Education Funding Shenanigans

Just to be clear about the nastiness of the political climate relative to schools... our esteemed (note the sarcasm) legislature, both houses, support two notions:

1. Public money should go to private schools
2. Schools should be punished for bringing lawsuits against the state (win or lose)

As to the first, why would the state reimburse private schools for complying with health and safety mandates promulgated by... the state? Aside from not conforming with the state constitution, are tax dollars going to cover an up-to-code electrical system at Our Lady of Whatever? HVAC upgrades at the school, which is in the same building as the sanctuary? Handicap-compliant parking spaces and exterior ramps, be they curb cuts or entrance/egress modifications?

Beside being illegal, it's a not-even-clever attempt to open a door. I'm shocked they didn't attach an expenditure to the bill to make it referendum-proof.

As to the second, I'm not sure but I think I'm missing nothing here. If a school sues the state, they are penalized. Mind you, it doesn't say "unsuccessfully", which to me might make sense. Might. But the right to address grievances is pretty well established, yes? An entity or individual may ask the courts to decide on matters, right? 

This one is just plain meanness. "Don't even think of suing us," is the message. "You will pay," 

This is the stuff of totalitarianism.

(source: http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/06/whats_included_in_states_k-12.html)

Private school funding/school lawsuits

The House and Senate once again included $2.5 million to reimburse nonpublic schools for the cost of complying with state health and safety mandates. Snyder did not include the funding in his budget request.

The funding, included in the current year’s budget, has drawn scrutiny from associations representing public schools. They argue such funding is clearly prohibited by the Michigan constitution. The groups are currently suing the state over the inclusion of the funding in the budget.

Jennifer Smith, director of government relations for the Michigan Association of School Boards, said she expects her association to ask Snyder to veto the $2.5 million appropriation. She argues the state should wait for the court case to be resolved before again approving the funding.

The case was brought by MASB as well as other groups.

“Let the court case play its way out,” she said. “We would rather see it go that way.”

The provision also sets aside $250,000 in grants that nonpublic schools could compete for to fund programs in first robotics and science olympiad.

In addition, the budget includes a clause penalizing school districts that sue the state. The penalty would equal the amount of state funding the district uses to finance the lawsuit.

Smith said she objects to the provision. She says lawsuits provide an important way for districts to address what they believe are improper steps by the state, and it could be difficult for schools to prove whether they used state or local funding to financing their legal action.