Points Related to Michigan Legislative Action

Prepared by:  The Wexford-Missaukee ISD Superintendents Association

Presented to the Honorable State Senator Michelle McManus,

The Honorable State Representative Darwin Booher,

The Honorable State Representative Joel Sheltrown, and

 The Michigan State Board of Education on March 18, 2009

Matters relating to Education are being addressed by Michigan legislative action on a daily basis.  In an effort to inform and provide our collective input on issues related to Education, we are providing our top ten talking points for use with state legislators as they consider action that will shape the future for the children we serve.  Should questions arise related to these talking points, we encourage all elected officials, school related personnel, and members of the public to discuss these viewpoints with us.

• Michigan Merit Curriculum:  Collectively we support high standards for all children.  There is a need to amend legislation related to the Michigan Merit Curriculum such that we individualize curricular needs for all students.  Our suggestion is to support a change in legislation so it reflects a state defined number of math, science, language arts, and foreign language credits needed for graduation but allows local school districts to individualize the curriculum to meet each student’s unique needs.
• Sinking Funds:  With limited resources we have stretched our ability to provide improvements to our infrastructure for almost ten years.  There is currently legislation being offered that would expand the potential uses of sinking funds.  Our suggestion is to not only support this change in sinking funds, it is to enact such change in the current year.  Such a change would allow districts to purchase buses and computer hardware for our children. 
• Michigan Tuition Grant:  The state has supported higher education for eligible students in the form of a Michigan Tuition Grant scholarship that assists needy students in paying for post-secondary costs.  There has been discussion that the Michigan Tuition Grant should be combined with other sources and eliminated in order to fund other state priorities.  Our suggestion is for the legislature to take action that would maintain the Michigan Tuition Grant program.  A large percentage of our students qualify for this grant and our area would be well served by having this program continued.
• State Aid/Funding:  Annually the state considers revenues and if necessary, make adjustments (reductions) to the student foundation grant awarded to fund K-12 school districts.  Our suggestion is for the legislature to amend the Act such that reductions can not occur mid year.  Beyond this, there needs to be continued movement toward equitable funding for all school districts on a planned annual basis.  We encourage continuation of the 2X formula.

·         Consolidation:  The rising cost of doing school business forces school district to seek economy.  It is our suggestion that action be taken related to providing incentives for cost containment through consolidation of appropriate services.  School district enrollment should not be a determining factor in the consolidation discussion.

• Stimulus Funding:  The federal government has put in place an economic stimulus package that allows the state some discretion in allocating resources to local entities.  Our suggestion is to support the equitable funding of schools as a priority in conforming to this Act .
• Whole Child:  All of our local districts are considering resolutions in support of the Whole Child Initiative to ensure that all of our children are safe, healthy, engaged, supported, and academically challenged.  Our suggestion is to have the state pass such a resolution and use it as the basis for support to regional communities, for educational opportunity, success in our colleges, workplaces, and local neighborhoods.
• Charter Schools:  The state has done much to reform public Education in recent years.  With the number of students in our public schools declining, it no longer makes sense for the state to maintain a large number of state supported schools.  Our suggestion is to reduce the number of failed Charter Schools by reviewing their performance and revoking charters for those that are failing our students. 
• 180 Days of School:  Several years ago the state did away with the requirement for a required number of days and replaced it with a number of hours.  Prior to that, districts had made steady progress in increasing the number of instructional days.  Since that change, districts have reduced the number of instructional days.  Our suggestion is to restore the 180 instructional day requirement given the increased emphasis on student performance.
• Term Limits:  The effect of term limits has been the loss of institutional memory.  Just when our elected officials understand the issues, the process and start in leadership roles, they are effectively removed from office by term limits.  Our suggestion is to extend the length of time allowed to be served in any one elected office in the legislature to twelve years of service.
• The Michigan Public School Retirement System:   The cost of public school retirement needs to be shared between the employee and the public school employer.  Our suggestion is to amend Section 42 of the Public School Employees Retirement Act such that employees and reporting units equally share percentage increases in the rising cost of retirement.

The Wexford-Missaukee ISD Superintendents Association (Representing Cadillac Area, Lake City Area, Manton Consolidated, Marion Public, McBain Rural Agricultural, Mesick Consolidated, and Pine River Area Public Schools, the Wexford-Missaukee ISD, and Baker College of Cadillac)

Scott Crosby, Superintendent, Wexford-Missaukee ISD

Paul Liabenow, Superintendent, Cadillac Area Public Schools

Bud Ashton, Superintendent, Lake City Area Schools

J. Mark Parsons, Superintendent, Manton Consolidated Schools

Charles Chase, Superintendent, Marion Public Schools

Michael Harris, Superintendent, McBain Rural Agricultural Schools

Dennis Stratton, Superintendent, Mesick Consolidated Schools

Jim Ganger, Superintendent, Pine Rive Area Schools

Dr. Robert VanDellen, President, Baker College of Cadillac