Granholm Set to Propose Increase in Pupil Funding
Andrew Norton
School districts could get at least $7,075 per student in the 2006-2007 school year under Governor Granholm's budget proposal. Currently districts get at least $6,875 per student so if the funding is approved the schools would see a $200 increase. $25 of that would be added in for the current school year with the remaining $175 to be added to the funding for the next school year. This is good news for school districts that are struggling to pay increased fuel for busses, increased heating costs, and the rising cost of health care. There is bad news with the increased funding. The reason why there are extra funds available is because statewide enrollment is continuing to decline. Our state is "losing families that are moving out of Michigan" according to Ari Adler, spokesman for Republican Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema.
Greg Bird, Budget spokesman, disputes that statment and blames "declining birth rates" as the real reason for the decline in enrollment.
Read the full article - Granholm to propose higher per-pupil spending - 02/08/06 - The Detroit News