Superintendents of Allegan County have come together to share a joint letter about the impact of the state budget on local schools and students and are passing along concerns about the importance of strong, sustainable funding for education.
A combined statement from Allegan Area Educational Services Agency Supt. William D. Brown and signed by local district superintendents said. “We encourage our families, staff and community members to take a few minutes to read this letter and stay informed about how these decisions affect our classrooms.
“Together, we can advocate for the resources our students deserve:
“State law mandates that lawmakers approve a K-12 school funding budget by July 1 each year so districts like ours can plan and operate with certainty. That deadline has passed, and no agreement has been reached. Without a budget, there’s a risk of a state government shutdown on Sept. 30, which could delay funding that schools depend on to operate.
“At the heart of the deadlock is a proposal to redirect dollars from the School Aid Fund – the fund voters were promised would be dedicated to K-12 education – to other priorities, including road repairs.
“Many believe this violates the original intent of the system voters approved in 1994 to provide fair, statewide funding for public schools.
“If the Legislature does not pass a budget, districts will miss their first scheduled state aid payment on Oct. 20. For all schools, that payment is a major part of the resources we rely on to:
- Compensate teachers and staff who work directly with students.
- Maintain class sizes and student support services.
- Maintain bus operations, fund academic programs, arts, athletics, and student activities.
“We cannot operate indefinitely without these resources. The solution is simple: lawmakers should approve a K-12 budget that safeguards School Aid Fund dollars for their original purpose – educating Michigan’s children.
“Please join me in urging our elected officials to reach a quick agreement and keep K-12 funding secure.
You can contact your state lawmakers at: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Legislature/Legislators and explain why timely, protected school funding is important to you and your family.”
Among the superintendents who signed on to the AAESA statement were Samantha Ball of Martin, Scott VanBonn of Hopkins and Tim Reeves of Wayland.
How are district able to plan with funding in Limbo, definitely not fair to kids!! My biggest concern is the free lunch program!! This is very vital for a lot of families, sometimes this is their only health meal!!