As educators, you might be saying, “What does all the activity at the state and federal level mean to me?” Right now, in an especially challenged global economy, the federal stimulus might mean we have few educational layoffs. Each local school district will see federal funding increase in Title funding and in special education reimbursement. And, schools may see funding for things like educational technology and improved technology infrastructure.  More children will have early childhood education experiences and, in large way, education will have been spared again by being a funding priority. 

The Michigan education picture is helped significantly by the stimulus. At this point, the state projects a $164 million shortfall in the state school aid fund. The governor proposed a $59 reduction in the per pupil foundation grant, and several state categoricals are slated for reduction, including a 20% cut in general funding for intermediate school districts. We anticipate the governor will utilize stimulus money to offset state cuts for the coming 2009-10 school year. Since the stimulus actually comes over an extended period of time, it will also help the 2010-11 school year funding for Michigan schools. 

With all of this help, the state is still projecting to lose more than 25,000 students per year. State revenues come from a mix of taxes with property and sales tax making up the majority of revenue. In a troubled economy and with costs continuing to rise, revenue probably won’t keep pace with expenditures. The state income tax was raised back to early Engler administration levels on a temporary basis. The income tax is slated to roll back after 2010. With health care costs continuing to rise, state infrastructure problems, and the state economy lagging along with the automakers and suppliers, the state has a structural problem that has remained unaddressed.

What can we do given the state of the state? Your local superintendents have been meeting with

legislators on an increasingly frequent basis. We really have limited local control and we want to

impact state control.  Changes in areas such as Michigan Merit Curriculum, the Michigan School Retirement System, and in Early Childhood Education have begun. The state superintendent has called for “total consolidation of administrative services” with the idea of keeping instructional services locally based. The bottom line is that we all need to be more involved in providing

meaningful input to our elected officials by weighing in on issues which will impact us. Representatives Joel Sheltrown (D), Darwin Booher (R), and Senator Michelle McManus (R) should really know what we think, as increasingly, education has become a state issue. If you are uncomfortable contacting them, contact your local superintendent if you have a position on an education topic. Talking with legislators has become a regular required activity for your local education leader.

Please call Scott Crosby at (231) 876-2260 or email at

scrosby@wmisd.org with thoughts or questions related to our services.