RCAS board opposes state aid transfer

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

Rogers City Area Schools? board members unanimously approved a resolution opposing the transfer of school aid funds (SAF) to higher education. Gov. Rick Snyder?s budget proposal of February calls for the use of $960 million from the school aid fund to go towards support for community colleges and other institutions of higher learning. ?Clearly, there was a promise made back in 1994 with Proposal A, the school aid fund was developed for K-12 education,? said superintendent Jamie Huber at Monday?s meeting.

Snyder?s budget proposal would bring

a 10 percent cut, ?or just over $540,000 that we would have to take from our district, and educating our students. It would be absolutely devastating, so this is one formal action the board can take to publicize our objections,? added Huber. THE MICHIGAN Association of School Boards supports the resolution. Superintendents and administrators say when Michigan voters approved Proposal A in 1994, eliminating the ability of school districts to seek operating funds from constituents and shifted that responsibility to the state through an increase in the sales tax, they thought they were dedicating revenue for K-12.

Board member Don Kromer read the entire resolution prior to the vote. ?This hits the nail right on the head,? said president Mike Marx of the resolution. ?The money is there.? Huber said there is a campaign a foot that the SAF is in deficit. ?If (SAF) is left alone, and this transfer wasn?t proposed, there?s enough money in the SAF to allow for a $260 increase in per pupil funding throughout the state.? (A complete version of this story appeared in the April 14, 2011 edition of the Advance)