Local Legislators Decry Proposed K-12 Funding Cuts

Even with a promise made last week to restore some K-12 money to the proposed state budget, cuts to Michigan's School Aid Fund will be more kill than cure, local school officials and legislators said Monday during a forum at .

"They show you death but expect you to be happy with a coma," Ferndale Superintendent Gary Meier said of a  tentative deal announced Thursday by Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative leaders that would lessen planned cuts to schools and put aside money in the state's rainy day funds.

Michigan public schools will lose $1.1 billion if the proposed state budget is adopted as is, Meier said.

Because the is required by law to complete its budget by the end of June, it already had started the budgeting process under the assumption that Snyder's more extreme proposal to cut $470 per student would pass.

With that in mind, the Berkley Board of Education approved the layoffs of 45 teachers, as well as laying off three administrators, reducing paraeducators and eliminating teacher assistants. The budget being considered also would shift lunch aides to a third party, tap $500,000 from the general fund balance, seek utility savings, eliminate block scheduling at , introduce split classes at the elementary level, reduce some special classes at the elementary level and result in larger class sizes.

"Berkley has 45 teachers currently on layoff, and a few of them will return because of this budget deal (announced Thursday by Gov. Snyder)," Superintendent Michael Simeck wrote in an email Friday to Berkley Patch. "... As the budget particulars are released, we will determine how many teachers and where they will be able to return."

The district also may be able to avoid increasing class sizes at the elementary level in the wake of Thursday's announcement, said Shira Good, communications supervisor.

However, Good said, the per-pupil cut in the Berkley School District, including increased retirement costs, will be closer to $250 than the $100 per-pupil figure suggested by Snyder. She also noted that the funds come with strings attached that undermine the power of the locally elected school board.

The legislators at Monday's forum said the time to lobby for changes is available but fleeting.

"The timeline on the budget is moving fast," said state Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods), one of three local legislators who hosted Monday night's forum at FHS.

Legislative task force groups will meet as soon as next week to iron out budget differences, she said.

Class sizes could grow, and electives such as art and music could face cuts if the budget is left unchanged, legislators said.

That caused a concern for Kristine Bolhuis, whose kindergarten-age son has overcome a rare hearing disability with help from the local schools.

"Our lives have been deeply touched by the programs available through our public schools," Bolhuis said.

The issue, legislators said, is that Michigan is changing its school aid formula by lumping colleges together with K-12 districts. By doing so, legislators said colleges would be removed from the state's general fund budget, and the savings  would be used to help offset a massive tax break for businesses.

"We do need jobs in Michigan," said state Rep. Rudy Hobbs (D-Lathrup Village). "But is this the way to do it? I'm convinced that it's not.”

Some legislators believe all school aid money "is going in the pockets of teachers," Hobbs said. "But even with all the concessions you want, schools would still find themselves with deficits."

Monday's audience included about 30 parents, teachers and school board members.

While acknowledging they might be preaching to the choir, the legislators still urged them to contact the governor's office, as well of as the offices of pro-school cut legislators.

"You've already (made) a difference," said state Sen. Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield), noting that a proposal that would have cut even more from schools was averted because of heavy public outcry.

Even if the state budget passes with changes, the battle for secure and more stable education funding shouldn't end, Meier said.

"The discussion shouldn’t end, it should continue."