A letter-writing campaign asking for fair funding for schools wrapped up last week.
Lake Orion School District officials had been asking parents to send letters to Michigan’s governor, Jennifer Granholm, telling her how they feel about the current status of state funding.
Scripps Middle School’s principal, Ken Gutman, personally delivered over a 120 letters to Lansing on Jan. 21.
School board members are also expected to send some type of resolution to the state capitol asking for stability in school funding.
‘Over 300 school districts have passed some type of resolution,? LO School Superintendent Dr. Craig Younkman said.
School officials fear next year’s funding for the 2005-06 looks worse than this year’s. Because of retirement costs for health and pensions, the state could increase costs to schools by approximately $100 per pupil.
Younkman fears if this increase takes place, Lake Orion will have to cut millions of additional dollars from its budget. No increase in school funding is expected for 2006.
We’ve cut $8 million over the past three years,? he said. ‘Cutting millions of additional dollars from our budget would lead to higher class sizes, higher local fees and the elimination of many needed programs.?
So far, school officials have cut Spanish in the elementary schools, music programs in the elementary schools and custodial services throughout the district.