With little fanfare or controversy, the Senate today passed budgets for K-12 education, community colleges and higher education.
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 $94.2 million K-12 budget is $2.2 million less than the FY 2008 budget. It's slightly less than Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM's $94.7 million proposed budget.
SB 1096, sponsored by Senate Appropriations Chairman Ron JELINEK (R-Three Oaks), passed 36-1, with Sen. Nancy CASSIS (R-Novi) dissenting. She said the General Fund increased at the rate of inflation plus 1 percent, so she couldn't support it.
The total FY '09 School Aid Fund budget that moved out of the Senate K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee was $13.38 billion, a $369.3 million increase over FY 2008 (See "K-12 Budget Moved Minus Gov's Plans," 3/11/08).
The K-12 budget moved out of the Senate Appropriations Committee last Wednesday, 14-3. A trio of amendments that spent $250,000 for an international baccalaureate program, $250,000 for infrastructure maintenance at six Oakland County school districts and $700,000 for a pilot program with corrections were adopted (See "Senate Budgets, Sans DEQ, Move On," 3/19/08).
Funding for the Governor's proposals for smaller high schools and full-day kindergarten didn't make the cut. Granholm also called for a foundation grant increase between $108 and $216 per pupil.
The average per-pupil allowance increase is 1.9 percent under the Senate plan. Schools at the minimum foundation grant in FY 2008 would receive a $140 increase. Those between the minimum and $8,433 would receive an increase between $70 and $140 and those over $8,433 would receive a $70 increase. There's also an additional $40 increase for schools at or above $8,433 in per-pupil funding under the Senate plan.
NOTE: The MASSP amendments for changes in the MME are contained in this legislation. For the building principal, these are significant changes. Please see previous news stories for details.