MEMPSA Legislative Update
Gov. Snyder Delivers State of the State Address
Governor Rick Snyder this week delivered a State of the State address that was much different in tone compared to previous years given the local, state, and national focus on the ongoing Flint water crisis. Governor Snyder, in a somber tone, apologized to those living through this ordeal in the Flint, accepted responsibility, and outlined specific states the State of Michigan is taking to work through the crisis and ensure Flint residents not only have clean, safe water, but financial and logistical support from the State going forward with respect to education, child nutrition and health, infrastructure needs, and water quality.
The Governor also pressed for action to address the ongoing financial crisis in Detroit Public Schools. Legislators to this point have been very hesitant to sign off on a financial bailout of DPS, especially given recent actions by DPS teachers to organize “sickouts” that have forced closure of at times up to 80% of city school buildings. Numerous legislators, including legislative leaders, have characterized the sickouts as de facto strikes, illegal under state law, and have indicated that such actions are counterproductive when asking the Legislature for additional financial assistance for and structural reforms to DPS.
Some key legislative leaders, including House Appropriations Committee Chair Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville) and House K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw) have indicated a willingness to dip into the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund (“Rainy Day Fund”) to fund at least a portion of the necessary $715 billion, or $71.5 billion over the next ten years, in order to hold funding other state school districts harmless. Kelly in particular has noted that the state needs to take action to pay off the debt now, rather than wait and end up on the hook for an eventual bankruptcy that could occur as early as this fall and end up much more expensive in the end for state taxpayers.
However, any additional funding for DPS will certainly need to be accompanied by structural reforms and guarantees before legislators consider taking action. For example, Rep. Kelly has suggested abolishing DPS altogether and ramping up charter authorization to serve the 47,000 children currently in DPS.
A great number of proposals are likely to come forth in the coming weeks with respect to DPS, and we expect the debate to continue throughout the spring. The Governor will likely release his Fiscal Year 2016-2017 budget proposal in a few weeks, and that document certainly will shape initial discussions surrounding DPS and overall K-12 funding throughout the state as well.
MEMSPA Advocacy Day
The voice of Michigan’s principals is key in these political times. We are holding our winter MEMSPA legislative Advocacy Day on the morning of March 22, 2016. Please let me know if you are able to join us for a morning breakfast briefing, visit with your district’s House and Senate members, and a lunch debrief. We will schedule an appointment for you to meet your state representative and provide you with talking points and format. This is an important time in Michigan’s education reform movement and we need your voice to influence positive reasonable change. Please plan to join us.
RSVP to paul@memspa.org