ISSUES & ADVOCACY
We Must Advocate and We are Not Alone Amid critical educator shortages, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is focused on delivering support and resources in her proposed education budget for next fiscal year with plans to use ongoing state revenue increases to shore up public schools as they respond to ongoing effects of the pandemic. In contrast, Republican leaders in the House and Senate issued budget proposals focused on massive tax cuts, especially for corporations and the wealthy—which would force deep cuts in education. In addition, as school absences and closures peaked this winter from COVID and school safety threats—with staffing shortages straining educators and administrators alike—MEA members have answered our calls to action and contacted lawmakers to seek remedies and solutions. But some politicians are more interested in driving wedges between parents and educators— holding hearings on divisive political measures such as a resolution that declares “radical politics have permeated public school curricula, resulting in education that amounts to political indoctrination.” Education will be forefront in this year’s election. We must stay active—but we are not alone. For hope and connection, read these voices of MEA partners in the movement to strengthen public education.
Molly Sweeney 482Forward DETROIT BELIEFS ► The young people of Michigan deserve to have fully funded schools and curricula that teach the hard truths about our country. They deserve to have fully staffed schools, adequate mental health supports, and educators that are well paid and supported. We can’t let billionaires like Betsy Devos continue to defund our schools and play politics with our students and educators. DRIVE ► Equitable and accessible funding is central to our organizing this year. Our schools are $4 billion underfunded and this leads to inadequate conditions for teachers, lack of mental health (the ratio of counselors to students in Michigan is 1-617), crumbling school buildings, and under-resourced schools. ACTIONS ► 482Forward and the Michigan Education Justice Coalition consider ourselves the people power that will contest billionaires like Betsy Devos with actions: ◼ Educating parents, students, and educators on how to run for school board ◼ Training and supporting community organizing efforts to build movements for education justice, host school board candidate forums, and have a say in how federal COVID relief money is spent. ◼ Supporting youth to host a statewide Gubernatorial town hall on education justice. ◼ Building legislation to address the special education and school facility funding crisis for 2023 and creating an education revenue ballot initiative for funding in 2024. ◼ Supporting youth leaders to fight for more than $100 million in mental health funding for counselors, school psychologists in the 2022 budget.
16 APR–MAY 2022
