Oxford, Romeo, Utica school districts to lose millions

State Rep. Jaime Greene today highlighted the devastating effect the new state budget is going to have on local school districts, which are facing critical cuts to school safety and mental health funding.

Greene, R-Richmond, opposed the budget, which cut per-pupil school safety grants by 92%, leaving only $26.5 million after a $300 million cut.

“As a mom, seeing these reckless cuts and thinking about how they will affect the safety and well-being of our kids is absolutely infuriating,” Greene said. “Slashing essential funding for school safety and mental health services puts our kids at risk.”

Utica Community Schools, in particular, is on track to lose more than $5 million as a result of these cuts, with Oxford and Romeo losing more than $1 million each and other districts in the communities Greene serves facing losses in the hundreds of thousands.

Recent data released by the House Fiscal Agency illustrates how much funding local school districts are set to lose, based on the latest school count numbers:

The reductions are expected to have a profound impact on the ability of districts to maintain essential safety measures and provide necessary mental health support for students.

Even the Michigan Education Association has issued a public statement calling for the Legislature to rethink the school safety cuts and pass supplemental funding to back student mental health and safety efforts.

“There were deep cuts to categorical funding for school safety and student mental health — cuts that will need to be navigated at the local level to keep our schools safe learning spaces for all students and employees,” MEA President and CEO Chandra Madafferi said. “Our hope is that state lawmakers will return after the summer break to pass a supplemental budget that funds these critical student mental health and safety priorities.”

The cuts were included in the budget negotiated between the governor and the Democrats who control the Legislature. The budget passed along purely partisan lines in the House.

Greene, who voted against the budget, said the funding should be restored.

“We cannot compromise on the safety and well-being of our students,” Greene said. “I am fighting hard to ensure our schools receive the resources they need.”

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