Pamela Pugh, President of the Michigan State Board of Education, lauds the benefits that will soon be realized by six Michigan school districts with $114M in debt relief from the state while also supporting Michigan’s state superintendent of public instruction to explore expansion of this gravely needed relief to Flint Community Schools.
“The fiscal challenge facing Flint Community Schools (FCS) demands immediate and decisive action. As FCS stares down a daunting operational deficit in the upcoming fiscal year, coupled with the imminent depletion of ESSER funds, we are on the brink of a full-blown financial emergency. This is not merely a budgetary shortfall; it’s a looming catastrophe that threatens the educational future of our children,” states Pugh.
Pugh is imploring Governor Gretchen Whitmer and state legislators to include substantial debt relief for Flint Community Schools in the next state budget adding, “This is not just a plea for assistance; it’s a call to fulfill our moral obligation to the students and families of Flint who rely on us to safeguard their educational futures.
The legislation signed into law in December by Governor Whitmer provides debt relief to four existing and two former Michigan school districts. Flint Community School officials point to the debt relief in the recently passed budget supplemental as a direly needed state intervention for their district to address a system that has failed to properly fund education in their district in addition to these six districts that have all been both economically and academically challenged.
“Flint Community Schools’ proportion of children with special needs far exceeds that of the state. Therefore, our district, similarly, needs urgent debt relief to protect and enhance the education of our children. We’ve seen the positive impact this relief can have, and it’s time Flint received the same level of support,” asserts Michael Clack, President of Flint Community Schools.
Kevelin B. Jones, II, Superintendent of Flint Community Schools, highlights the fiscal urgency, stating, “Our district’s need for emergency debt relief is a matter of state responsibility and commitment to educational equity. Providing this support to Flint Community Schools is essential, not only for our immediate financial stability but also for enabling us to deliver the high-quality education our students need and deserve. It’s a critical step to ensure the long-term viability and success of our educational system.”
Dr. Michael Rice, state superintendent of public instruction, strongly advocated for the debt relief for districts across this state as a means of providing necessary resources for students in classrooms while also helping to lower taxes in communities. Dr. Rice continues to express the critical need for Flint Community Schools to be included in such relief.
