Legislation News
Superior Central superintendent: 'I’m tired of schools just being expected to do what we can with whatever we are given'
As the Superintendent and K-12 Principal of a small public school in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan my world drastically changed late on the night of Thursday, March 12th. Around 11:00 p.m., Governor Whitmer declared that due to COVID-19 all school buildings in Michigan would be closing beginning on Monday, March 16th. This eleventh hour declaration put our world into a frenzy. Teachers spent much of the day on Friday the 13th putting together packets for what we thought would be an extended spring break. On March 17th, schools were told to cease all student activities including coursework and enrichment activities since we could not guarantee that all students have access to appropriate learning devices or access to the internet or the support needed. On March 23rd, Governor Whitmer declared, through Executive Order, that schools in Michigan would be closed until April 13th. On April 2nd, schools were suspended for the rest of the school year and districts were ordered to develop a Continuity of Learning Plan.
After nearly two months of being shut down the state has little revenue coming in. There is a $1.25 billion deficit in the State School Aid fund for the current school year and a $1.14 billion deficit projected for the 2020-2021 School Aid fund. $1 billion dollars equals a cut of $685 per student in Michigan. State Senator Wayne Schmidt, the Chair of the Senate’s Education Budget Subcommittee, has recently warned of a potential 25% cut in state funding. That’s approximately $2,000 per student or about $700,000 of the $2,716,428 in state revenue that Superior Central receives. We have already trimmed all excess from our budget. What’s left? Transportation, athletics, heat, 3,540 kids in classrooms?
To read the entire article by Bill Valima, the Superintendent and K-12 Principal of Superior Central Schools click on the link.
As the Superintendent and K-12 Principal of a small public school in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan my world drastically changed late on the night of Thursday, March 12th. Around 11:00 p.m., Governor Whitmer declared that due to COVID-19 all school buildings in Michigan would be closing beginning on Monday, March 16th. This eleventh hour declaration put our world into a frenzy. Teachers spent much of the day on Friday the 13th putting together packets for what we thought would be an extended spring break. On March 17th, schools were told to cease all student activities including coursework and enrichment activities since we could not guarantee that all students have access to appropriate learning devices or access to the internet or the support needed. On March 23rd, Governor Whitmer declared, through Executive Order, that schools in Michigan would be closed until April 13th. On April 2nd, schools were suspended for the rest of the school year and districts were ordered to develop a Continuity of Learning Plan.
After nearly two months of being shut down the state has little revenue coming in. There is a $1.25 billion deficit in the State School Aid fund for the current school year and a $1.14 billion deficit projected for the 2020-2021 School Aid fund. $1 billion dollars equals a cut of $685 per student in Michigan. State Senator Wayne Schmidt, the Chair of the Senate’s Education Budget Subcommittee, has recently warned of a potential 25% cut in state funding. That’s approximately $2,000 per student or about $700,000 of the $2,716,428 in state revenue that Superior Central receives. We have already trimmed all excess from our budget. What’s left? Transportation, athletics, heat, 3,540 kids in classrooms?
To read the entire article by Bill Valima, the Superintendent and K-12 Principal of Superior Central Schools click on the link.