Schools

Teachers in the Shores Protest State Cuts

Teachers rallied outside of Lakeview and South Lake schools after school Tuesday.

Teachers in two St. Clair Shores school districts followed their students out on Tuesday afternoon as part of a statewide effort by the teachers' union to highlight cuts to public education.

Staff at South Lake and Lakeview districts wore red shirts and carried signs that read "Stop the Attacks" and "Support Public Education" as they marched in front of their schools. Other Michigan Education Association teachers around the state held similar protests.

"How are these cuts going to create jobs and help the economy?" asked Ben Haberek, president of the MEA-NEA Local 1 Lakeview. "How do (the politicians) expect Michigan to be a place that attracts businesses if we cut education?"

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The "Day of Action" rallies were organized following the vote in May to cut public school spending by $100 per pupil.

The MEA said Snyder transferred more than a billion dollars from the K-12 education budget to pay for a no-strings-attached, $1.8-billion tax break to businesses. 

Find out what's happening in St. Clair Shoreswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Derek Farnquist, a Lakeview graduate, joined the teachers in the march.

"I support Lakeview teachers," said Farnquist, 20, who is now attending Macomb Community College. "The teachers helped me get to college."

These cuts approved by the state will cost Lakeview about $521,000, and neighboring South Lake stands to lose about $563,000. 

Teachers from South Lake High School were joined by district Superintendent Pamela Balint and school board President Karla Anderson. 

"We realize there has to be reforms," said Tim Allen, the president of South Lake's teachers' union, who added that his teachers have been without a contract for two years. "But we have been at the forefront of reforms, and these cuts will impact kids and their right to an education."


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