Although we didn’t win the day, we appreciate the many MASA members who added their voices in advocacy for adequate, reliable funding for public schools. Here’s a sampling:

From Tresa Zumsteg, superintendent of the Berkley Public School District

People say that education is vital and is a priority. Yet some of these same people have demonized Proposal 5. Proposal 5 would prevent the state from playing shell games with school funding. For example, in this school year the state loudly promised a per pupil increase of $210. Quietly, the state also informed local school districts that the state has increased the districts' share of the state retirement system costs. …Proposal 5 will not increase or decrease anyone's retirement benefits. It will help control local districts' retirement costs, leaving more local dollars for classrooms. …Education makes a difference. Leaders coming together make a difference. Citizens who vote make a difference. If you believe education is a priority in our state and want to see Michigan once again take its place as a viable, dynamic state in which to live and work, vote Yes on Proposal 5.

–Originally published in the Clawson Mirror, November 3, 2006

From Bill DeFrance, superintendent of the Eaton Rapids Public Schools

…Since Proposal A over 10 years ago, school funding is tied exclusively to state fortunes and our state legislators' decisions. To say the least, legislators have been wishy-washy about the support schools are given, especially when tough times hit. Schools like Eaton Rapids have received increases in funding in only two of the last four years. I do not believe we would have received an increase this year if it was not an election year.

Proposal 5 has four key parts: There are minimum funding increases per student tied to inflation; the impact of declining enrollment (this is us) is reduced using a three-year enrollment average; the school systems receiving the lowest funding level (this is also us) get an additional $50 per student over the next six years; and our contribution to employee retirement costs is capped (this saves us over $350,000 per year).

This proposal is neither a panacea nor a great windfall to public education and, if passed, it can be changed by legislators. Our teachers and staff are not overpaid. We will still have contract and program issues in the future, probably even next year. And it definitely does not automatically cause us to reinstate any program that was cut in the past. But it is a start and gives school systems a little breathing room.

I hope you take time to read more about this …. But I believe this proposal is good for education in Eaton Rapids and the state, so I would ask you to vote YES on Proposal 5.

–Originally Published in the Eaton Rapids Community News, October 29, 2006

From Al Gaiss, superintendent, Bessemer City School District

A lot of information and misinformation has been going around regarding Proposal 5. Here are the facts relative to Proposal 5.

--Proposal 5 will not raise our taxes. There are other sources of revenue to tap in order to implement all provisions and adequately fund our local schools, community colleges and universities.

--Proposal 5 is not about raising school employee pensions. Pensions are being paid now out of schools' general fund budgets, and they will need to be paid whether Proposal 5 passes or fails. Proposal 5 merely requires the state to [share the] cost.

--Proposal 5 will not cut local services like police and fire. Police and fire are funded locally—township, county, city.

--Local area schools have been and will continue to work hard to contain costs around employee benefits. Our schools are also being held accountable in a myriad of ways for raising student achievement. But tax cuts and other "tweaks" during the past eight years to proposal A, passed in 1994, have left too many districts on shaky financial ground and under-funded to do the job the public expects. A legislative solution is needed, and this proposal, Proposal 5, is a reasonable measure.

–Originally published in the Ironwood Daily Globe

This battle is over…for now. But we cannot give up the fight for the resources and legislative policies we need to equip Michigan’s students for a brighter future.