by Rob Smith
“It is shameful,” said Dr. Jeanice K. Swift, Superintendent of the Ann Arbor Public Schools. “This proposal unfairly impacts communities across the state of Michigan, such as Ann Arbor.
AS THE MICHIGAN Legislature debated and voted today on the 2014/2015 School Aid Fund, AAPS Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift called a press conference to take the state’s elected leaders to task for proposed cuts to the School Aid Funding paid per student by the state. The School Aid Fund funds public education across Michigan as well as at Charter Schools and Cyber Online schools.
While the AAPS budgeted $83 per student in funding from the School Aid Fund, state legislators proposed paying just $50 per student.
Liz Margolis, the AAPS spokesperson said in a prepared statement sent out to the media: “Once again this year all signs point to another disappointing unfunded proposal that will further erode public education across the state of Michigan.”
On June 11, public school districts from across Washtenaw County held a press conference to share their disdain of what officials said is “yet another year of continued underfunding of public education.”
“It is shameful,” said Dr. Swift. “This proposal unfairly impacts communities across the state of Michigan, such as Ann Arbor, who have made investment of tax dollars through property taxes, millages and Sinking Funds to support children. It is time to call a ‘time out’ on our Legislators. Shame on the state. We are better then this. We need to do more for our children. Our story in Ann Arbor and across Washtenaw County is devastating.”
This is by no means the first time Ann Arbor’s superintendent has criticized elected officials. In January 2014, she attended Gov. Snyder’s State of the State address and made clear that she believed Snyder’s claims concerning K-12 education funding levels were misleading.
In a January 14, 2014 piece posted to the AAPS News site, Dr. Swift did not mince words:
Dr. Swift said she was disappointed by Gov. Snyder’s “lack of attending to the real issues in school finance and the superficial consideration that he paid to school safety.”
“In the past three years we’ve invested $660 more per student than there was previously when I took office,” Gov. Snyder said early in his speech last night.
That money was actually used to “help right some structural issues with pensions,” Dr. Swift said. “To say that went to children is inaccurate.”
Dr. Swift went on to say, “Declining resources, families with more needs and unfunded mandates place us in this perfect storm of K-12 education finance,” Dr. Swift said. “We’ve come to a point where none of us is honest if we say that we’ve added to K-12 funding and support.”
The proposal for the State School Aid Fund has been back and forth in conference committee and expected to be voted on today. The current proposal gives a $175 per student increase for base-funded districts across the state as well as a full $175 increase for Cyber online schools. Charter Schools will receive an increase of $83 per pupil.
However, for over 130 districts, such as the Ann Arbor Public Schools, the proposal only provides a $50 increase in per pupil funding. In addition, AAPS officials argue the bill contains other impacts to the overall K-12 funding picture including in retirement costs.
The bill will continue to be a pull down mechanism on public education and continue the shell game of “giving” districts money in the foundation allowance with a number of hidden costs negatively impacting school districts across the state.
According to the statement sent out by Dr. Swift’s office, “This proposal will continue the erosion of quality public education across the state of Michigan. Michigan educational outcomes continue to show signs of deterioration. The most recent Ed Week Quality Counts national data analysis ranks Michigan as the 42nd state in overall K-12 achievement.”
Under this current proposal, five of nine Washtenaw County School Districts would receive the $50 minimum increase.
AAPS officials argue that the proposal unfairly impacts districts that have consistently voted to invest local tax dollars in support of children.
“Clearly, a decade of reductions has yielded devastating impacts to the levels of quality we are able to offer to our Michigan students and to our Washtenaw County children,” said Dr. Swift.
At the press conference Washtenaw County and Ypsilanti Area Schools Superintendent Scott Menzel, Chelsea Superintendent Andy Ingall, Dexter Superintendent Dr. Chris Timmis along with Dr. Swift and members of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education all spoke of their frustration of what they allege is a lack of support from Lansing and the Legislature.
Ann Arbor Public Schools Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Marios Demetriou, stated that the district’s $182.2 million AAPS 2014/2015 budget will be negatively impacted by the School Aid Fund proposal. Public Schools in Michigan are required to have a balanced budget by June 30. The last minute vote by the Legislature caused districts across the state to scramble to meet the balanced budget requirement.
Ann Arbor Public School officials based their 2014/2015 budget on the Governor’s projection, which would have continued to have Ann Arbor in a reduction mode of about $11 million. With this new proposal Ann Arbor will see another $2.5 million in reductions that have not yet been factored into the proposed plan.
“The Governor’s proposed School Fund budget called for an $83 per pupil increase. The funding up for today’s vote calls for a $50 per pupil increase for Ann Arbor. That is a $388,000 reduction,” said Demetriou. “ Best practice incentive funding has been reduced by $2 per pupil creating a $35,000 reduction. And several requirements have been added to “best practice” funding which will make AAPS ineligible adding another $850,000 lose to next year’s budget.” Demetriou added that the increase in the MSPERS retirement fund to 25.78% contribution will cost Ann Arbor an estimated $1.3 million. The total impact to the AAPS budget is another $2,573,000 in reductions.
“AAPS has not had time to react to these devastating reductions,” said AAPS Board President Deb Mexicotte. “For the past 11 years during my tenure on this board, every year AAPS has had a $6-7 million deficit that we have had to address under Proposal A. AAPS and surrounding districts contribute to the state larger and larger amounts of our local tax dollars which are not returned to us. I have used the word ‘shameful’ at the board table and now I can only use that word again with more anger,” stated Ms. Mexicotte.
Glenn Nelson, Treasure of the Board of Education stated, “The state continues to give a lower and lower priority to education.” Vice President Christine Stead added, “Our hope is we will take this opportunity to change the law. This is broken.” While Trustee Irene Patalan proclaimed, “What a shameful mess. I want everyone in Lansing to stand with a heart and soul for the education of all students.” Trustee Simone Lightfoot put out a challenge; “I will continue to encourage that we take suit against the state. Doing what we have been doing, following the rules, is not working.”
As the Ann Arbor Public Schools closes another school year and embarks on the new school year, its commitment to the education of students is demonstrated in new initiatives such as the Pathways to Success Campus, the STEAM at Northside program, World Language initiatives, technology infusion and the International Baccalaureate corridor. As long as pols continue to cut public education funding, AAPS officials say they will continue to be vocal supporters of what is right for all our students and demand change in Lansing.