School and Road Funding Up $2.3 Billion; Teachers Union Head Says Michigan Not Taxed Enough michigancapitolconfidential.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from michigancapitolconfidential.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Credit steve carmody / Michigan Radio
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she wants to use federal COVID relief funds and a surprise increase in state tax revenue to invest more in public education in Michigan.
Whitmer’s proposes $1.7 billion in one-time funding and over $900 million for ongoing investment.
A key part of the governor’s plan is to spend $262 million to close the funding gap between lower and higher income communities.
Among other priorities, Whitmer wants school districts to hire and retain more educators, psychologists, social workers, counselors and nurses.
“We need to do more to make sure that we meet the academic recovery needs of our students.emotional needs, the physical needs,” Whitmer said during a news conference in Bay City.
Facing a crucial post-pandemic school year, Michigan leaders are exploring ways to bolster a dwindling teacher corps, from loan forgiveness programs to boosting starting pay.
To help fill the gap, the Michigan Department of Education sent emails in April to more than 30,000 former educators. Come back to the classroom, State Superintendent Michael Rice pleaded, and Michigan will waive the requirement of 150 hours of training to be recertified to teach in classrooms.
“To paraphrase an old Motown song,” Rice cajoled, “We want you back. We welcome you back.”
The response has been overwhelming. In three weeks, more than 1,200 former educators expressed interest the equivalent of about two teachers for every traditional public school district in the state.
While not all those former teachers are likely to end up back in classrooms, the program, called “Welcome Back Proud Michigan Educators,” is expected to help stave off a growing emergency in Michigan schools until longer-term efforts are developed to attract more teachers.
LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation marking May 3 - May 7 as Teacher Appreciation Week. "Teachers always.