Tell Lawmakers Our Students Are Not Political Pawns – FUND OUR SCHOOLS!

On Wednesday, the Michigan House Republicans issued a proposal that made distributing bipartisan federal education funding contingent on the governor giving up important powers to protect public health, including closing schools and suspending activities like athletics if data about how the virus is spreading warrants it.

“We need bipartisan action, not political gamesmanship,” said MEA President Paula Herbart. “Educators and students need the Legislature to distribute desperately needed federal funds to our schools right away, along with additional resources proposed by Gov. Whitmer. Withholding those funds because of disagreements on how to best protect public health runs counter to the best interests of our students and the public at large.”

Today, Gov. Whitmer said the GOP threat to withhold school COVID-19 funds was “cruel and reckless.” Educators, parents, and community members agree: our students are not political pawns. The Legislature must stop playing games when our students need help the most, especially with this funding needed to help ensure safety for returns to in-person learning.

Take a moment today to send a message to your State Representative and Senator urging them to send federal money to schools right away. Tell Lansing lawmakers to put students first and FUND OUR SCHOOLS!

Also on Wednesday, the State Senate blocked 13 of Gov. Whitmer’s appointments to state boards in response to her actions to protect public health.  One of those rejected was Jim Pearson, an MEA-Retired member with four decades of education experience who was nominated to serve on the Michigan School Employees Retirement System board.

Today, the Senate Education and Career Readiness Committee is considering SR 7, which would urge the Governor and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to lift the suspension on high school and youth sports and allow play to resume immediately.  This is despite a recent study from the CDC that schools should limit activities like indoor sports practices and competitions, citing a Florida high school wrestling tournament that led to more than 40 reported COVID-19 infections and one death.

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15 thoughts on “Tell Lawmakers Our Students Are Not Political Pawns – FUND OUR SCHOOLS!

  1. I am urging you send federal money to schools right away. We want lawmakers to put students first and FUND OUR SCHOOLS!
    Educators, parents, and community members agree: our students are not political pawns. The Legislature must stop playing games when our students need help the most, especially with this funding needed to help ensure safety for returns to in-person learning.

  2. Unbelievable that the GOP would use school funding as to try to manipulate our governor.

  3. Stop using our child as pawns. The Republicans should be ashamed of themselves. They have no buisness trying to take this power. The ones who should be making the decisions are doing their jobs. The Republicans should start doing theirs and stop making peoples lives a political game.

  4. “We need bipartisan action, not political gamesmanship,” said MEA President Paula Herbart. “Educators and students need the Legislature to distribute desperately needed federal funds to our schools right away, along with additional resources proposed by Gov. Whitmer. Withholding those funds because of disagreements on how to best protect public health runs counter to the best interests of our students and the public at large.”

    Please do not without desperately needed resources from schools.

  5. Our students are not political pawns – and schools need resources to protect health and safety! Stop the insanity. People’s lives are at stake.

  6. This is a disgusting move by GOP lawmakers to hurt education and public health in one swoop. Stop punishing the state because you have issues with powerful women who disagree with you.

  7. I’m stunned that our students are being used as pawns. Put students first and FUND OUR SCHOOLS!

  8. Educators and students need the Legislature to distribute desperately needed federal funds to our schools right away, along with additional resources proposed by Gov. Whitmer. Withholding those funds because of disagreements on how to best protect public health runs counter to the best interests of our students and the public at large.

  9. Shame on the Republicans in the House that passed bills HB 4048 and HB4049. You clearly have taken your vendetta against Governor Whitmer and the students and educators of Michigan to an all time low. Give the schools the Federal money the way it is intended. It is not in your power to with hold it in order for your party’s vendetta.

  10. This plan fails students and schools. Fund our schools for the benefit of our students.

  11. How dare you. Stop being petty and get your job done. Maybe you should go through the same evaluation process teachers have to, hmmm?

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