While the front pages of our newspapers are talking about “green shoots” and “economic recovery” the recession is just now starting to hit our school budgets.
School funding concerns were raised multiple times at the last Flat Rock School Board Meeting. Most notably, shrinking school budgets were cited as the root cause of growing Flat Rock class sizes and might force a future request for more tax payer money from Flat Rock residents (to fund technology maintenance and bus purchases).
In a recent conversation with Superintendent Russ Pickell, at our Rotary Club meeting, I asked what I should be discussing with parents as key issues for the next four years. He didn’t mince words–budgets are going to get tighter and tough decisions are going to have to be made.
He referenced the inconsistent education funding mechanism put in place by Proposal A for Michigan. Basically, all property tax funds go up to Lansing (the State) and are then allocated back down on a per enrolled student basis.
Being a business owner and already working creatively to survive the recession thus far (I have not laid off a single employee) I am not inclined to wait like a victim for the inevitable. I want to look for innovative ways to maintain Flat Rock schools as the envy of surrounding districts.
Although I advocate talking and writing to your State Representatives and Senators about these issues, I am realistic we need to start thinking now about solutions.
Here is one innovative idea happening in neighboring Trenton, MI:
“There is nothing more difficult to deal with these days than public funding. Federal funding, state funding, county funding and local funding are all under the gun. And no matter the discussion, education often is at the top of the list of concerns.”
“The new Trenton Educational Foundation is trying to lend a hand. With public school districts across Michigan (and for that matter, across the nation) facing tough financial burdens with ever-decreasing revenue streams, the TEF was created by civic-minded entrepreneurs to provide learning “enhancements” that aren’t available through traditional funding sources.”
Read the rest of the article. Then please come back and leave your thoughts and comments below.
