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Detroit school board endorses Invest in Michigan Kids ballot initiative
Summary
The Detroit Public Schools Community District board read and endorsed a resolution backing the Invest in Michigan Kids statewide ballot initiative, saying the measure would raise about $1 billion annually to reduce class sizes, expand CTE and recruit educators; the endorsement was read aloud and approved by the board during the Nov. 11 meeting.
The Board of Education of the Detroit Public Schools Community District on Nov. 11 read and endorsed a resolution backing the Invest in Michigan Kids statewide ballot initiative, a proposal that would levy a 5% surcharge on annual individual income above certain high-income thresholds to raise roughly $1 billion a year for Michigan public schools.
Vice Chair McClendon read the resolution to the board and public, citing research that Michigan schools are chronically underfunded and a state finance study estimating $4.5 billion is needed to bring districts to adequacy. The resolution lists priorities for new revenue including reducing class sizes, expanding career and technical education and recruiting and retaining educators.
Members of the Detroit Federation of Teachers and community groups addressed the board in public comment urging the endorsement; Tori Anderson Lloyd, a DPSCD educator, told the board that Detroit, as the state's largest district, should lead on equitable funding and asked members to "introduce the motion, vote yes, support the Invest in Michigan Kids initiative." Several community organizers and students from 482 Forward and other groups thanked the board for the endorsement and said they would continue collecting signatures for the ballot effort.
The board's public reading of the resolution was followed by a vote; the chair later noted the board had voted on the item earlier in the meeting. The resolution as read included background on estimated statewide need, a description of the proposed surcharge and enumerated uses for the funds. The board did not specify a timetable for additional action beyond the resolution read at the meeting.
Next steps: community groups in attendance urged the board to keep active outreach and to allow volunteers to educate parents and collect signatures on school campuses; the district and board members signaled continued partnership with community organizers on outreach.
Sources: Vice Chair McClendon (resolution reading); public comments from Detroit Federation of Teachers leadership and local organizers.
