MASA in the News

 

Gongwer News Service Michigan, 6.18.10

[The] Michigan Association of School Administrators blasted the Senate GOP plan, deriding the notion that the fund balance in the School Aid Fund could be labeled a surplus considering the many cuts school funding has taken.

"The idea that Michigan's schools are somehow flush with cash is preposterous." said the group's executive director, William Mayes, who points out better-than-anticipated revenue means that instead of a $500 million drop in revenue next year, schools will face only a $200 million hole. "If you undergo surgery to have your leg removed and doctors discover then need to take only your foot, you can hardly call your knee 'surplus' tissue."

MIRS Capitol Capsule, 6.18.10

The Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA) today came out against the [GOP Budget shift] idea, calling it "irresponsible," citing the $382 million cut taken by schools in the current year and the $184 million hole that schools will face when federal stimulus dollars dry up at the end of next year.

"The idea that Michigan's schools are somehow flush with cash is preposterous," said MASA Executive Director William MAYES. "If you undergo surgery to have your leg removed and doctors discover they need to take only your foot, you can hardly call your knee 'surplus' tissue."

Boyd said the Governor is open to using the SAF as long as there are no cuts to education, it goes to higher education and lawmakers solve both the FY 2010 and 2011 budgets.

Westland Observer, 6.20.10

Wayne-Westland school officials want to send a clear message to Lansing: hands off the $400 million surplus in the School Aid Fund.  The board, at the urging of Superintendent Greg Baracy, has approved a resolution calling on residents of the district to contact lawmakers and let them know that the money should be spent on the K-12 program not to offset the state's general fund deficit.…

William H. Mayes, executive director of the Michigan Association of School Administrators, sent out a letter urging school officials to launch [a] letter writing campaign after news reports surfaced about the possible money shift.

“Despite the rhetoric coming out of Lansing, Michigan's schools do not have any surplus revenue, and that the past few years have been devastating for schools — massive cuts, record layoffs and school closures have been commonplace.
   
“As parents, grandparents and public servants, we need to ensure that every child has access to the same quality education that our parents afforded us,” he said. “The threat of the legislature raiding School Aid dollars is very real. Tell Lansing to keep their hands off of our children's future.”

School funding was slashed $165 per student last year and that the “extra revenue” projected in the most recent fiscal estimate is not even enough to restore that cut, let alone cover the $150 per pupil cost of the retirement rate increase or the over 20 percent health care cost increase coming next year, Mayes said.