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Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
House Dems release school aid budget plans as GOP tees up surprise appropriations meeting
State Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) leads a press conference with fellow House Democrats on June 10, 2025 to discuss their education budget plan. | Screenshot Michigan House appropriators responsible for the state's school aid fund will meet early Wednesday morning for a meeting announced late Tuesday afternoon – which could signal some progress on the Republican-controlled chamber's side of the budget. Meanwhile, House Democrats on Tuesday afternoon held a news conference unveiling their plans for the school aid budget to fund Michigan's public schools. The move was billed as action in light of inaction from their Republican counterparts. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid and Department of Education, chaired by Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw Township), released a committee notice for its Wednesday morning meeting at around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, which one Michigan Capitol news reporter noted landed about 30 minutes before House Democrats introduced their plan. The notice has no agenda items listed for the meeting scheduled at 8:40 a.m. Although Democrats do not control the appropriations process in the House, that didn't stop the caucus from unveiling its plans for the school aid fund on Tuesday. The plan would continue to fund ongoing investment priorities, like universal school meals, special education, funding for at-risk students, mental health and school safety and school district transportation costs. The Great Start Readiness program would be a priority, as well as funding for isolated or rural school districts, bilingual education, career and technical education and Early On programming. A per-pupil funding increase would also be a part of any Democratic school funding plan advanced to their Republican colleagues. State Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) said reports of Michigan's struggling students and schools means that the state, now more than ever, needs a clear and sustained plan for public education. 'Not only are we proposing a $24 billion top-line proposal funding school aid, but we are also increasing the per-pupil allotment to $11,500,' Farhat said Tuesday. 'We're calling on our Republican colleagues to also join us in codifying the categoricals that mean most to our districts. That means at-risk funding, that means school lunch, and that means the hard-fought wins we delivered for parents and teachers over the last two years.' Aside from the per-pupil funding, Farhat said Democrats are proposing $500 million in classroom size reduction efforts, $300 million for literacy interventions, another $300 million for mental health and over $1 billion in school infrastructure grants. Farhat said Democrats' plan would prioritize those items all without raiding school lunches or at risk funding. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Declining enrollment is contributing to West Michigan school closings
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) — West Michigan school districts are beginning to consolidate and close schools as student enrollment declines. This week, Grand Haven Public Schools became the latest local district to announce consolidation of its elementary schools and updates to their early childhood programming in the face of declining enrollment and future enrollment projections. Parents in Grand Haven at a contentious meeting Monday night, calling for more transparency from the district on its decision process and the data behind it. Elementary school in Grand Haven to become early learning center 'Why is my daughter's chance of having a nature-based curriculum in this great area being ripped away from her for students that don't even exist yet?' one parent said. Kristin Perkowski, superintendent of Grand Haven Area Public Schools, emphasized this was a financial decision largely motivated by a decade of declining enrollment and a five-year projection of another 650 lost students. 'If we do nothing. We will not be able to keep our doors open in two years. That's the current state with 10 years of loss in students,' she said. It isn't just a Grand Haven problem. Statewide, enrollment for K-12 has fallen by more than 100,000 students since 2015, and more than 10,000 since 2020. Enrollment decline: GRPS numbers dropped 26% since 2008 News 8 spoke with the consulting firm that Grand Haven and most districts in Michigan use to crunch their future enrollment projections. 'I know what the enrollment is for every single school district in the state going backwards for this year going back 15 years,' Frederick Ignatovich of StanFred Consultants explained. 'I also know it for 30 years, 35 years, 40 years. We have been at this a long time.' StanFred Consulting has managed the state's enrollment database and made statewide projections since 1975, when Ignatovich met his late co-founder while the two taught at Michigan State University. Since, they have been hired by countless school districts to do the same at a local level. They use a few major data points: Resident births per year for the area they are analyzing, the number of new kindergartners that show up for class each fall and the number of students lost year-to-year. Higher education enrollment dropping in Michigan 'We can see the relationship between birth and kindergarten and we can see what happens as a kindergarten class progresses through the system.' Ignatovich told us that in 1957 there were 207,000 births in Michigan. This year's projection is for less than 100,000. Local districts are hoping to curb some of that projected loss by attracting future students with robust Great Start Readiness and preschool programs. 'I do know the anecdotal information is if they come to a district for that program, then there is every likelihood they will stay for kindergarten,' Ignatovich added. There are other factors that they have noted that keep people in a school district, including available and affordable housing, robust and consistent job markets and public amenities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Elementary school in Grand Haven to become early learning center
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) — As district leaders anticipate declines in enrollment, an elementary school in Grand Haven is set to be repurposed. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, Mary A. White Elementary will become an early learning center with a special focus on nature-based programs, Grand Haven Area Public Schools announced Thursday. The center is expected to house the district's Preschool Development, Great Start Readiness, Young Fives and Early Childhood Special Education programs. The change is part of a building transition plan 'aimed at enhancing early childhood education while optimizing district facilities to meet the evolving needs of the Grand Haven community,' GHAPS said. Over the next five years, the district is anticipating an enrollment decline of about 650 students. Meanwhile, the students who attend Mary A. White Elementary will instead be sent to different elementary schools in the district. Those who live west of Beacon Boulevard will attend Rosy Mound Elementary; those who live on the north side of River Haven will attend Peach Plains Elementary; and those who live on the south side of River Haven will attend Robinson Elementary. 'While we recognize that transitions like this can be difficult for our families, this decision reflects our commitment to providing the best possible learning experiences for our students,' said Superintendent Kristin Perkowski in a statement. 'By enhancing our early childhood programs and optimizing our facilities, we are positioning our district for future success, ensuring that we can continue to offer a high-quality education for generations to come.' GHAPS will hold an information session for parents at 6 p.m. Monday in the Mary A. White Elementary gym. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
