Letter to the Editor: Michigan Education Reform Proposals Bad for Schools

Dear parents and community members,

I’m writing to you today to inform you of an extremely troubling development at our state capitol that threatens to end public education as we know it.

Right now, your legislator is considering a plan that creates a single, statewide school district that is accountable to a board, not elected by the people, but instead appointed by the governor.

Not only would this district not be governed by any local elections, it would operate without any oversight from the Michigan Department of Education - and your tax dollars would be sent to this new super-district without any approval from your elected representatives.

Under this plan, this new school district will be able to open schools anywhere it wants in the state, not just where there are failing schools. The bills even say that your home district must sell some of the buildings your community owns to this new district if it wants to operate a school there.

But the absolute worst part of the plan is that some of these schools will be managed by for-profit operators and even corporations, and only some of our state’s students will be allowed to attend some of these schools.

Please take action today to help stop this dangerous and reckless idea. Contact your legislators and tell them to oppose House Bills 6004 and 5923 and Senate Bill 1358.

To share you input on the reform package, contact Rep. Mark Ouimet at 1-855-627-5052 or markouimet@house.mi.gov and Sen. Randy Richardville at 517-373-3543.

Sincerely,

Mary Marshall

Dexter Community Schools