Opinion: Whitmer's education budget offers the support our students need

The budget sets priorities.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer's K-12 Budget tells Michigan Detroiters believe in public education, children use families, staff, and families who serve those children.

We are all tired of being elected: those seeking to win elected office offer endless words to help with public education while plugging in underfunded.

Governor Whitmer didn't just talk about the importance of public education. His budget underscores that commitment. In fact, each of the proposed four-year budgets calls for increased student funding - a positive step towards reducing the state-funded capital gap between school district "restricted areas" and rich local tax bases.

Again. Michigan House lawmakers approve $76.3 billion spending plan

Again. What school programs does the Michigan Department of Education exclude from COVID-19 funding?

In particular, the governor's budget has provided more funds especially for mental health, new textbooks equipment, MS honors classes, as well as special education, economically disadvantaged students, rural areas of English students. To begin the process of making states more responsible for improving the quality of school buildings, the governor proposed investing $1 billion in school infrastructure to help schools improve air and water quality by building and renovating new STEM-based facilities. classroom. .

A large proportion of children in most school districts were negatively affected by the epidemic, lost enrollment and lost education due to mental health problems. These challenges are most important for low-income families in communities of color.

We must stop stressing that investing in K-12 in public education is not part of the solution to better support our students and families before or after the epidemic.

Investing in General Education is investing in a community of K-12 children. Age.

Again. Michigan patch plan is struggling to stop education loss

Again. How COVID-19 money can help Michigan schools tackle the mental health crisis

We could have more public debate about how school districts can spend money better, responsibly to increase funding, but let's stop arguing that we don't need more investment.

Investing in K-12 public education increases staff and job retention, expands service envelopes for students, and addresses infrastructure challenges. The governor's education budget proposal receives a $2,000 bonus this fall for each school employee if they return in 2023 with additional awards. All these factors contribute to student progress.

The Detroit Public School District received approximately $1.3 billion in provisional funding from the federal government to help the district meet the challenges of an unexpected epidemic.

This is the first time in my 20-year career that I feel I have the right funding to better address some of the socio-economic challenges facing urban schools.

This funding has enabled an environment to provide safe returns for staff, students, work and study, but more importantly, it has empowered us to expand summer school planning, out-of-school planning, increase literacy support for students, reduce classroom size and convey to each. with the school nurse. This has increased our average daily attendance, improved math literacy and student growth compared to the previous school year.

DPSCD Other school districts would not expect an epidemic to have the best resources to help staff, students and their families. Kids are not interested in Democratic-Republican platforms, campaign policies. When it comes to general K-12 education, families want to invest in their children's future. As a society, we all have to agree on this.

Regardless of school choices and accompanying policies, the majority of children in Detroit, Michigan are supported by public schools, and our most vulnerable families and students depend on them for a better future.

Let's continue with Governor Whitmer's K-12 education budget. Commit to working on the details so we can continue to address the education challenges of the epidemic.

Nikolai Wittin is the superintendent of the Detroit Public School District.