Seaholm Highlander

As the dust was still settling from Governor Jennifer Granholm’s bombshell veto, the Birmingham Public Schools Board of Education was still trying to make sense of the move.

“What really upsets me is when I hear the haggling that’s going on in Lansing is that they are not considering the students,” said Board Trustee Geri Rinschler.

Granholm’s veto eliminated funding for 50 districts in Michigan under 20J. Birmingham is one of many districts that will be impacted by this loss.

“Governor Granholm had made comments continually about ‘this extra money’ when she talked about 20J,” said Board trustee Robert Lawrence. “It is not extra money, it is proposition A money. [Cutting 20J funds] makes no rational sense. It’s not fair and is not just.”

Board Secretary Michael Fenberg shared the view of many Board members that Granholm’s cut has created an unprecedented challenge. However, the Board agreed that while BPS might be negatively impacted by this loss, they will do anything in their power to stay positive and keep cuts away from the classroom.

“[Cutting education funding] is a state crisis,” Fenberg. “We as the district have to deal with it, but we do not have to take the same crisis mentality and use our students as pawns in this.”

State Representative Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham), who attended Tuesday’s meeting, slammed Granholm’s move.

“It’s important that this failure, this loss be laid directly at the door of the person that has done it and that is the Governor,” said Moss. “This represents a failure of leadership in the part of the Governor. I think it’s a cynical and irresponsible use of her powers.”

Moss felt that Granholm’s cuts were targeted towards wealthier Republican districts such as Birmingham.

“[Districts without 20J] they hear Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham, they don’t hear quality, all they hear is rich,” said Moss. “They’ve said go get that money, our kids are worth as much as theirs. Now my thought is when I hear conservative republicans talking like Fidel Castro on this issue, I know we have a problem.”

A majority of the blame, according to Moss, goes to Granholm.

“Jennifer Granholm has been a terrible Governor,” said Moss. “I hope [Granholm] doesn’t do any more damage, but the damage is already done with this 20J cut.”

Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop told the Detroit News Granholm’s move amounted to political “extortion”. Moss appeared to echo the view.

“My belief is that the Governor is lining things out that are what we used to call punishment cuts,” said Moss. “They are the things that are the most damaging, most painful, and most hurtful to try and convince you to give her her taxes.”

Those taxes, according to Bishop in an open letter to Granholm Tuesday, do not have to support of Senate Republicans and may not happen.

“Everything is very much up in the air because we don’t know what the economy is going to look like at the bottom,” said Moss to the Highlander. “Until we know what the new normal is for the economy, it’s all going to be up in the air. Things are going to have to change. We have to make choices, obviously schools, public safety, and public health are the priorities.”

Despite the suddenness of the move, the loss of 20J funds was something the Board had long dreaded.

“It is something we have fought every year to protect, but I think we all knew in the back of our minds that we knew potentially this day would come where we lost funding from 20j,” said Soifer. “This is an unprecedented year for us.”

Still, Rinschler said, the Board has no choice but to move on and plan for the future.

“I know it can be really depressing when you think long and hard about what is happening in this community,” said Rinschler. “But when I look around and see what we do as a Board, it’s very encouraging. The people here really roll up their sleeves and make sure all the decisions are learning based.”

Board President Laurie Soifer said the district is equipped to handle the challenge.

“We do have the ability to adjust to this change and respond to this crisis in a very rational and thoughtful plan,” said Soifer. “We have a strategic plan and we are in better shape than most districts. We absolutely have a challenge and crisis that we have to respond to. We will do it while remaining focused on student learning and achievement. We have much to be proud of. We will come out on the other end a stronger district.”