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Trustee previews 'Invest in Michigan Kids' amendment; board to discuss at work session
Summary
Trustee Gavin introduced a resolution asking the board to endorse a proposed state constitutional amendment that would impose a 5% surcharge on very high incomes to fund K–12 priorities; the board will review the full resolution at a forthcoming work session.
Trustee Gavin presented a proposed resolution Sept. 9 asking the Benton Harbor board to consider endorsing the 'Invest in Michigan Kids' constitutional amendment. Gavin said the measure would impose a 5% surcharge on annual taxable income above $1 million for joint filers and above $500,000 for single filers and direct revenue toward career and technical education, reducing class sizes and recruiting and retaining educators statewide.
Gavin told the board she and other advocates described the state funding shortfall—"Michigan public schools are underfunded by $4.5 billion," she said—and urged board consideration and possible endorsement at an upcoming work session. President Robinson said the board would reserve action and scheduled fuller discussion for the work session so members could review the resolution language and linked data in the agenda packet.
No formal endorsement vote occurred at the Sept. 9 meeting. Trustees agreed to read the resolution and discuss it further in the work session; the superintendent and trustees said they will bring additional information to that meeting.
