Public School Parents Speak Out
On Michigan's Education Reform
JENNIFER FINER JEWISH NEWS INTERN
L
ynne Ludwig is keeping a
watchful eye on Lansing
as Governor John Engler
and the state legislature
attempt to reform education.
Ms. Ludwig, like other Jew-
ish parents, said she believes in
public education, but agrees
with lawmakers about the need
for reforms.
But parents admit to being
confused and somewhat skep-
tical about the governor's plan.
"I'm one of a lot of people who
are confused about what's go-
ing to happen," said Ms. Lud-
wig of Huntington Woods. She
has three children in Berkley
schools. "I feel a lot of informa-
tion is extremely vague. There
is a lot of double-talk and,
frankly, we are confused about
how they are going to fund
schools by cutting property tax-
es."
Gov. Engler, who said he
wants to reform public educa-
tion before determining how to
finance it, has set a December
deadline for alternatives to the
eliminated $6.8 billion in prop-
erty taxes.
The governor, who opposes
raising the state income tax, re-
cently proposed putting a two
percent sales tax increase on
the ballot. He also suggested
levying a tax on home sales, a
statewide property millage on
businesses and second homes,
eliminating state revenue shar-
ing with local governments and
an increase in the cigarette tax.
In the meantime, issues such
as charter schools, vouchers
and schools of choice have all
been tossed around, adding to
the level of confusion and dis-
satisfaction parents have ex-
pressed.
Charter schools could be
started by businesses, non-prof-
it organizations or private citi-
zens and would be funded by
public dollars.
Such schools would not be
required to follow the same
standards as public schools.
Charter schools would be dif-
ferent from private schools be-
cause they would be
accountable to the government
and could lose their charter if
they are determined to be infe-
rior.
Vouchers would allot public
money for each student to be
used at any school parents se-
lected, public or private. Under
the current Michigan constitu-
tion, vouchers are illegal.
"He (Gov. Engler) talks about
charter schools and sending
money with the students but I
don't think that will give equi-
ty to the school districts," said
Natty Reinstein, who has two
children in the Farmington
school district.
Bonnie Henig, who sends her
daughter to Hillel, said she
would not mind if the state
helped pay for her daughter's
education.
"It's not cheep having our
daughter in private school," she
said. "But, if we got a contribu-
tion from the state it would cer-
tainly help a little."
Ms. Henig said she and her
husband send their daughter to
Hillel because they want her to
get the best education and they
do not think that is possible in
the Pontiac School District.
Ms. Henig, like most parents,
thinks school reform is long
overdue but is not sure reform
will "turn around Pontiac
schools."
When her daughter finish-
es Hillel, Ms. Henig hopes to
send her to another district,
even if she has to pay for it.
But it may not cost her any-
thing if a school of choice plan
is implemented.
Schools of choice would allow
students to attend any public
school in the state. The gover-
nor maintains that such a sys-
tem would reward the better
schools in the state and make
the unfavorable schools work
harder.
"I'm concerned about choice
and vouchers and what some of
the motives are behind them,"
EDUCATION page 20
Education Coalition Forms
To Impact State Policy
KIMBERLY UFTON STAFF WRITER
F
or the first time, four Jew-
ish human services agen-
cies have formed a
coalition aimed at impact-
ing state public policy. At issue:
Michigan school
reform.
During a
meeting last
week, represen-
tatives from the
Jewish Commu-
nity Council, the
National Coun-
cil of Jewish
Women, the
Anti-Defama-
tion League and
the American
Jewish Commit-
tee met to draft
a joint state-
ment of princi-
ples about
education.
Jeannie Weiner
"Public
schools must receive adequate
funding to enable them to pro-
vide high-quality education to
all students in the state," the
statement reads. "Any funding
plan which is adopted should
have as its goal fair distribution
of resources to school districts,
while permitting local districts
to increase funding, if they so
desire.
"The legislature, before tak-
ing action on proposals for school
funding, must allow adequate
time for public comment," the
statement continues. "In de-
signing a plan for Michigan's
schools, separation of church
and state must be maintained,
and excessive entanglement be-
tween government and religious
institutions must be avoided.
"The concept of charter
schools should be evaluated with
extreme cau-
tion," the
statement
reads.
The coali-
tion comes
amid trying
times for the
state public
school system,
which by next
fall will be out
of funds if the
state legisla-
ture fails to de-
sign a new
funding mech-
anism.
Last July,
the legislature
voted to elimi-
nate property taxes by Septem-
ber 1994 as a source of public
school operating funds. Yet they
failed to implement a ready-to-
go substitute.
Now the legislature is trying
to come up with a bipartisan
school reform and funding plan
that will be acceptable to both
parties. The Jewish communi-
ty wants its views to be heard.
"Many Jews in this commu-
nity have some real concerns
with public education," said
Jeannie Weiner, president of the
Jewish Community Council.
"We haven't yet discussed
specifics, but we will strive for
person-to-person contact with
legislators. We will monitor the
process, educate the Jewish
community and represent the
Jewish community to the state
legislature."
In the coming weeks, coali-
tion members hope to put into
place a mechanism to monitor
the ongoing process of reform.
Its goal is to react based on prin-
ciples — not to make statements
"Separation of
church and state
must be
maintained."
Statement of
principle
for or against Gov. John Engler.
Mr. Engler is a proponent of
charter schools, and he favors
using vouchers to pay for schools
of choice. If it were not in viola-
tion of the state constitution, Mr.
Engler said he would favor us-
ing vouchers to pay for private
schools.
"We believe our coalition can
have significant impact," said
JCCouncil Executive Director
David Gad-Harf. "The legisla-
ture now is only hearing from
one or two groups. They are
wondering if nobody else cares.
"We want to be included in
this education plan," Mr. Gad-
Harf said. ❑