Why are my Public School Workers Outside with Signs??
Tuesday, June 7:
Day of Action in Defense of Kids
Did you know…
The state School Aid Fund has a surplus of nearly $600 million dollars and would have allowed the state to offer a $200-plus INCREASE per pupil for the coming year?
The state is moving $900 million from the School Aid Fund to the General Fund (which of course, can be used for non-school expenditures.
HERE is what the Governor has already signed off on:
- A “roll back” of the minimum per-pupil foundation allowance by $470 – from $7,316 to $6,846. This dollar figure is ALL the state is required to provide to districts. In years past, there have been reductions/ withholdings but NOT a rollback. Is your child worth $470 LESS than he/she was last year?
- One-time only payments of $100 per student and the opportunity to earn another one-time only $100 payment if districts meet four of five financial management best practices. Districts have 4 weeks to meet these requirements—arguably at the busiest time of the year. Does this seem like something that would HELP schools?
- Emergency Managers who have the power to negate ALL contracts, eliminate or ignore school boards and other elected officials, all with NO required qualifications in education or city governance. Think this would never happen in Rochester? See the previous 2 bullets.
As a result of all of this, the currently proposed cuts to RCS (effective Fall, 2011) include:
- The elimination of Media Assistants which will reduce the ability for students to use the media center before, during, and after the school day.
- The reduction/restructuring by half of the Learning Consultant paraprofessionals. This would essentially cut by 50% the number of students who are able receive academic support during the school day. These students tend to be MOST in need of this support.
- The Dean of Students -- a position that handles student discipline -- would be eliminated at Rochester and Stoney Creek High, the buildings with the two highest student populations in the district, thus putting an even greater burden on the administrators and staff.
- Elimination of the Police Liaison program for after-school activities.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Rochester Community Schools turn out successful students who go on to be leaders in society. This is due in large part to the professional, dedicated staff.
But of course, the parents and community can play an even bigger role in advocating for kids.
Let’s face it: legislators are tired of listening to the teachers’ voices. But we refuse to give up on our schools, or on your kids—you should refuse as well.
Write or call your senators, representatives, and the Governor. Tell them that cuts to schools are NOT ok. Tell them that corporate tax breaks and loopholes are NOT more important to Michigan’s economy than the education of our children – this state’s future.
Your children’s teachers are not looking for handouts. We have been doing our part to help Rochester save over $20 million in the past 10 years. But we won’t stand idly by while the government takes money they don’t need to take from our kids. So the big questions are…
WILL YOU STAND WITH US?
WILL YOU STAND UP FOR YOUR CHILDREN?
Hopefully by now you are asking yourself,
“What can I do about all this?”
Contact your legislators! The following site will direct you to your legislator.
www.legislature.mi.gov
Scroll down to “Contact your Representative” or “Contact your senator”
Contact the Governor!
Governor Rick Snyder
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
(517) 373-3400
(517) 335-7858 - Constituent Services
(517) 335-6863
Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov
Stay Informed!
The MEA is a wonderful resource for the teacher perspective. Despite the attitude that the “union” is a big, scary entity, the REALITY is your children’s teachers ARE THE UNION. Check us out: www.mea.org
For a local perspective, try the Rochester teachers’ union site: www.rochesterea.org
Don’t want a “union” website? See for yourself: www.legistature.mi.gov. Look for “Bills” then under the categories of education or workers.
Compiled by a classroom teacher, on her own time, with the support (and printing capabilities) of her union
Download this Brochure In Adobe PDF Format |
