Northwest Wayne News

Paula Herbart, president of the Michigan Education Association (MEA), praised Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) for signing a bipartisan education budget.

The budget is focused on investing half a billion dollars in school safety and infrastructure, mental health resources, and teacher recruitment, according to a press release from the governor's office. It includes the highest per-pupil funding in Michigan history, with $9,150 allocated for each public school student. 

"On behalf of MEA's 120,000 members from across the state, we would like to thank Gov. Whitmer for listening to the voices of educators and taking our expertise to heart in developing this transformative education budget," Herbart, a veteran teacher from Macomb County, said in the press release. "The governor's new budget will help address serious challenges in our local schools, including the educator shortage, student mental health, and post-pandemic learning support. Every child deserves a quality education and an opportunity for success, and the governor's budget will go a long way toward achieving that vital goal."

The new education budget is expected to enable schools to offer more personalized instruction, the press release noted. The funding will also increase support for special education and at-risk students, expand after-school programs, provide access to evidence-based mental health care, hire additional on-campus school resource officers, build or renovate school infrastructure, and attract 2,500 future Michigan educators each year.

"Every kid in every district deserves to feel safe and supported in school, and I am proud today to sign a historic, bipartisan education budget that will make game-changing investments to improve every student's in-class experience," Whitmer said in the press release. "The budget ... [will] help schools buy new textbooks ... and bolster AP and honors classes. It also bolsters ... career and technical education ... 

"Finally, to improve the on-campus experience, the budget invests a quarter of a billion dollars in school infrastructure to build or renovate everything from classrooms, computer labs, and libraries, and significantly expands teacher recruitment programs so we attract and train thousands of educators every year. This budget is proof of what is possible when we put our students first and stay focused on getting things done."

Jason Messenger, principal of Portage West Middle School and president of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals Board of Directors, said the school funding will help students reach their potential.

"This year's budget is going to pay huge dividends for our students now and into the future,” he said in the press release. "... [We will] ensure that students are safe and supported at school so they can reach their potential. The funding for new teacher recruitment is an important step in building back our educator workforce so all Michigan students have access to the education professionals who support their learning. Thank you to Gov. Whitmer and the legislature for passing a historic budget that invests in all students."