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October 4, 2005Approaches differ on school fundingTCAPS, K-16 Coalition take a look at solutionByRecord-Eagle staff writer LELAND - School leaders in Leland and Traverse City are taking different tacks on a statewide petition to boost education funding, but they agree the system needs fixing. "Any conversation to do with school financing could result in a positive outcome for schools," Leland superintendent Michael Hartigan said about the legislative initiative petition launched by the K-16 Coalition for Michigan's Future, a statewide group of education organizations. Hartigan is spearheading local efforts to gather petition signatures. TCAPS solidly opposes the proposal, citing concerns about funding equity - concerns Hartigan shares. "I agree that the biggest problem is in the equity of school funding. But it's the only game in town," he said. "Hopefully it will lead to somewhere beyond what their current plan is now." The K-16 Coalition initiative would guarantee annual funding increases equal to inflation, cap districts' retirement contributions and use a three-year rolling average for enrollment counts. It also aims to slim the gap between lowest-spending and highest-spending districts by $300 between 2007 and 2012. Paul Soma, TCAPS' chief financial officer, said that's not nearly enough. "I would be afraid to put more funding in the pot right now, until we can figure out a way that equity is the goal of that funding," he said. TCAPS received $6,700 per pupil from the state last year, and Leland received $7,728 per student. Bloomfield Hills, one of the highest-funded districts, received $11,954 per student. The TCAPS board unanimously approved a resolution opposing the K-16 Coalition proposal. Leland board members did not adopt a position but granted Hartigan permission to circulate petitions. K-16 Coalition spokesman Ken MacGregor said TCAPS is the only district he is aware of that publicly opposes the measure. If the K-16 Coalition gathers the required 254,706 registered voter signatures, the state House and Senate have 40 days to act on the proposal. If they don't act on the plan or reject it, voters will decide it on the November 2006 ballot. Legislators cannot amend the initiative, and it is not subject to the governor's signature or veto. The petition initiative follows Senate Bill 246, which called for similar changes but never came before legislators for a vote.
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