A strongly worded resolution demanding State leaders put in place a “fair and equitable” funding plan to finance Michigan’s educational system was passed unanimously by the Lapeer Board of Education Thursday, December 3.
The resolution called for the Board to do a complete evaluation of the State’s financial process and establish a fair method to tax citizens for needed services.
Additionally, the resolution demanded that the State establish a funding system that is in place before school districts must set their annual budgets on July 1st of each year.
The resolution is in response to the State’s recent record of passing along budget decreases long after the State required budget decisions are made by local public school districts.
“The long-term economic health of our state, and opportunity for our citizens is conditioned on meaningful structural reform to provide stable and fair funding for education,” the resolution said in part.
On July 1, the Lapeer Board of Education approved a balanced $56.2 million budget based on State funding projections at that time. To balance that budget the District used $1.2 million from its savings account to off set the projected loss of State money.
In mid-October after missing its own September 30 budget deadline, the State Legislature adopted a budget that cut $165 per student from those projections causing a shortfall of $1 million in the District’s budget. And beyond that, the governor added a $127 cut for an additional deficit of about $800,000, which is scheduled to take effect later this month.
“It is time for State leaders to put aside politics and deal with an issue that has long term consequences for the State’s most valuable resource, its children,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson.
Complete text of the resolution follows:
WHEREAS, education is the cornerstone of a successful economic turnaround and investment in education is the key to a new Michigan; and
WHEREAS, the children of Michigan deserve educational opportunities that allow them to compete on a national and international basis; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative to combine needed investments in education with meaningful, money-saving reforms in the delivery of educational programs; and
WHEREAS, the long-term economic health of our state, and opportunity for our citizens is conditioned on meaningful structural reform to provide stable and fair funding for education; and
WHEREAS, given the crippling effects on our citizens and our educational institutions of continuing short-term, temporary measures and budget impasses over education funding.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of Lapeer Community Schools demands that the governor and legislators make a commitment to this State and to the citizens to make the necessary budget decisions that allow for the education of our children;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education of Lapeer Community Schools demands that the governor and legislators do a complete evaluation of the State’s financial processes and create a financial system that funds the educational system in a fair and equitable manner. This system should ensure that the educational budget is in place prior to the start of the district’s fiscal year. Further, we urge the governor and legislators to review processes for funding of this State’s needs and to explore all options to stabilize the State revenues and to establish a fair method to tax citizens for needed services. This Board holds the governor and legislators responsible for creating these processes in a timely manner.
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