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Michigan Education Daily

House committee: Spend stimulus now

Thu., November 5, 2009

LANSING, Mich. - Public schools would avoid most of a $127 per-pupil cut in December, but likely face deeper cuts in the future, if the state Legislature agrees to spend education stimulus dollars this year instead of next, according to the Michigan Information & Research Service Inc.

The House Appropriations Committee voted Wednesday to use up to $184 million in stimulus funds to boost the current school aid budget by about $117 per pupil, MIRS reported. The previous plan was to save those stimulus dollars for 2011 to cushion an anticipated cut of up to $500 per pupil due to declining state tax revenues.

The House bill would remove the need for a $127 per-pupil proration that Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced in October. Committee members reported out the bill on an 18-1-7 vote, with most Republicans abstaining, MIRS reported.

Some committee members still prefer the original plan to spread out stimulus spending and at least one said that the House should wait until January revenue estimates are available, according to MIRS.

In related news, an amendment by Rep. Richard LeBlanc, D-Westland, to restore $51 million in funding to so-called "20j" schools was defeated handily, MIRS reported. The payments go to wealthier school districts that would otherwise lose revenue under Proposal A restrictions.

SOURCE:
Michigan Information & Research Service Inc., "House Dives Into Stimulus to Ease School Cut," Nov. 4, 2009 (Subscription required)

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "10,000 Teacher Layoffs? Let's Try Zero Instead," Oct. 5, 2009

Michigan Education Daily
Wed., September 8, 2010
"Solar panels are expected to produce two-thirds of the electricity needed to operate the Upland Hills School complex this year." >>
Tue., September 7, 2010
"A Syracuse University professor said Friday that he would not endorse the findings of a school consolidation study in Michigan because his original research was "misapplied."" >>
Tue., September 7, 2010
"Teachers in Grand Haven and Alpena public schools will receive pay raises while switching insurance plans under new contracts in each district." >>
Fri., September 3, 2010
"The Detroit teachers union claims in a new lawsuit that it should have played a bigger role in assigning teachers to the district's worst schools this year." >>
Thu., September 2, 2010
"Facing a 27 percent rate hike for teacher health insurance, the Holland Board of Education has asked state Attorney General Mike Cox to issue a ruling on whether it has to honor a previous employee contract while a new one is being negotiated." >>
Wed., September 1, 2010
"An aviation school in Michigan is one example of a new generation of public charter schools designed to serve niche audiences." >>
Tue., August 31, 2010
"A 10-year-old Windsor boy who completed part of his education in Michigan is being denied entry to public high school in Windsor even though he's completed the eighth-grade curriculum." >>
User Comments
carol peterson
education is an all around development for a child
he should be mentally and physically strong


<a href="http://rescueyoursavings.com" rel="dofollow">Savings</a> >>
carol peterson
education is an all around development for a child
he should be mentally and physically strong >>
johnstfu
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Aarowman
Public servants like Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Senators, Congressmen, Judges, Secretaries of Various Departments and the like should be first to be compensated for performance.
The idea that the playing field for students is level everywhere is as Quixotic as thinking all politicians are honest and competent.
There are neighborhoods where only Portugese or gang sign language is spoken, where the parents both work two jobs to pay rent, where getting to school and back is more dangerous than Iraq and Afghanastan.
This Secretary of Education has to remove the silver spoon, roll up his sleeves and take his superior intellect attitude into the trenches and show the poor slobs that are taking their teachers jobs for granted how he would do it. Just because his mommy used to help out in Chicago doesn't give him the Congression Medal of Honor. Actually he's a stuffed shirt pretending to know it all.
How much do you want to bet that he wouldn't attempt entering these neighborhoods let alone these schools without security. >>
verdemont resident
This article is tucked away yet is profoundly correct. Parents are pseudo parenting little objects of consumption. Teens, professionals, working moms like the "idea" of a child but are not in for the long haul and everyone loses.

Schools are enabling parents to do precious little. The time parents spend with their children is the only thing that matters. Bussing needs to be cut, school breakfast, lunch, and afterschool care needs to be stopped. Parents will grow that bond by sacrificing the nails, hair, parties, drugs, quads, vacations, etc. and making a lunch for their child and arrangements to be home when the child is out of school. No one is that poor that they can't provide a boloney sandwich, a baggie of pretzels, an apple, 50 cents for a milk, and two cookies each day.

Please respond!

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JackI
Is it true that young ones today are losing interest on these subjects? Obviously, the White House is promoting programs that will help students on coping up with math and science subjects. But, The federal government thinks that the quality of math and science education can repair credit with the scientific community and improve US education with a few <a rev="vote for" title="U.S. Government Spends $250 Million on Science and Math" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/Payday-Loans/ ">payday loans</a> of sorts. In reality, it will take far longer to accomplish than they might think – US educators can't even get students to accept that "irregardless" isn't a word, and the difference between their, they're, and there – our students can't even learn their own language! It's a noble aim, to be sure, but throwing money at it may not work in the long run. >>
beggarsall
I am a teacher in the same county who is presently trying to quit the union. Like Caldwell, I strongly disagree with the MEA.

This article was timely.

Rob Olson
Pittsford Area Schools

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rickolson
I agree this is a change worth making. I describe some of the uneven effects of the idea on my blog at http://rickolson.blogspot.com/2009/08/statewide-health-insurance-plan-for.html which you may also wish to read.

The devil will be in the details, so this is one we will need to monitor closely.

Rick Olson from Saline, former school Business Manager >>
MichelleO

Nowadays, saving money is very crucial and properly investing the money can keep you and your family away from the effect of the financial crisis. The sad news is that a lot of the options for short term funding have been drying up. Short term funding is a necessary thing to have around, and going through traditional channels such as banks isn't an option for a lot of people anymore – basically it's only open to Ken Lewis. Installment loans are an option, but some people, including senior citizens, have been thinking about raiding their retirement fund. Getting into your pension retirement plan or 401(k) funds is the last thing you want to do if you don't qualify for any withdrawals yet. The penalties are substantial, and you'll end up needing installments loans to pay them if you use retirement funds for <a rev="vote for" title="Installment Loans Reliable Option As 401(k)s are Dwindling" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/05/17/installment-loans-reliable-option-401ks-dwindling/">short term funding</a>.


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QUEEN_BEE_09
I AGREE >>