Pinny board's choice a harsh reality in Michigan

The last Pinconning Board of Education meeting on March 22 was just a glimpse of how difficult it is in Michigan when it comes to education.

In case you aren’t up aware of what’s going on with Pinconning schools, the board is recommending the closure of Mount Forest Elementary in Bay County’s Mount Forest Township after this year. There are some reasons that I feel this unappealing decision was in front of the board. I’ll run down a couple of them.

1. Loss of students. Pinconning’s Business Manager Brad Mason mentioned during the meeting that the school district lost roughly 85 students this year. Again, I come back to the point I have made many times along the campaign. If we want to keep people in the 97th district, we need to have jobs, jobs, and more jobs. That’s why I have been talking very much about developing a comprehensive manufacturing plan that let’s developers and entrepreneurs know what the state and cities have to offer when it comes to helping out manufacturing businesses (the Michigan Tool and Die Recovery Act, for example). Elected officials in Michigan also need to get out there and communicate what our area offers when it comes to building space and workforce. I strongly believe that part of being a representative includes being a promoter for your constituents and district, and that’s part of the job I look forward to. And until we get jobs in the area, people will continue to move away, and schools will continue to suffer greatly.

2. Lack of funding. “We do not have a clue what our funding will be,” was a quote from Pinconning Area Schools Superintendent Darren Kroczaleski at the March 22 meeting. First off, at the state level, we need to make sure we are funding our school properly and efficiently. Until we have a concrete mechanism to ensure a chance at success, Mr. Kroczaleski’s issue will be present year in and year out. But there’s more we can do. I think, and it may require a constitutional convention, that we need to have the state and schools prepare budgets at the same time. Schools budget in the middle of the summer, but the state doesn’t pass its budget until October. We have boards guessing right now, and I don’t think board members should be put in a spot where they have no idea what’s coming down to them. I especially don’t want schools, students and parents to deal in assumptions.

It’s sad that students and families who lived near Mount Forest Elementary or attended the elementary will have to say goodbye. And it looks like next year, the same may be true for families with students attending Linwood Elementary, which is also in the Pinconning district. But until we have a legislative branch that takes on these issues in a fearless, bold manner, I believe it will only get worse. If elected, I will wholly and strongly support education and the future of our state. I look forward to taking on these challenges.