IMPORTANT FUNDING UPDATES
Budget season is underway for both the district and the state. Public schools are facing more attacks from the state, and it's time to use your collective voice to get the changes you deserve!
State Legislators Are Trying to Push Vouchers Through... Again
Public-school-hating lawmakers are once again trying to push vouchers through, this time seizing on the conditions brought out by the pandemic. Of course, the two districts being primarily targeted are MNPS and Shelby County Schools. Despite the State Supreme Court determining that the voucher program is unconstitutional, these lawmakers are still going to use resources to attempt to pass this bill.
The State Has Released a Draft of the New School Funding Formula
The preliminary formula does allocate money for specific student subgroups, but it also:
Increases funding for charter schools
Contains performance-based funding stipulations
Doesn't include an overall increase in funding
Doesn't address the inequity in how much funding MNPS receives vs. other districts
The conversation around the funding formula is set to continue, but most importantly, we need to see a commitment from the state to significantly increase the money MNPS receives.
President Michele Sheriff Advocated for Increased Funding From the State
While the state failed to indicate a true investment in fully funding MNPS, President Sheriff spoke to the press about the district’s needs.
USE YOUR VOICE TO GET WHAT YOU NEED
As all of this is happening at the state level, you can't forget that MNPS is sitting on more than enough money to drastically change your working conditions. It's important for you and your colleagues to have a voice in determining how those funds are used and how MNPS forms its budget. Take the survey today, and share with all your colleagues.