Call To Action: Teachers Appeal to Parents as Cuts to Education Loom

Donning red tops and holding stacks of bright red leaflets, several members of the Bloomfield Hills Education Association braved the heat to make a visual and personal impression with parents outside elementary schools around the district Tuesday afternoon.

Already faced with steep cuts in state aid, the middle school and high school teachers also expressed concerns over potential changes to tenure rules and collective bargaining that Gov. Rick Snyder and some legislators are proposing.

The fliers contained several bulleted points alleging children, parents, businesses and entire communities will suffer under plans to shed staff, enlarge class sizes and limit programming. The district is already feeling the pinch, and filled a projected $6 million shortfall in the next year's budget with roughly $3.4 million in cost reductions and more than $3 million of reserves.

"We wanted to get the information out about where the money is going so that people understand what these cuts mean," said Danielle Harsh, a teacher and forensics coach at Andover High School. She joined a handful of Andover teachers who approached parents outside Lone Pine Elementary School or in their vehicles as they snaked through the parking lot for pickup.

The fliers also encouraged readers to contact their legislators and speak out against plans for roughly $1.8 billion in tax breaks to corporations.
The coordinated effort was part of the Michigan Education Association's statewide plan of action to make the elected officials accountable for their decisions.

Mary Blair, who teaches English and history at Andover, said she wanted to emphasize how cuts today can and will impact students in the district for years.

"We're not just talking about students now, but the long-term effect of these decisions," she said. "We're making cuts and increasing class sizes, and doing that over time you have to wonder what kind of student have we created?"

Many parents took the fliers and read them, others used them as fans while waiting in the sweltering heat outdoors for classes to dismiss. Many appeared to be receptive to the information and the teachers' plight, but also declined comment.

Rebecca Melamed, whose son attends Lone Pine, said she appreciated the information but thought an e-mail with the pertinent information would have been just as effective. She said she supported the teachers and that they could be effective if constituents respond in droves.

"I don't think it's a done deal and if they get enough people to write the governor maybe it will change something," she said.