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Even though the Governor has signed the school budget, the battle for public education is far from over--legislators are being urged to restore the drastic cuts to education funding; school reform bills that that will ultimately devastate struggling schools are still very much alive; and the hearings on Speaker Dillon’s plan to place all public employees in a state-mandated health care plan are scheduled through December.

Pick up the phone. Send an e-mail. Tell your legislators to just say NO to the disastrous Senate budget cuts.

Tell them to maintain funding for public education -- the only way to ensure our long-term economic recovery is to prepare our students for the jobs Michigan needs.
Our leaders in Lansing must stop the political maneuvering around other issues (such as the mandatory health plan for public employees and ill-advised school reforms) -- it's time to focus on fixing our budget.
The only way to fix our budget is to update our antiquated tax structure and bring in revenue from the areas of our economy that are growing (such as services).

As budget negotiations continue past the Sept. 30 deadline, stay tuned here for the latest.

Legislature passes K-12 budget with $165 per pupil cut

Late Thursday night, the state House and Senate passed the K-12 budget for 2009-10 with a $165 per pupil cut, a smaller reduction than the initial proposal of $218 per pupil.

The budget also continues to fund several key programs, including early childhood and at-risk programs, but that doesn't mean those programs are off the hook. Lawmakers gave school districts the option of cutting them at the local level and using the money allocated to them somewhere else. And the reality is, the size of the per pupil cuts may make it necessary for local districts to cut some of the very programs that make them most successful.

In a press statement, MEA President Iris K. Salters praised the thousands of public school supporters whose vocal opposition to education cuts prevented the worst from coming to pass. "But the lack of a full investment in public schools is disturbing, especially since the vast majority of our legislators ran for office touting the importance of education to our economic recovery," Salters said.

She called on the Legislature to begin work now on addressing anticipated shortfalls in next year's budget by updating Michigan's antiquated tax structure and implementing tax reforms to stabilize funding for schools.

“It’s time to invest in our state. It’s time to invest in our schools. MEA is proud to have been part of leading that charge during this budget debate and we’re proud to commit today to continuing that fight because of our solemn belief that the key to our economic future is preparing our students for the jobs Michigan needs.”

A good start, but more work to be done

Yesterday, the state House passed $163 million in new revenue aimed at investing in education, public safety and other programs critical to Michigan’s Future. By all accounts, this was a good first step, but much more work needs to be done in order to prevent deep cuts. The three revenue bills that were passed now head to the state Senate for their consideration.

Contact your state representative and senator. Urge your senator to pass these initial revenues coming from the House. And urge all your legislators to continue supporting new revenue to invest in education. Our leaders in Lansing must make the tough choices to fix our antiquated tax structure and stop the cycle of budget cuts we’ve endured for a decade. Specifically, ask your representative and senator:

• Will you support passing the K-12 budget at the 2008-09 level?
• Will you support additional revenues to fund education?
• What sources of revenue will you support?

The fight to ensure Michigan invests in its future continues a day after the state House rejected devastating public education cuts recommended by a House-Senate panel.

Now, lawmakers are expected to re-examine school funding, a battle that could drag on until mid-October; schools are due to receive their first state aid payment of the school year on Oct. 20.

MEA members are urged to continue legislative contacts – phone calls, e-mails, text messages, and other communications have helped fend off deep cuts so far. Lawmakers need to hear from you, the hard-working education professionals on the front line.

24 hours to shutdown…

Tuesday, Sept. 29 - More than 100 MEA members, leaders and staff spent Tuesday night at the Capitol, lobbying legislators to pass a K-12 budget without massive cuts that will hurt the future of our students and Michigan’s economy. Read about their efforts.

These volunteers need your support back home. They need you to echo their calls for a budget that doesn’t cut the public education our students need to thrive.

Give our lobby corps in Lansing the strength they need – contact your legislator immediately. Even if you’ve already called or emailed, it’s time to do it again.

Your state representative and senator need to know that you don’t support a budget that relies only on cuts – especially further cuts to public education.

Urge them to oppose efforts to slash education funding, instead supporting tax reforms and other means of raising revenue so we can invest in the schools that will prepare students for the jobs Michigan needs.

Time is running out before Wednesday night's budget deadline. Support your MEA colleagues volunteering at the Capitol and contact your legislators immediately!

Related:

Per pupil cuts would devastate schools

District-by-district estimated impact of proposed K-12 budget reduction

EPIC-MRA press release: Only a quarter of voters support cuts-only budget

MEA news release: Education cuts could lead to massive layoffs, overcrowded classrooms

Make your voice heard on the MEA Votes Blog or MEA's Facebook page

Lobby your legislators via Twitter

Massive budget cuts not done deal yet

House and Senate must put final stamp of approval on disastrous cuts

Thursday, Sept. 24 - Reading the news this morning, many would think the $218 per pupil cut to public education was already signed into law. But the fact is both chambers of the Legislature still have to vote in favor of the conference committee’s recommendation and the governor has to sign it. Which means…

THERE’S STILL TIME TO ACT!

Contact your legislators in Lansing today by phone, e-mail, text message, Twitter, Facebook or any other means you can. Tell them that these massive cuts to public education threaten the future of our students, our economy and our state. Tell them that the education of our students isn’t “discretionary” – it’s essential to preparing them for the jobs Michigan needs.

Education cuts could lead to massive layoffs, overcrowded classrooms

Michigan lawmakers failing students, economy

EAST LANSING, Mich., Sept. 24, 2009 – The proposed $218 per pupil cut in education spending will devastate schools across the state and could result in massive layoffs and overcrowded classrooms.

If these cuts become part of the final budget, they could translate into approximately 6,300 layoffs, a number that represents 6 percent of all teachers in Michigan. Fewer teachers would mean larger class sizes and a bigger burden to already overcrowded schools.

Read MEA's press release.

News of a possible state budget agreement based entirely on drastic cuts, including massive decreases to the education budget, is proof of one thing: Michigan urgently needs to update its antiquated tax system. The future of our children, our economy and our quality of life depends on it.

MEA joined with 11 other state associations on Tuesday to call for an immediate and fundamental reform of Michigan's current tax system, helping address the state's decade-long history of budget woes. Read the release.

MEA urges lawmakers to resolve budget stalemate, invest in schools

EAST LANSING, Mich., Sept. 8, 2009 – Thousands of students across Michigan head back to class today, but school administrators are forced to start the year with uncertainty because state lawmakers still haven’t told them how much money they will have to operate.

“A family can’t decide whether they will have enough money to pay their bills if they don’t know how much money is coming in—school districts can’t either. It’s critical for the Legislature to pass a budget so that schools can accurately plan for the coming year,” said Michigan Education Association President Iris K. Salters.

Read MEA's press release.

State plan to cut bus safety funds puts kids at risk as school reopens

Sept. 8 - The new Michigan reform group, A Better Michigan Future, and educators and bus drivers warn that state budget cuts to school bus safety funds are putting kids at risk as Michigan schools reopen this week.

Updated: November 6, 2009 4:35 PM

2009-10 State Budget crisis quick links:

Talking Points on State Budget

A Better Michigan Future budget campaign site

Make your voice heard on the MEA Votes Blog or MEA's Facebook page

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