Politics & Government

A View from the Capitol

Rep. Anthony Forlini shares his thoughts from Lansing.

From my desk in the House:
 
For the past several weeks Lansing has been receiving visits from the three ghosts. The Ghost of Our Past, the ghost of Our Present and the Ghost of What is Yet to Come have been seen lurking around the capitol with informative messages for all of the legislators. Why are the ghosts here? What messages did they bring us?
 
The Ghost of Our Past has spoken of days when the local auto plant offered plentiful high paying jobs on the assembly line with company-paid benefits.  These were times when state government received high revenues it could share with local governments and schools. These magical times were filled with joy and were relatively care free. However, these manufacturing jobs started moving to southern states and out of the country to places like Mexico and China. As a result, thousands of houses went vacant, revenues for schools and local governments shrank as people fled the state seeking work.
 
Enter, the Ghost of Our Present, who brings truth to the harsh realities facing the state of Michigan today. Many local units of governments and school districts are facing budget shortfalls and have massive accumulated debt. Unfriendly business regulations of the past have left Michigan with a challenging job climate.  Residents are seeking a return to prosperity for Michigan.
 
But there is hope. Recent decisive action in Lansing has meant budgets were done on time for the first time in many years. Debts have begun to be paid down. Business regulations have been streamlined. Old habits and accepted practice of putting off our problems for future generations have been met head-on in Lansing this year.
 
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation cites 78,000 high paying jobs that are currently unfilled due to many highly trained individuals having left the state and the changing nature of the economy. The realization has set in that matching education and training with workers is critical to filling these jobs and getting Michigan back to work.
 
Beginning in 2012, we will no longer be picking winners and losers. Michigan will have an environment that is welcoming to existing and new businesses. This is one of the many reasons why the Bloomberg Economic Evaluation of the States (BEES) rated Michigan's economy #2 in the country.
 
Also, many local governments and school districts will be operating on balanced budgets. Some, such as Benton Harbor, will be doing so after the implementation of an emergency financial manager. With reforms and decisive action through the emergency financial manager rules, this city will be returning to local control with a surplus. With continued fiscal restraint, cities such as Benton Harbor can be on a path to real recovery.
 
The Ghost of What is Yet to Come spoke of brighter days that could come. We are at a fork in the road.
 
We can choose to follow the path taken by the federal government. Indecisiveness in Washington by political leaders has led to debt that even our children will not be able to pay back. We can punish entrepreneurs with taxes and red tape that chase business out of our state.
 
Or, we can continue on a path of fiscal restraint until we get to see the fruits of our labor through business expansion, job growth and a return to prosperity. A prosperous state is one that can afford to invest in the services that really provide value, such as improving our roads and sewer infrastructure.
 
The three ghosts painted a clear picture of what Michigan has been, is and what it can be in the future. Our work in Lansing will not be finished until the people of our great state are back to work. I'm proud to be a part of this effort to restore fiscal responsibility to our government and will continue to work hard for you.
 
On behalf of myself and my office staff we wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
 
Inner City School Failure = Charter Schools Expansion
 
Last week I took a vote that I hated to make. I voted yes on a gradual, phase out of the cap on the number of charter schools that can operate in Michigan.  Though the outcome of the vote wasn't in doubt, it was important to me to be able to work with House leadership to improve the legislation through several key amendments. These amendments include a requirement that creates a bipartisan workgroup to develop quality measures for all public schools; AYP and Accreditation transparency for all charter schools and that authorizers must consider the achievements of local traditional public schools before opening.
 
I am upset that the reason I had to vote yes is due to the failure of the public school systems in inner city schools.
 
Detroit's Public School Emergency
 
For many years, resources were not getting to the kids that need it in Detroit Public Schools due to mismanagement. Classrooms were left without books.  Bathrooms were without toilet paper. Education took a back seat. An emergency financial manager was appointed to put their fiscal house back in order.
 
Meanwhile, in many neighborhoods, there was a culture of not valuing education. Low parent participation, lack of discipline, and failure to support teachers in their classroom mission was systemic.
 
Parents who do value education were left with few options. If you could not afford an expensive private school or a move to the suburbs, your kids were lost.
 
The Charter School Movement
 
To give you some background, when charter schools started in the 1990's, a cap of 150 university-authorized schools was allowed. School districts and community colleges were able to charter 250 charter schools, also known as public school academies.
 
Michigan has long since reached the cap. This has resulted in about 12,000 kids are on waiting lists to attend the charter school of their choice. Many of those kids are in Detroit.
 
I respect the fact that charter schools bring options for parents to meet the educational needs of their children. For kids in failing inner city schools, a charter school can be a way to a better life.
 
Macomb County Charter Schools
 
In Macomb County, there are 17 charter schools operating with diverse offerings. Some schools offer general education; others offer unique curiculums, such as vocational training for special needs young adults or a concentration in the performing arts.
 
Macomb's charter schools have had mixed results, ranging from 'A' ratings from the Michigan Department of Education, to failing to make expected annual yearly progress. A sampling of wait lists for Macomb County charters reveals that about half had no wait list at all.
 
By looking at Macomb County's track record with charter schools, I am not convinced that they are a panacea for all that ails education. Their record is as varied as other public schools in the area.
 
Our Local Public Schools Dilemma
 
Meanwhile, I have to consider the impact that schools of choice has already had on our existing school districts in Harrison Township and St. Clair Shores. Many people are upset with school of choice ... as am I.
 
I'll explain my feelings on a very personal level. I made the decision long ago to live where I live for a number of reasons. One of the primary factors driving my choice to invest in Harrison Township because of the very good local school district, and that is vitally important to my family and many other families in our district.
 
Unfortunately, the number of school age children has declined in our area. This inevitable shift in demographics means there aren't enough local kids to fill all the existing buildings in our districts. In St. Clair Shores, voters were given the opportunity to consolidate the three school districts. Voters chose not to do so.
 
Since then, local school officials have been forced to open their districts to students from other areas to fill classrooms and make budget. To a point, that has worked to keep the districts intact.

Times and circumstances, however, have changed. Some schools in the area have nearly 50 percent of their student body coming from distant neighborhoods. Not only does that cause a loss of control over a local school population, the school districts also lose their local culture. Parents of school-of-choice students are, as a rule, not as physically or financially involved in their children's education when they do not have a neighborhood connection to the schools.
 
School choice has ushered in a new era of students. As I talk to teachers in our district, they notice respect is lacking when you walk down the halls of high schools.  When we import students, we are importing the values of another neighborhood.
 
So, I have no interest in further eroding local neighborhood values by adding more charter schools that attract lower performing students from out of area.
 
The Final Charter School Cap Bill
 
I believe my district would be better off with more charter schools opening in inner cities rather than seeing more students come to our area who are unprepared for the demanding educational environment we expect for our children and bringing down our local districts.
 
What frustrated me the most was seeing many of the legislators who advocate for Detroit opposed to more charter schools, but offering little in the way of practical solutions for those kids trying to escape failed schools for a better future.
 
Knowing that the votes were there to lift the charter school cap, I could make more of a difference by not staying on the sidelines. So, I worked with leadership to add amendments to Senate Bill 618 to ensure accountability, transparency, and quality:

 Require charter school authorizers to consider factors such as failing schools and waiting lists for existing charters prior to opening new schools.

  • Require current charter school operators to prove student success prior to opening any new schools.
  • Require charter schools to post financial data and annual yearly progress on-line.
  • Form a bi-partisan work group to improve education quality in all public schools, including charters, with a spring deadline to report to the legislature.

 
Thanks to all the concerned residents who have contacted the office on both sides of this challenging issue.
 
District Office Hours
 
Monday, Jan. 23, 2011
8 - 9 a.m. at Big Apple Bagel in Harrison Township
6 - 7 p.m. at in St. Clair Shores.

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