Opinion | Education pork projects or fighting for scraps?

Michigan Education Justice Coalition read the recent article detailing school funding with alarm. While we agree on many points, such as the troubling lack of increase to the per-pupil funding, we believe that problems with education funding go much deeper.

For decades, Michigan schools have been severely underfunded, ranking in the bottom of the nation for growth for education funding. While we applaud the past two years of increased investments in schools, Michigan still has a long way to go. $4.5 billion in fact, according to the Education Law Center.

Instead of questioning investing in school buildings, we should question huge giveaways to private corporations. Our state budget needs to focus on closing tax loopholes, not playing whack-a-mole with school facilities or putting a band-aid on school funding. Funding to mental health in schools should be increased, not cut out of the state budget. Michigan is facing a population decline, which will only exacerbate education funding troubles. Although conventional thinking has resulted in doling out tax breaks and grants to big businesses, who is going to work in these shiny new company facilities when the surrounding schools are crumbling?

The truth is that grants like these wouldn’t be needed if our school districts received the money necessary to provide an adequate education. Since Proposal A changed the landscape of Michigan schools, districts have received no investment from the state for infrastructure or transportation, among other basic necessities. It’s no wonder that districts are clamoring for grants to fix a school roof or provide equitable access to athletic facilities. 

We need to have a serious conversation about equity in education. While the most disadvantaged districts clearly have a harder time raising taxes to support even basic school building maintenance, all districts are suffering from decades of disinvestment. One-off projects can help districts with the most dire needs, but all districts are fighting for scraps. If we truly value our children, we must prioritize their education.