Published: March 28, 2008 09:55 am         

Hopes riding on school funding proposal

TRAVERSE CITY -- Local educators say recent Senate approval of a state school funding proposal could mean additional money for classrooms next year.

Extra dollars generated through state equity payments in the last year have helped fund all-day, every-day kindergarten programs at two Traverse City Area Public Schools elementary schools. Two more are set to open next year.

"I think we're going to have a real successful year," said Paul Soma, TCAPS' chief financial officer. "We've really developed a network of people to respond when attempts are made to move away from helping the lowest-funded districts first."

On Wednesday, the Senate passed an alternative to Gov. Jennifer Granholm's fiscal 2009 budget that would raise all districts' per-student allowance by $71.

The lowest-funded school systems, including TCAPS, would receive an extra $71 in equity payments.

It now goes to the House, though that body is adjourned until April 8.

The 36-2 tally from the full Senate chamber shows overwhelming support in favor of the proposal, but first it had to dodge amendments that would have added more money now to the foundation grant and less to equity.

In the end, "We were able to develop a bipartisan coalition," said Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City. "There was a lot of discussion in caucus, there was a lot of discussion on the floor. It was a team effort."

The disparity between school systems results from Proposal A in 1994, which sought to close the funding gap. But some districts can collect additional dollars from local millages and a provision in the State Aid Act.

Legislators granted up to $48 in equity to low-funded school districts across Michigan for this school year.

Although the agreement to continue writing equity into funding legislation is admirable, it is not moving quickly enough, said Kristie Bach, vice president of local advocacy group Citizens for Equity and a teacher at West Senior High.

At this rate, "it's going to take us over 60 years to achieve equity," Bach said. "What I would like to see happen is the House come back with a much larger equity payment."