MASSP Takes a Stand Against Proposals 2 and 5

At a special meeting this past Thursday, the MASSP Board of Directors voted to oppose Proposals 2 and 5 because of the potential negative consequences they could have on good teachers, good teaching practices, and student achievement.

On Proposal 2, MASSP's concerns center on the impact the constitutional change could have on teacher evaluation systems and the prospect that schools would once again have to rely on seniority rather than teacher performance when making personnel decisions. For Proposal 5, MASSP is most concerned that, since no tax proposal in recent history has passed with the two-thirds majority required by the initiative, if the proposal were to pass, Michigan's tax structure would stagnate and resources for public schools would erode over time.

The MASSP Board of Directors adopted a position to "actively oppose and work with likeminded partners to defeat the Proposal 2 and 5 ballot initiatives including urging association members to engage locally in educating voters and stakeholders about the potential implications of the initiative. As a part of this effort, [MASSP will] develop talking points, fact sheets, and other communication tools that MASSP members can use to inform and engage people in their buildings and communities."

In response to the Board's action, MASSP staff is in the process of finalizing fact sheets, background information, and talking points related to the two proposals, which will be distributed to the entire membership in the coming weeks leading up to the election.