Michigan citizens, including teachers and school employees, are fed up with the state politicians who voted to cut $1 billion from local schools while giving a $1.8 billion tax break to rich CEOs and corporate special interests. Out-of-touch politicians are balancing their budget on the backs of our kids, and they will be held accountable for their actions. Please contact your legislator (see link to the right) and tell them to reject Snyder's budget cuts to Michigan schools.
The massive underfunding of public education by Gov. Rick Snyder and the Michigan Legislature has created an untenable crisis for educators in yet another Michigan school district.
Pontiac may lose state aid for failing to reduce debt
Even after two rounds of staff layoffs—the most recent on April 13—the Pontiac school district still hasn’t reduced enough of its $24 million deficit to receive its April 20 state aid payment.
The move by the Michigan Department of Education, who is overseeing the progress of the district’s deficit elimination plan, has questions about the district’s progress. Not only does the district stand to lose $1.25 million in state aid this Friday, future aid payments will also be withheld.
Forty teachers were laid off last Friday with only two days notice. Substitutes were hired to cover those classes.
Walter Burt, Pontiac’s interim superintendent, is looking to staff to bear the brunt of the deficit elimination plan since they are the most costly. However, mismanagement of funds by the administration is the reason the district is so deeply in debt.
Lawmakers in Lansing have finalized budget cuts for K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities, agreeing to more than $1 billion in overall cuts that will lead to mass layoffs and reduced services for students.
In his special education message. Gov. Rick Snyder covered a variety of topics in his plan to “reform” Michigan’s public education system through changes to tenure, teacher training, and financial incentives. He provided little or no details on how his plan would be carried out, but expects “reforms” to happen even as he’s cutting more than $800 million from K-12 and higher education funding and giving tax breaks to business.
MEA president responds to governor’s special message on education
EAST LANSING, Mich., April 27, 2011 –Against a backdrop of drastic cuts to education funding, Gov. Rick Snyder revealed his education plan for Michigan today, covering a variety of topics including early childhood education, teacher training, tenure, merit pay, charter schools and more.
Dozens of districts face cuts greater than $1,000 per pupil
Nearly 200 Michigan school districts face cuts greater than $500 per student under Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed budget, according to the non-partisan House Fiscal Agency.
Nearly 200 Michigan school districts face cuts greater than $500 per student under Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed budget, according to the non-partisan House Fiscal Agency.
