By Dave Campbell, Superintendent of the Olivet Community Schools

While trying to resolve Michigan’s budget problem, each political party is seeking to please its own political base, leaving state policy makers struggling to agree on a common good for Michigan. If we do not significantly reform the educational system in Michigan, our children will pay twice. Once by having a poorer quality education due to massive budget cuts that are occurring in so many school districts, and then again by having to pay very high tax rates as adults for an unsustainably expensive system, if they stay in Michigan.

Republican leaders, you are right to fight for:
• Significant reform of the public employee (including legislators) pension/retiree benefit system. This generation in power is giving our children a $23 billion bill to pay for a public school employee pension system that needs true reform in order to make it sustainable. About 11% of all the money going into K-12 education goes into the retirement system (pensions and medical benefits for public school retirees). That amount is projected to increase to about 20% of all monies in about 15 years according to the non-partisan Citizen’s Research Council. Several bills are in the legislature to begin this overdue reform, but a more comprehensive study of public sector benefits needs to be conducted to begin the painful process of making these systems sustainable.
• Insurance reform. Quality medical insurance can be provided at a more affordable price than most school districts are paying. It is a national problem, but worse in Michigan due to several unique circumstances that can be corrected by legislative action.

Democratic leaders, you are right to fight for:
• Enhanced revenues (yes, raising the income tax and/or tax on some services). It is necessary that we invest in the people of Michigan by providing educational opportunities for our young people.
• Early Childhood Programs. This has proven to be the most effective way to combat poverty and students coming to school unprepared to learn.
• Re-training workers who are victims of Michigan’s lack of competitiveness in the global market. Without re-training, these people will flounder and may need to move out of state for work.
• More money for higher education. Recent tuition increases are making a college education much less accessible to middle and lower middle class families at a time when Michigan’s economy needs more highly trained workers.

George Washington warned us in his “Farewell Address” that if political parties are developed, they could harm the republic, as leaders may become more loyal to their party than to their nation. Both parties are comprised of good people who want what is best for Michigan. Both parties have very logical arguments, and both are right in many ways. It is now time for our policy makers to muster the courage to look their political base in the eye and support both revenue and reform legislation.

More information on these and other related topics can be found at thecenterformichigan.net.