December 20, 2006

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909

Dear Governor Granholm:

I am writing this letter to express how important it is for you to champion equity for the lowest funded school districts in our state.  As 2001-2002 Michigan Teacher of the Year, I worked for the Michigan Department of Education and traveled more than 35,000 miles visiting schools across our state.  I visited 37 different Michigan school districts and was present in countless classrooms.  All schools contained hard-working teachers and principals implementing our Michigan Curriculum Framework, parents who wanted the best education possible for their families, and most important I observed many of Michigan’s school children who represent the future of our state.

One glaring difference I noted in my visits was the unequal level of financial support received by different districts.  I saw firsthand the imperfection of how Proposal A supports public education in Michigan.  Some classrooms were stocked with the newest, up-to-date materials, staffed by teachers whose districts could afford quality professional development, and were supported by academic specialists who could deliver needed programs.  I also traveled to school districts in the rural Upper Peninsula, the “thumb” area, in Calhoun county, in the southwest part of the state, in northwest lower Michigan and to my hometown schools of Detroit where none of these resources were present.  The parents, teachers, and students were the same, but the level of funding and hence the quality, continuity, and depth of the programs being delivered were significantly unequal.  This didn’t seem fair to me.

Since then, as an active member of the Network of Michigan Educators, I have kept in touch with many of my colleagues statewide.  A frequent conversation we have at meetings and conferences involves the dire and unequal state of funding to Michigan’s school districts. 

As Michigan makes a transition away from dominant reliance on the auto industry to a diversified economy, we will need all of our students to have the best chance to excel and advance to Michigan colleges and universities and become viable earners, taxpayers, and citizens - not just those who by chance of birth live in a high-funded school district.

There are four things that you can do to insure fairness in Michigan school funding: 

q       First, if reductions to schools are necessary in the current budget year, the lowest funded districts should be held harmless from any reduction.  These districts already receive the lowest amount of funding and should not be penalized further.   If you are to deliver a proration request to the legislature in January, please do so by recovering funds from districts whose core academic programs will not be affected. 

q       Second, thank-you for helping establish the $23 equity adjustment included in the 2007 State Aid Act.   This $23 Equity adjustment must remain harmless from any short-term reduction. Funding reductions that equate the same amount per pupil for every district – when some districts receive much more than others - are inherently unfair and discriminatory.  Therefore, if you feel reductions “across the board” are necessary, they should be made on a percentage basis.

q       Third, in preparing next year’s budget, please use your leadership to influence the legislature to narrow the gap between the highest and lowest funded districts.  Making “equity” payments Michigan’s first priority can do this.  A minimum of $100 per student Equity payment per year should be the highest priority until equitable funding is achieved.  The gap need not be closed in a single year, but steady progress toward this goal can be a legacy we all can leave to our school children.  This goal is critical when we realize the gap in total school funding –between highest and lowest funded districts - approaches $1 billion statewide.

q       Finally, please give your voice whenever you can to acknowledge something that seems self-evident – all children deserve equal educational opportunities. You have a gift of giving voice to ideals.  We need you now, more than ever.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to support you in this cause.

Sincerely,

Jim Linsell

Sixth Grade Teacher and District Support Specialist Professional Development, New Teacher/Mentor Programs,
and Elementary Social Studies
Traverse City Area Public Schools
P.O. Box 32
Traverse City, Michigan 49685-0032
231-933-1670 (a.m.) 231-933-5960 (p.m.) fax: 231-933-1760
linsellja@eastern.tcaps.net