?
The Revenue Estimating Conference is a semi-annual meeting of the state treasurer and directors of the House and Senate fiscal agencies at which they determine, to the best of their abilities, how much tax revenue the state will have to spend over the next two years.
The most recent Revenue Estimating Conference took place on January 11 in Lansing. The conclusions made there serve to inform legislators, the Governor, and local school boards regarding the need for mid-year cuts and the anticipated level of revenue available for the next budget cycle. Governor Granholm will propose a budget to the legislature in February, and the house and senate will then begin the contentious process of reconciling her budget with their ideas, and eventually pass the final budget for the fiscal year that begins November 1.
Here are some of the conclusions from Monday's Revenue Estimating Conference:
Tax collections for the general fund and the school aid fund will be $17.36 billion this year, a 5.1 percent decline compared to a year ago and $17.44 billion next year. The consensus revenue numbers minus about $1 billion in federal recovery cash mean the general fund, the state's main checking account, will be $1.2 billion short and school aid will be short $423 million -- or $268 per pupil -- next year, said Gary Olson, director of the Senate Fiscal Agency. State Budget Director Bob Emerson said based on the numbers it doesn't appear any further budget cuts will be required this year. That also means no mid-year reductions in school aid. But he estimated a $1.8 billion problem for the next fiscal year. Emerson added the 2011 budget will be tougher than this year's, because additional cuts will have to come on top of difficult reductions made this year.
What does this mean for EGRPS? The Board of Education managed the $165/pupil cut to funding for the current school year through a combination of using some of the fund balance (savings), and making $810,000 in cuts to programs and staff. For the 2010/2011 school year, the administration is tentatively planning a budget that assumes a $300/pupil cut in funding, (nearly $1 million total) which will be addressed by using some of the fund balance and implementing further severe cuts to programs and staff.
For more information and an opportunity to veiw and participate in a forum on the finances of EGRPS, please visit the new Ning created by Kevin Phillips, Assistant Superintendent for Business, at egrpsfinance.ning.com
You are invited to attend the Town Hall Meeting on Monday, February 8, at 7:00 p.m. in the Little Auditorium to let your legislators know that education funding is important to you, and to Michigan. (More Town Hall Meeting information in the post below.)
The most recent Revenue Estimating Conference took place on January 11 in Lansing. The conclusions made there serve to inform legislators, the Governor, and local school boards regarding the need for mid-year cuts and the anticipated level of revenue available for the next budget cycle. Governor Granholm will propose a budget to the legislature in February, and the house and senate will then begin the contentious process of reconciling her budget with their ideas, and eventually pass the final budget for the fiscal year that begins November 1.
Here are some of the conclusions from Monday's Revenue Estimating Conference:
Tax collections for the general fund and the school aid fund will be $17.36 billion this year, a 5.1 percent decline compared to a year ago and $17.44 billion next year. The consensus revenue numbers minus about $1 billion in federal recovery cash mean the general fund, the state's main checking account, will be $1.2 billion short and school aid will be short $423 million -- or $268 per pupil -- next year, said Gary Olson, director of the Senate Fiscal Agency. State Budget Director Bob Emerson said based on the numbers it doesn't appear any further budget cuts will be required this year. That also means no mid-year reductions in school aid. But he estimated a $1.8 billion problem for the next fiscal year. Emerson added the 2011 budget will be tougher than this year's, because additional cuts will have to come on top of difficult reductions made this year.
What does this mean for EGRPS? The Board of Education managed the $165/pupil cut to funding for the current school year through a combination of using some of the fund balance (savings), and making $810,000 in cuts to programs and staff. For the 2010/2011 school year, the administration is tentatively planning a budget that assumes a $300/pupil cut in funding, (nearly $1 million total) which will be addressed by using some of the fund balance and implementing further severe cuts to programs and staff.
For more information and an opportunity to veiw and participate in a forum on the finances of EGRPS, please visit the new Ning created by Kevin Phillips, Assistant Superintendent for Business, at egrpsfinance.ning.com
You are invited to attend the Town Hall Meeting on Monday, February 8, at 7:00 p.m. in the Little Auditorium to let your legislators know that education funding is important to you, and to Michigan. (More Town Hall Meeting information in the post below.)
Education Town Hall Meeting
Monday, February 8, 2010, at 7:00 p.m.
In the East Grand Rapids High School Little Auditorium, 2211 Lake Drive, SE, EGR, MI 49506
Your EGRPS Legislative Committee invites you to bring your questions regarding all of the changes related to K-12 education to a Town Hall Meeting moderated by EGRPS Superintendent, Dr. Sara Shubel.
· Do you wonder about all of the budget cuts?
· Do you want to know more about the huge changes brought about by the Race to the Top incentives?
Representative Dave Hildenbrand, Senator Mark Jansen, Representative Robert Dean, Senator Bill Hardiman, and others will be there to address your concerns and answer your questions.
Meet your legislators and let them know that strong public schools are important to you!
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