


The following column was published by the Lapeer County Press on Saturday, June 28
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee and a former school administrator, I understand how important it is for students in Lapeer, Genesee and Tuscola counties to have the resources they need so they can thrive in the classroom.
We recently passed a K-12 School Aid budget plan in the House for the upcoming fiscal year that includes a 20% foundation allowance increase to establish the highest level of per-pupil funding in our state’s history.
The current per-pupil amount is $9,608. Our budget increases this amount to $12,000 by removing bureaucratic red tape, burdensome program requirements, and other restrictions so we can get the most money possible into the classroom to support students.
This record funding will be felt locally. Lapeer Community Schools would receive over $6.8 million in increased funding from the total amount they received last year if this plan is signed by the governor. Clio Area School District would get over $4.6 million more. North Branch Area Schools would receive over $4.4 million in additional funds, and Millington Community Schools would see a nearly $2 million increase from current fiscal year totals, among other local increases.
Let’s go further than some of these numbers to put the $12,000 per student amount into perspective. With the funding available to school districts in our budget plan, an elementary school with 250 students would have enough funding to hire up to 10 new teachers and purchase all new math and science books. A school district with 1,100 students could use its $2.6 million increase to hire 30 new teachers and still have hundreds of thousands of dollars left over to make crucial building safety upgrades, start new career tech programs or address other needs.
There’s added flexibility on top of record per-pupil funding with our budget proposal. Local communities would get to decide how these dollars get spent, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach from state government.
We did this by putting less emphasis on categorized spending. In the past, funds would have to be used for certain things regardless of whether or not a school district felt a particular funding program best fit student needs. Inevitably, this led to some money ultimately being underutilized while other programs that were popular in some districts yearned for more resources.
The House K-12 budget includes $127 million to ensure that no district or ISD loses out as a result of consolidating categorical funding into the new $12,000 per-student foundation allowance. This “hold harmless” funding guarantees every school is made whole, so every school comes out ahead with more resources than last year.
With this innovative budget, school districts can focus resources on increased school breakfast and lunch programs, after-school tutoring, expanded career and tech education, new textbooks, transportation options, and other needs. Communities across our state are unique. What works for schools in Lapeer County may be different for schools on the west side of the state or in the U.P. This new flexibility with funding will deliver better, tailored results for districts, students and parents while emphasizing local input.
The plan also dedicates more than $300 million to two key priorities: improving student-to-teacher ratios and providing targeted reading support for struggling students — both of which continue to affect Michigan’s education rankings compared to other states.
Passing this plan is essential to give school districts greater certainty as they prepare their budgets for the upcoming year. Every child in Michigan deserves the support and opportunity to succeed, and this investment helps ensure students have the tools they need to build a strong future.

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