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Four-Day School
Week Moves
MIRS, June 10, 2003
Today the House, on a bipartisan 61-49 vote, passed SB 365,
which would remove the requirement that schools provide a
minimum of 180 days of pupil instruction, or forfeit a
percentage of their State aid allocation; and delete the
provision that at least 75 percent of a district’s membership
must be in attendance on any day of pupil instruction, or the
district will forfeit a percentage of its State aid.
Districts still would have to provide a minimum number of 1,098
hours of pupil instruction.
Also, the bill would permit the first 15 instructional hours
lost due to circumstances out of control of a district, such as
severe storms, fires, epidemics, or health conditions, to be
counted toward the 1,098-hour requirement. This would replace
the current two “snow days” for which the Act provides.
Under the bill, each school district individually would
determine the number of days necessary to complete a school
year, providing at least 1,098 hours of pupil instruction. This
would allow school districts to operate on a four-day school
week if they so chose. There could be substantial savings to a
school district that completed its school year in less than 180
days.
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Election Consolidation Issue Coming Up -
Taking Aim at School District Elections
MIRS, June 10, 2003
The House is poised to take up election consolidation
legislation, and there are signs that it could move on a
bipartisan basis this time around.
A press conference has been scheduled for Wednesday morning
where an election consolidation package will be announced by
Secretary of State Terri Lynn LAND, Senate Majority Floor Leader
Bev. HAMMERSTROM (R-Temperance) and Chairman of the House Local
Government & Urban Policy Committee Chris WARD (R-Brighton).
Election consolidation would mean allowing elections to be held
only on regular preset dates throughout the year, and taking the
responsibility for conducting school district elections away
from schools officials and giving it to local governmental
clerks.
A major argument for election consolidation has been that it
would do away with so-called stealth elections that school
districts allegedly call for at times when voters are less
likely to be aware that an election is taking place, or the
practice of repeatedly going back to the voters with the same
request until it is passed.
Other arguments for election consolidation include assertions
that it would save money and increase voter turnout. However,
opponents of the idea claim it would actually result in a more
costly election process and erode local control.
MIRS has learned that the package is expected to be brought up
next week in the House Local Government & Urban Policy
Committee, and fast-tracked with the objective of having it
adopted by the full House and sent to the Senate before the
summer recess.
Hammerstrom introduced election consolidation legislation last
session, which was passed by the Senate but stalled in the House
when the slimmer Republican majority failed to reach agreement
on the issue. Sources tell MIRS the legislation to be unveiled
Wednesday will be very similar to that legislation.
That legislation would have done the following:
- Remove from school districts the power to administer and
operate elections, and require that school elections be
conducted by local units of government.
- Require school elections and local elections generally to be
held in November of an odd-numbered year, unless a school
district chooses to hold its regular election in May of an
odd-numbered year; and restrict all elections to four specified
dates per year (except for a special election called by the
Governor or the Legislature).
- Allow a school district to use general operating funds to
reimburse local units for school election costs.
- Require a school district and an intermediate school district
(ISD) to include an estimate of the cost of repaying bonds, when
submitting a bond question to the electors.
- Place in the Michigan Election Law provisions for calling,
administering, and canvassing school elections, and require a
"school district election coordinator" for a school district to
conduct all regular and special school elections.
However, this time around, its expected that two bills from the
package will be sponsored by Democratic Reps. Ruth Ann JAMNICK
(D-Ypsilanti) and Rich BROWN (D-Bessemer).
Today, Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM fielded questions from the Capitol
press corps on a variety of topics, and the first question asked
was her position on election consolidation.
“We haven’t taken a public position on that,” Granholm said.
Later when she was pressed on the subject and asked if she’s
sitting on the fence, she simply acknowledged that she is.
“I’m sitting on the fence,” the Governor responded.
However, House Democratic Leader Dianne BYRUM (D-Onondaga)
appeared to be open to the possibility of bipartisan support for
the legislation, if it were carefully crafted.
“You know, this didn’t pass last year due to controversy on both
sides of the aisle,” Byrum said. “In fact, the package last year
probably would have passed if it had had the (optional) fifth
election date, or the so-called floater date.”
Al SHORT, Director of Government Affairs for the Michigan
Education Association (MEA), said his group opposes election
consolidation. However, if passage of such legislation were
inevitable, the MEA would prefer that there be an optional fifth
(floater or wild card) election date.
“The schools are required to go to the voters sometimes,” Short
said. “But, I’m not aware of even one election law change being
requested by the schools. Instead, what we have here is the
Clerk’s Association deciding they want to come in and run the
school elections instead of the schools.”
Short said he believes the election consolidation issue is
unique, because it runs counter to the usual practice in state
government, which is that affected groups ask for a change in
the law, rather than an outside group.
Short also said that the whole idea of election consolidation is
also problematic because school districts are not contiguous
with county and township boundaries.
“For instance, there are two different school districts in the
precinct I vote in,” Short said.
When told that Byrum had indicated the potential for a
compromise may exist, Short said the MEA would prefer election
consolidation legislation that includes the fifth election date
to legislation that includes just four dates.
“In the Legislature it’s all about compromise,” Short said. “If
the votes are there for this, we’d rather it have the fifth,
so-called wild card date. But we don’t think the legislation is
needed in the first place.”
Nancy STANLEY, associate executive director of the Michigan
Association of School Administrators (MASA) told MIRS today that
MASA’s opposition to election consolidation has not changed.
MASA and other groups from within the state's education
community oppose election consolidation, arguing that it would
strip away local control.
Last year when the election consolidation issue was taken up
some polling in individual districts indicated that voters like
the idea on first blush. However, Ed SARPOLUS, vice president of
Lansing-based polling firm EPIC/MRA, said he believes voters are
generally ambivalent on the issue.
Sarpolus spoke to MIRS via telephone from Washington, D.C. where
he did not have access to past polling data.
“As I recall, our past surveys showed that voters really didn’t
care about that issue one way or the other,” Sarpolus said. “The
exception was voters who were strongly anti-tax. They strongly
favor election consideration.”
Rep. John PAPPAGEORGE (R-Troy) told MIRS today that he expects
to offer an alternative election reform package, as he did last
session.
The Pappageorge version last session featured six election days
every two years. These election days would consist of two
primaries, two general elections and two all-encompassing
"Education Day" elections.
The primaries and general elections would be broken down by
level of office. One primary and one general election would be
allowed every two years for offices from State Representative on
up to President or Governor. The other primary election would be
for candidates running for county office in lower offices.
Supreme Court races would be on the presidential or
gubernatorial ballot. All other judgeships would be on the
county commissioner and below ballot.
The "Education Day" election would be in June of each year and
include all education offices, including board of university
regents, State Board of Education, and posts on down to local
school board elections.
Bond issues, referendums, millage, and ballot initiatives for
all levels of government would have to be placed on one of these
six ballots.
Under the Pappageorge substitute, local governmental clerks
would be responsible for the August and November elections,
while local school boards would be responsible for the June
education elections, however, they could opt to have the local
clerk run the election.
The Pappageorge version would require a Constitutional amendment
to allow local officials to hold their elections in odd-numbered
years. This means the measure would not become law without
approval of the voters through a statewide ballot proposal.
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Granholm Hoping
to Create 'School Stabilization Fund'
MIRS, June 10, 2003
Today, Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM
reiterated her position on budget-related issues. She stated her
plan for a School Stabilization Fund (SSF) would be the best use
of what ever is left over from the $655 million (or maybe more)
in federal economic slowdown relief funds after immediate
budgetary needs are addressed.
Republicans want any remaining dollars placed into the state’s
Budget Stabilization (Rainy Day) Fund (BSF). It fact,
reportedly, the House Republican caucus has voted to make
getting this “discretionary” portion of the federal relief
dollars into the BSF a top priority.
In addition, Republicans favor using tobacco settlement dollars
to keep the Merit Scholarship program going at full speed.
Granholm had targeted the tobacco settlement dollars for health
care in the budget. When the Republican-controlled Legislature
switched the funding over for the Merit Scholarship program, it
increased the deficit on the health care portion of the budget.
Under this scenario, the health care deficit will likely be
filled by use of some of the federal relief funds.
Granholm, flanked by House Democratic Leader Dianne BYRUM
(D-Onondaga) and Lt. Gov. John CHERRY, fielded questions from
the Capitol Press Corps this afternoon after meeting with the
House Democratic caucus. But first, the Governor made a
statement.
“It is very important that the state be disciplined,” Granholm
said. “The money we’re receiving from the federal government is
to help us absorb the [economic] downturn. It is not to fund
ongoing programs. If we’re not disciplined, we’ll end up in the
same position next year as we are this year.”
Granholm’s message appeared to be in reference to the GOP’s
insistence on using tobacco settlement dollars to keep the Merit
program going.
In Granholm’s budget, she proposed slicing the scholarship award
to $500, from its traditional level of $2,500. However, last
week, House Democrats proposed keeping the $2,500 award level by
tapping into that $655 million relief funds but stretching
payments out over four years, rather than two.
“When I ask about priorities, and have to choose between health
care and a scholarship program that isn’t based on need, the
priority is health care,” Granholm said.
In addition, Granholm touted her SSF idea.
“Both Democrats and Republicans say their number one priority is
education,” Granholm said.
She also said the SSF should help the state keep a good bond
rating.
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MI House passes
$3.95 Billion Budget for Department of Human Services
MIRS, June 10, 2003
The Department of Human Services
budget bill cleared the House Appropriations Committee today
with minimal discussion. Other than two technical cleanup
amendments there were no amendments offered, something veteran
budget observers didn’t recall happening, if at all, in many,
many years.
The Committee unanimously adopted an overall $3.95 billion 2004
budget that is about $4.5 million above the administration’s
recommendation and the Senate-passed version of SB 283. The
General Fund portion is slightly below the Governor’s
recommendation and the Senate version but $12.74 million (1.1
percent) below the current year.
FIA Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Jerry KOOIMAN (R-Grand
Rapids) explained the major difference between the House and
Senate budget is in the area of Temporary Assistance to Needy
Families (TANF) funding.
The administration proposed taking $25.4 million of TANF money
to help fund a new Enhanced Child Care Fund. The House reduced
TANF money by $9.8 million but authorized an additional $4.5
million to fund a higher Family Independence Program caseload.
The House allocated $33.3 million for Enhanced Child Care Fund
Reimbursement for in-home services for children that is $700,000
above the Senate version but $16.7 million below what the
administration proposed.
As in many of the budgets, the House is adding $100 points of
difference with the Senate in general fund line items.
Included in the budget is a $512,000 increase for the Marriage
Initiative program; a $25,000 increase for the Fatherhood
program, both recommended for elimination by the administration,
and an increase in the child clothing allowance from $25 to $50
per child.
The House reduced funding for the Teen Parenting Counseling
program by 10 percent compared to the Senate’s 5 percent
reduction and recommended elimination by the administration.
In the area of Day Care Services, the House reduced the budget
by $4.4 million to no longer allow exceptions to the 100 hours
of care in a two week period; an increase of $35 million
increase to cover caseload adjustments; and a 10 percent
reduction in the Before-and After-School Program which the
administration had recommended eliminating.
The differences in House and Senate versions will now be worked
out in a joint committee.
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Granholm Signs New Laws Allowing Long-term
Care Insurance Option for Public School Employees and Requiring
New Teachers to Pass CPR and First Aid Course for Certification
MIRS, June 10, 2003
Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM signed into
law two acts affecting public schools: Public Acts 17and 18 of
2003.
Public Act 17 is HB 4285, sponsored by Rep. Stephen EHARDT
(R-Lexington), which allows public school employees to set aside
money for long-term care insurance.
Public Act 18 is HB 4038, sponsored by Rep. Sal ROCCA
(R-Sterling Heights). The measure would require new teachers to
pass a CPR and first aid course before becoming certified
starting July 1, 2004.
Under the bill, new teachers would have to hold valid
certification from the American Red Cross, the American Heart
Association, or a comparable Department of Education-approved
organization.
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Watkins Visits Rose Garden in NCLB Celebration
MIRS, June 10, 2003
State Superintendent Tom WATKINS participated in a Rose Garden
ceremony at the White House with about 25 other state
superintendents today, celebrating the progress of the federal
No Child Left Behind legislation.
The ceremony, attended by President George W. BUSH and Education
Secretary Rod PAIGE, was designed to recognize the efforts of
all 50 states in implementing the No Child Left Behind standards
into their respective education accountability systems.
“It was a positive experience,” Watkins said. “No matter what
you think of the law and it’s issues — and there are issues with
the law — the moral imperative that we leave no child behind is
worthy of celebration.”
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