Get Answers From Your Legislators - Let Them Know How Much You Value Education

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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!

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.)

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! 

Grand Rapids Press Editorial Blames State Legislators for School Funding Cuts

Click on this link to read the editorial published by the Grand Rapids Press Editorial Board in the December 10 edition of the paper.

http://www.mlive.com/opinion/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/12/editorial_goodbye_mr_chips_you.html

What Michigan Citizens are Saying About Education Funding...

Have you ever wondered what other communities and voters in Michigan are thinking and saying about funding for K-12 education in these difficult economic times?  Recently EPIC-MRA conducted a statewide poll, asking the opinions of "active and likely voters" regarding education funding.  The results reveal that the majority of respondents are quite concerned about reductions in school funding.   

Thinking about the current economic conditions in Michigan, and the state budget situation, 79% of Michigan's likely voters believe that funding for local public schools should not be cut.  In addition, 60% report that their local public school district has less funding than is needed to provide a quality education to students.  

Public opinion polls like this one help us communicate with our legislators about the priorities of the voters that elected them.  Use this information next time you contact your legislators.  It will strengthen your arguments for adequate school funding, and underscore that you are speaking for the majority of voters when you speak up for quality schools for our kids.

See the actual poll questions and the results at the link to the EPIC-MRA Education Poll on the right in the Informative Links section of our blog.  

Education Forum in Cedar Springs, Monday, December 7 at 5:00 p.m.

THE EGRPS LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE INVITES YOU TO ATTEND THE FOLLOWING FORUM:

QUESTIONS?  Contact Winnie Brinks (winbrinks@hotmail.com) 

or Lucy LaFleur (lucylafleur@sbcglobal.net)

Who? Senate Appropriations Chair Ron Jelinek Senator Mark Jansen Representative Tom Pearce What? Forum on the Future of Education in Michigan. Where? Cedar Springs High School Auditorium Cedar Springs High School 204 East Muskegon Street When? 5 p.m. Monday, December 7 Why? Michigan's school funding system is broken.  School districts are being hit with the largest budget cuts in the history of our current school funding formula, with the prospect of more next year.  These cuts are unacceptable. Join Kent Grassroots members at  5 p.m. Monday, December 7 to let Senate Appropriations Chair Ron Jelinek and local legislators Mark Jansen and Tom Pearce know we must do more for our children.  Contact Your friends and neighbors and bring them along.  We need to fill the auditorium to send a message!

Advocacy Opportunity Tuesday, Nov. 10

Funding for schools is at a critical crossroads if we want our children to enjoy the high quality education provided by EGRPS. K-12 public education as we know it will change if something is not done soon.  Significant cuts were made to this school year's budget in anticipation of reduced funding.  Now EGRPS will have to cut as much as an additional $1,000,000 out of an already bare-bones budget.   

Make a difference and car pool with fellow parents from Kent County school districts to Lansing on Tuesday, November 10.  Meet in the Middle School parking lot by 8:30 a.m.  The Governor will give a speech on the Capitol steps at 10:00 a.m.  We will then have the chance to meet with our legislators to urge them to restore funding desperately needed by our public schools.  Depending on numbers, seats on a chartered bus may be available.

Your voice has never been more important to our public education system.  Email EGRPSLegislativeCommittee@hotmail.com with any questions.