LANSING – State Representative Gino H. Polidori (D-Dearborn) today blasted House Republican leadership for proposing to take money from the School Aid Fund – an unprecedented act – and slash $20 from per-pupil funding in a misguided strategy to balance the budget this year.
"The money we have set aside for our children's education should be used for our children," said Polidori, a member of the House Committee on Education. "Our children must not be the sacrificial lamb to balance the budget. We need this funding to prepare our students for the jobs of the future and taking it away is a disservice to them, their parents, and the entire state."
The proposal would take $20 from each grade-school student in Michigan public schools to pay for other items in the state budget. The plan would cut a total of $34 million from the School Aid Fund, which is dedicated to funding for K-12 students. Under this plan, Dearborn Public Schools stand to lose $340,856.
"There is no way our students can progress and reach their full potential if we continue to steal money specifically earmarked for their education," Polidori said. "We have to give our children the tools they need to succeed. The future of our state's progress and economy hinges on our children and our education system."
Were this proposal to pass, districts across Michigan would lose thousands – and in some cases millions – of dollars. These cuts come at a time when many school districts are facing declining enrollment and difficulty attracting and retaining sufficient numbers of qualified teachers. "This proposal sends the wrong message," Polidori added. "We should be showing our students, parents, and teachers that education is our top priority, not raiding school funding to balance the budget."