Dearborn Educators to Snyder: 'No More Cuts'

At a Monday night rally held in opposition to Gov. Rick Snyder's proposed cuts to Michigan's education funding, Wayne County Commission Chair Gary Woronchak began the evening with a question: "Is anybody mad today?"

For the more than 100 parents, teachers, administrators, community members and politicians present at the rally at , the answer was a resounding "yes."

"Education is the strongest link,” in creating strong businesses and communities, said Rep. George Darany (D-Dearborn), who helped organize the rally.

“Weakening that link is the biggest mistake our state can make right now," he added. "If the governor is truly serious about making our state more business friendly–as he says he is–then he should be investing in creating a world-class workforce instead of taking away our schools’ ability to educate our students.”

“Apparently, the state thinks our kids are not worth educating, and the governor thinks our kids can be tossed aside," said a fired-up Darany. "Today, we're standing up and we're saying, 'No more.'"

Darany spoke alongside Commissioner Woronchak, Dearborn Public Schools Supt. Brian Whiston, Dearborn PTSA President Colette Dunsmore, Rep. David Nathan (D-Detroit) and Dearborn Federation of School Employees President Rodger Bartles. All came in an attempt to persuade teachers and parents to make their voices heard in Lansing through letters, phone calls and protests.

The general number coming out of Snyder's budget is a cut of $470 per pupil, but many school districts–including Dearborn–say the actual loss would be much higher when other factors are taken into account.

According to the district's numbers, Dearborn stands to lose more than $14 million in funding, including $8.7 million in per-student funding, $4.9 million in 31a at-risk funds and $435,000 in Section 41 bilingual education funding.

“(Gov. Snyder) has said he’s just cutting us $470 … the real number is around $1,200 (per pupil for Dearborn)," said Whiston at the rally. "I just want to have an honest conversation about what the cuts are, what the cost increases are and how it’s going to impact public schools."

The impact, said Whiston and other speakers, would include larger class sizes, outdated books and fewer computers in Dearborn Public Schools.

Parents of students in the district had a big presence at the rally, including Dunsmore, who described the proposed education cuts as detrimental to the state's future.

“If we don’t give our schools the resources they need to produce a top-notch workforce, Michigan will not be able to attract and support the businesses we need to keep and create good-paying jobs," Dunsmore said. "Michigan cannot afford that. We cannot afford to give up the next generation of Michigan workers.”

“I want … all of our kids and grandchildren to be able to stay right here in Michigan.”

The rally encouraged those who are opposed to the proposed education funding cuts to get involved through a website set up through Reps. Darany and Nathan called www.fightschoolcuts.com.

A protest in Lansing against education cuts is tentatively planned for April 4, although Whiston said that the Dearborn Federation of Teachers and PTSA were still planning on a district-wide showing of support in the near future.