Dear TK Community,
Recent events in Lansing have put students, schools and our state in extreme financial danger. Funding for schools and other essential services are being slashed and the legislature has failed for ten years to develop a plan that would provide a structural fix to the problem. There is a state-wide movement I’m part of that I want you to know about. It was organized recently with the intent to do something about this critical issue.
SOS! (Save Our Schools!) Was established by three professional organizations: MASA (Michigan Association of School Administrators), MASB (Michigan Association of School Boards) and MSBO (Michigan Association of School Business Officials) as a vehicle to assist school communities in dealing with the funding crisis, and create solutions from within the school community.
SOS is working on both short-term and long-term solutions to the school funding crisis:
In the short-term, they are working to reverse the recent cuts and demand that Lansing not balance the budget in a way that jeopardizes our children. Our kids deserve a better future than Lansing is offering. We urge you to continue communicating with your legislators to send the message: “No more broken promises! Restore the cuts.”
For the long-term, SOS is developing a proposal that will address the needs of schools and Michigan to provide a stable and equitable funding system. That will happen over the next few months. They will also work to develop an effective grassroots network of public education supporters within our communities who will help force needed change, and provide schools with the tools they need to communicate and manage this difficult situation.
There's much more planning that has taken place. For the moment, I wanted to keep this initial communication brief to let you know the urgency and importance of the crisis we are facing.
I will be keeping you informed about the funding crisis and SOS’s activities. Our students at TK along with those all over the state are in danger and we need to be in this together to be part of the solution.
Thank you,
Gary Rider
Superintendent
Thornapple Kellogg Schools