CV Trustees Call Out Snyder's 'Criminal' Actions Toward School Aid

Members of the Chippewa Valley Board of Education had a few choice words for Gov. Rick Snyder Monday night, as discussion turned once again to Lansing's handling of the state's .

Expressing frustration, disappointment and anger, trustees spoke out against what they view as an almost deliberate attempt by Snyder to destroy Michigan's public education system.

"I find it appalling and criminal that he’s making the cuts he’s making to our children’s education while there’s a surplus in that School Aid Fund that was set up by Proposal A," said Trustee George Sobah. "He’s just raiding it to do other things with it. I think it's criminal and hope there is some kind of a joint action that comes through and stops him before he destroys public education in Michigan. He seems like he’s on a course and has his mind made up to do that."

Sobah's comments, and those made by other trustees, were sparked by interim Superintendent Ron Roberts' report from Monday's Revenue Estimating Conference in the state House.

According to the consensus reached Monday by State Treasurer Andy Dillon, Senate Fiscal Agency Director Ellen Jeffries, and House Fiscal Agency Director Mitchell E. Bean, the School Aid Fund for the current fiscal year is up by $132 million and the general fund up by $296 million.

Predictions for the 2011-12 fiscal year show the School Aid Fund up $142 million and the general fund up $357 million.

"For people concerned about our district and the future of our state, now is the time to continue to contact your senators and House reps to encourage that they make this fund, this money, available to our schools," Roberts said. "It is there. There's no excuse not to allocate it."

Trustee Euel Kinsey shared Roberts' thoughts and expressed his own frustration that the "governor is willing to break the promise concerning Proposal A."

"They want to divert funds up to $900 million from the school fund, which was supposed to be designated to fund our primary schools, and I would hope there would be some action taken if the governor signs this law to challenge the constitutionality of that move," Kinsey said. 

Kinsey added his wish for the public to understand that while colleges and universities can raise their tuition to make ends meet, public school systems like Chippewa Valley do not have that luxury.

"We all have an obligation to make sure the public understands that our hands are tied when it comes to increasing revenue," he said. "We can’t find the money and if the governor chooses to pursue this action and the legislature follows him, I hope that there is some sort of joint action taken … to challenge that move.

"I find it offensive, because (Proposal A) was the promise and now we’re so tied to the state for our revenue, and we’re so at their mercy. I don’t think the legislature understands the chaos they have created out there and if they do, then what’s frightening is, they don’t care."

Sobah went one step further in his thoughts, speaking out against not only the governor's treatment of the School Aid Fund, but of the districts and teachers tied to it.

"I don’t know exactly when this governor decided to villainize public employees, especially teachers, and go out on a mission to bust unions and take local control away from school districts," he said. "The charter schools in the state receive more money than Chippewa Valley, and that’s ridiculous."

The district faces a $16 million general fund operating deficit for the next school year under the governor's current plan. Chippewa Valley Schools has already in the first of what will likely be a series of cost-saving measures.