- Use Your Voice – Support Reinvesting MPSERS Savings Into the Classroom
- House Education Committee Begins Hearing on Dyslexia
- Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Approves Stop Arm Camera Changes
Use Your Voice – Support Reinvesting MPSERS Savings Into the Classroom
As we’ve reported, MASB has been pushing for the money saved by the school employees’ retirement system healthcare benefit unfunded liabilities being paid off and fully funded to be reinvested in MPSERS to lower the rate that districts have to pay into the system for the unfunded liabilities.
MASB and 12 other education organizations are asking for a full 7% reduction in the rate which reflects the amount that is paid into the unfunded liabilities portion of healthcare benefits in MPSERS. This reduction, from 20.96% to 13.96%, would create significant cost savings, an average of $450 per pupil, for Michigan’s public schools without harming the MPSERS system. This financial relief is crucial, especially now that federal ESSER funds are expiring. The savings generated would guarantee the continuity of programs and services for our students and support for our staff.
Earlier this week we sent out an action alert asking you to contact your legislators and tell them to use the $670 million to invest back into the MPSERS system. Your advocacy is crucial as the budgets head into final discussions. Please contact your legislators and explain the benefits this rate cut would have for our students and staff.
House Education Committee Begins Hearing on Dyslexia
On Tuesday, the House Education Committee began testimony on Senate Bills 567 and 568 . These bills would require dyslexia screening as part of state-approved reading assessments (SB 567) and require teacher preparation programs to include instruction on identifying and addressing dyslexia in students (SB 568).
MASB strongly believes in identifying any students with signs of dyslexia along with any other reading disabilities but continues to have concerns with the prescriptive nature of this legislation. New requirements would increase work for our already overburdened and understaffed teachers. Additionally, the bill may also unintentionally limit access to services for those who have other reading disabilities not related to dyslexia.
Those giving testimony in support of SB 567 and SB 568 included Senators Irwin and Polehanki as bill sponsors and Dr. Sheryl Kennedy and Dr. Sue Carnell of MDE. Two students with dyslexia also testified. The committee heard concerns and opposition from Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency, Amy Conway and Scott Wagner from Gibraltar School District, Eric Hoppstock from Berrien Regional Educational Service Agency, and John Severson from the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators.
Testimony on the bills is expected to continue.
Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Approves Stop Arm Camera Changes
The Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved House Bills 4928-4930, which amend the law allowing stop-arm camera systems on school buses. The bills would increase fines and redirect potential revenue from tickets for passing a stopped school bus from libraries to schools. This fits the business model of one particular vendor, who then encourages the revenue from these fines to be used to pay for the camera system.
The committee had said changes would be made to the bills, but the substitutes that were adopted only removed the fee increase. Therefore, MASB remains opposed to the bills due to the revenue structure which shifts fines from libraries to schools. This does not create consistent revenue to cover the costs of the equipment, nor should it be taken from our libraries. Also, current law already allows a school to install and operate a stop-arm camera system or enter into a contract with a private vendor to do it. Therefore, we believe these bills are unnecessary and may make changes that limit the available vendors.
The bills are now before the full Senate for consideration.