Jackson schools on track to lose more than $1 million in school safety funding

State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz today said Michigan schools and children are left behind in the new state budget. She highlighted the devastating effect the budget is going to have on local school districts, which are facing critical cuts to school safety and mental health funding.

Schmaltz, R-Jackson, opposed the budget, which cut per-pupil school safety grants by 92%, leaving only $26.5 million after a $300 million cut.

“I am deeply concerned about the well-being of our students and the safety of our schools,” Schmaltz said. “These drastic cuts are irresponsible and dangerous. Our schools are the heart of our community, and this decision will leave them vulnerable and struggling to provide safe, supportive environments for our kids.”

Jackson Public Schools, in particular, is on track to lose more than $1 million as a result of these cuts, with other districts in the communities Schmaltz serves facing losses in the hundreds of thousands.

Recent data released by the House Fiscal Agency illustrates how much funding local school districts are set to lose, based on the latest school count numbers:

The reductions are expected to have a profound impact on the ability of districts to maintain essential safety measures and provide necessary mental health support for students.

Even the Michigan Education Association has issued a public statement calling for the Legislature to rethink the school safety cuts and pass supplemental funding to back student mental health and safety efforts.

“There were deep cuts to categorical funding for school safety and student mental health — cuts that will need to be navigated at the local level to keep our schools safe learning spaces for all students and employees,” MEA President and CEO Chandra Madafferi said. “Our hope is that state lawmakers will return after the summer break to pass a supplemental budget that funds these critical student mental health and safety priorities.”

The cuts were included in the budget negotiated between the governor and the Democrats who control the Legislature. The budget passed along purely partisan lines in the House.

Schmaltz, who voted against the budget, said the funding should be restored. She’s in the process of setting up a meeting with local superintendents to find out how she can help.

“The safety and mental health of our students are non-negotiable. We must come together to reverse these devastating cuts,” Schmaltz said. “I call on my colleagues in the Legislature and the governor to prioritize the well-being of our children by reinstating this vital funding. Our schools cannot afford to wait. This is putting our kids at risk. Restore the funding.”

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