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January 26, 2006ForumSchool funding disparate, unequalAs you may know, Traverse City Area Public Schools, as well as many surrounding districts, is experiencing major budget and financial challenges. State funding for many schools like TCAPS has not kept up with the rising costs associated with education.While most districts struggle to make ends meet, the wealthiest 55 schools in the state receive not only more per-pupil funding but also additional "20J" funds designed to further subsidize these schools - at the expense of our children. The promise of Proposal A was equity in school funding. Apparently, some children (and schools - most of which are in the southeast part of the state) are "more equal" than others. TCAPS will be experiencing severe financial challenges in the short term and perhaps long term. Our leadership at TCAPS has been aggressive and intelligent about pinching pennies for many years. That's the good news and the bad news. The good news is that TCAPS has a strong history of being financially responsible. The bad news is that because of these efforts, it is going to be difficult to find new ways to reduce spending without cutting valuable programs or staff members. All TCAPS employees will be working diligently to find efficiencies and cut back wherever possible. Remember, however, that TCAPS has already closed two elementary buildings and reconfigured one. And we already operate frugally. It is going to be a tough road ahead. Proposal A wasn't supposed to be just about property tax relief. Proposal A promised equity in school funding. Providing "20J" funds to the wealthiest schools in the state while other districts must cut student programs to balance their budgets is just plain wrong. I encourage you to write our representatives, letting them know that your child is being left behind when it comes to fair funding. TCAPS students - all Michigan students - are just as important as those students attending the wealthiest schools in the state. It is time for the state to live up to the promise of Proposal A and provide real equity in school funding. It is time for the state to "put its money where its mouth is" by providing fair funding to all students, no matter where they live. Write to: - Senator Michelle McManus, P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909-7536, (517) 373-1725, (517) 373-0741; (fax) senmmcmanus@senate.michigan.gov. - Senator Jason Allen, P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909-7536, (517) 373-2413, (517) 373-5144; senallen@senate.michigan.gov. - Rep. Howard Walker, S1388 House Office Bldg, P.O. Box 30014,Lansing, MI 48909-7514,(517) 373-1766,(517) 373-9420; howardwalker@house.mi.gov About the author Sander Scott is an elementary principal at Interlochen Community School. He has been a middle school principal in Kingsley and Oscoda, and a teacher and coach in Leland. His wife Shannon teachers a 3rd- and 4th-grade blended class in Leland (which also doesn't receive 20J funding), where their three children attend school. About the forum The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made. Please include biographical information and a photo.
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