The fight for schools continues

After a very long legislative day yesterday, we are still in a fight for our schools. The House rejected the conference committee report that would have reduced the foundation allowance by $218 per student. The Senate Republicans remain determined to slash funding and future opportunities for our students.

There were a couple of interesting moments yesterday. First, there was a call of the House, which had the intentions of keeping the House members from communicating face to face with constituents and members. However, this did not slow the efforts of MEA, especially Erv and myself. Erv and I were able to communicate with Reps Huckleberry and Calley via text message and FaceBook. In fact, by doing this, we stayed in constant contact offering words of encouragement to continue fighting for our students and schools.

However, on the Senate side, the Belding and Lansing UniServ offices repeatedly tried to speak with Senator Cropsey about funding for the schools. On every occasion that we requested a meeting outside the chamber, Sen. Cropsey refused. It appears that he was too busy trying to cut funding for our schools. We knew before that Senator Cropsey was no friend of education but this reinforced my belief that he does not care about the future of our students and public education. In this case, thank God for term limits! It is critical that we get someone in this seat that will at least be open to listening to our concerns.

However, one senator stood out. Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) gave an impassioned speech on the Senator floor this morning around 2:00 am. I have inserted the text of the speech below and will post the video of the speech when it is available. Here is a senator that believes that children and public education are our future and exposes the hypocrisy of Senate Republicans when it comes to their ideals and beliefs.

Statement of Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) Opposing Cuts to Schools in the School Aid Temporary Budget Thank you Mr. President, Ever since this hideous conference report came out yesterday I have been agonizing about the 1.6 million children and the families of this state that are going to be hurt by the cuts in this bill. At 2:43 in the morning I finally turned on my light and started writing. You see I come from a family of educators, I am a product of the public schools in East Lansing and in Grand Rapids. My kids are in the East Lansing Public Schools. I believe that education is the great equalizer in our society - - the opportunity for kids to succeed. This past Sunday, I was at my church - - the People’s Church in East Lansing - - and my pastor began the service talking about how when children are around - - adults behave better. I kept the bulliten from which we jointly recited the following: “’Then he put a child among them.’ When we use long words and confusing sentences, put a child among us. When we let the cares of the world drag us down, when the demands of life seem overwhelming, put a child among us. When we are tempted to deceive or to selfishly sway an opinion, put a child among us. When we need love, recognition, or a great big hug, put a child among us. When we need the values of church, family, or community in proportion, put a child among us...” I was raised by 2 public servants - - who taught me many important lessons - - one of which is you’ve gotta get the facts, and two tell the truth, don’t sugarcoat it.

Well here are the facts:
1) The most critical time in a human being’s brain development are in the early years
2) Education is the most important factor in an individual’s ability to succeed in the new economy
3) Businesses of tomorrow need educated work forces

Now here’s the straight talk, where we don’t sugar coat the facts:
1) this budget rips apart the fabric of our education system - - a system I’m willing to bet that every one of you made campaign promises to uphold
2) 200 school districts will be forced into deficit spending - - 218 per pupil
3) ISD funding = another 22 per pupil for a grand total of 240 per pupil - - might as well tell people: plan on keeping your kids home - - your fiction of flexibility is clever but the reality is with less dollars districts will have to spend money on “NEEDS” and not “WANTS” meaning early childhood funding will be gone - - when we need it more than ever.
4) Schools, parents and students will have to be prepared for a 13th year because there will no longer be Credit Recovery.
5) Summer School will be gone.
6) After school programs, gone.
7) These cuts mean fewer bus routes themselves, meaning that that little 5 year old girl will walk farther to catch the bus, and when she gets on it, it won’t have been inspected. School Bus Inspections, gone - - have you checked with your school district what that means to your little constituents?
8) it eliminates early childhood education - - when we need it more than ever Since I know I can’t seem to appeal to you’re the right side of your brain - - or your hearts when I talk about kids - - let’s talk about the bottom line you’re so singularly focused on.
9) Jobs: minimum 12,000 – 14,000 losses. REAL losses - - felt in every community. If a private sector employer told you they’d have to lay off 13,000 employees, you’d be falling over your selves to introduce the bill to save those jobs and here we are slashing them - - and these aren’t just any jobs - - these people are educating our children, our littlest most vulnerable constituents. Can you imagine if it Amway or Domino’s Pizza? Well, job losses are job losses. And job losses of this magnitude will not only hurt our kids, they’ll have the same devastating impact on our communities as job losses in the private sector. 500 less teachers in Kent Co, will mean 23million less in the local economy - - when GRPS have right sized, and done everything right . . . they don’t have 4.2million more.

You like to rail against the MBT ad nauseum - - but how the heck are we to compete with China, India, or even Indiana for that matter when you balance the budget on the backs of our kids? I realize very few of you actually have kids in the schools anymore . . . and you don’t have to look YOUR principal in the eye every day. It almost brings me to tears what you are doing to the kids of our state . . . to think that I can’t you. I know some of you will retort that the schools are “okay” this . . . No they are not. Do they prefer amputation to death, maybe. Who wouldn’t? But this 25% of the school year is over. Their budget year began July 1st. So this is a mid year cut - - a legislative pro-ration. So let me be very clear: none of our schools, none of our 1.6 million kids - - nor their families are “okay” with this. And you shouldn’t be either. I ask that my comments be printed as my NO vote explanation.