Funding Cuts May Force Schools to Close Early

Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm is once again locked in an economic battle with the state's republican senate. She is planning to cut school funding by $125 per student. The cuts, which would cost some school districts upwards of $2 million, are in response to the State Senate's refusal to raise taxes.

"We need revenues to be able to save our schools," Granholm told reporters. "I'm angry at Senate Republicans for having purely an extremist ideology of never, no way ever, regardless of how it impacts Michigan, will they ever consider revenues. That philosophy is damaging to Michigan."

The cuts will be effective June 1, before the school year is finished. According to The Detroit News, current funding per student is $7108, an all-time high, but schools say they are still struggling. Because the cuts are expected to take place less than a month before the school year ends, getting rid of programs is not an option. Instead, school administrators say they may be forced to lay off teachers, cancel bussing, sell property, and close early in order to make ends meet.

Barry Blauer, a Berkley school board member, told The Detroit News, "We believe in our programs. I think we should run them until we run out of money and then just close."

Granholm intends to send a letter officially announcing the cuts to school administrators this week. After that, the state legislature will have 30 days to come up with a plan to save the schools.

Legislature is accusing Granholm of political posturing, saying she is using the letter as a ransom note. "The governor seems intent on derailing the bipartisan progress via her obsession with a massive tax increase on Michigan families," said Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop. "Republicans and Democrats have both demonstrated in legislation that the current-year deficit can be balanced with cuts."

According to Senator Ron Jelinek, the state already has a plan to reduce cuts from $125 to $36 per student. A conference is set for May 19 to determine how far the revenues are behind in Michigan. Jelinek said Granholm should wait until that conference to make a decision regarding school funds. "I think it's unfair to (cut) the schools on an unknown figure. We've made it clear to the governor, let's solve the known problem, and May 19th is really not known," he said.

The state is facing at least $715 million in deficits. Earlier this year, Granholm announced that several prisons would be closed and the employees would be laid off. That, along with the closure of several other businesses this year, will increase the already high unemployment rate. Michigan unemployment currently sits at 7.4%, almost double the national average.

SOURCES:

"Schools fear layoffs if state aid cut," The Detroit News, April 27, 2007
URL: http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070427/SCHOOLS/704270392/1026

"Granholm's call for school aid cut raises the stakes," Detroit Free Press, April 27, 2007
URL: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070427/NEWS06/704270398&imw=Y

"Granholm says school cuts coming," Jackson Citizen Patriot, April 27, 2007
URL: http://www.mlive.com/news/statewide/index.ssf?/base/news-8/117762540644780.xml&coll=1&thispage=1