The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
State rep. meets with school board
Board members touch on consolidation
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: February 1, 2007
State Rep. Alma Wheeler-Smith, D-54th District, came before the Ypsilanti Public Schools Board of Education last week to talk about the state's budget crisis and its impact on local school districts.
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Smith opened saying these were challenging times in Michigan. The state is facing a $550 million shortfall with additional pressures that could bring the shortfall amount up to $800 million. This loss of revenue at the state level will result in a loss to the Ypsilanti district of approximately $890,000.
"The legislature and the governor have to do something fairly dramatic to find a new revenue source," Wheeler said. She noted cuts have already happened and there were few cuts that could still be made. She also said that a group if items, called "categoricals," could be cut but not all of them would be.
"The shortfall is in all the funds, including the general fund," she said. "We're going to have to look at increases in the sales tax and/or the income tax. The picture looks better in 2011, but we have to get there."
Trustee Andrew Fanta expressed his frustration with state government, saying he saw no leadership in Lansing.
"There is no vision of where education is going in Michigan. I want to see a plan," Fanta said.
Smith responded, "Tax study committees are now working on how to do this as painlessly as possible. Remember, Democrats only just got control of the House back. Reports from these committees are due on Feb. 10.
"I want to stress that the reserves are empty. Even the Rainy Day Fund is empty.
"There are 562 school districts in the state. We need to encourage cost-sharing — superintendents, busing, consolidation," Smith said.
She added, "I know we're called the 'tax and spend Democrats,' but the 'tax and spend Democrats' will spend what is necessary to keep quality education."
Smith said the state needs to generate between $4 to $6 billion in revenue. "I don't want to sound hysterical, like 'the sky is falling,'" she said.
Trustee Cameron Getto said the competition model of school funding is "a disaster."
"How do we convince people to stay in Michigan with these school situations? What does the state expect us to do? How does the state expect us to function?" Getto said.
Smith said the legislature is now working toward changing the school funding model.
"This is not what it was sold as being," she said.
She noted schools in Bloomfield Hills get $12,500 per student. "So this is not the level playing field it was sold as being.
"With the current model, we're backing through the door," Smith said. "It's unfair as it stands. Schools cannot meet the test standards, set by the state, when the state does not provide enough money for adequate resources. We need to do something different."
Smith said the closing of Pfizer's Michigan facilities is "a huge loss," especially to Washtenaw County.
"I'm confident we can replace them, but many families will leave as Pfizer transfers them and that's a loss to the schools. Not all those families live in Ann Arbor."
Smith said she wanted to see less reliance on "the Big Three," and more attention on education and health care.
"Republicans are having problems with the power change in Lansing. But, tax cuts don't grow the economy."
In response to a question from Board President Floyd Brumfield, Smith suggested the Ypsilanti district work with other school boards across the state to pressure the legislature for action. "Write letters saying you understand the need for taxes on entertainment and like items. Let the public know how bad the situation is," Smith said.
She continued, "Consolidation is such a passionate issue. Community pressures scuttled the idea of legislating consolidations in the Senate. But, consolidation is what is necessary for survival."
Trustee David Bates noted that districts need help with the process of consolidation. "Stop creating tiny school districts – charters – because they drain money from us."
Smith agreed. "In addition, we Democrats have an agenda. We need more communication from you and the opportunity to meet with you, as I am tonight."
Kathleen Conat is a long-time Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for the Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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