Michigan lawmakers pass supplemental budget for school safety
(CBS DETROIT) — Michigan lawmakers passed a supplemental budget on Wednesday that supports school safety and mental health.
House Bill 5503 was approved by the House on a 98-11 vote. The Senate approved it on a 23-15 vote; however, the immediate effect was not approved, meaning that the bill would not be available until sometime in March or April. The $125 million budget will be allocated to school safety, with another $1 million for safe gun storage programs.
"Today's action by the House is an important and appreciated step in the right direction as we work to continue supporting the mental health needs of our students and keep students and staff safe in school," said state Superintendent Michael Rice in a written statement. "The Michigan Department of Education and State Board of Education have advocated for more funding in these critically important areas. For the good of children, I hope that the Senate will reconsider and make the funds available to schools sooner. The additional $125 million in funding that's been approved today would greatly benefit our students and local schools."
Over the summer, school teachers and administrators repeatedly called on the legislature to pass more funding for schools. The annual budget, which passed in June, didn't have an increase in per-pupil funding for the first time in a decade.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the education budget in July.
Democrats explained that the original cut to school funding was due to federal dollars running out. The funding that Democrats announced is coming from the School Aid Fund and a separate grant program that has lapsed.
"It is not enough, but right now, it's at least something," said state Rep. Jaime Greene.
Greene says there was movement on this supplemental budget because of political pressure.
"Why now? Because we put the pressure on them," she told CBS News Detroit before the vote. "We told them to refund it because, for the first time, we are coming out and supporting this, and we need it, and we want it, and we need to put students, and that's the most important thing. So why now? Because they're in the defensive mode."
For Thomas Morgan with the Michigan Education Association, this funding means more mental health professionals for schools.
"Our kids need help, they need help before small problems spiral out of control," Morgan said. "What this funding will do is provide funding for school districts so that they can attract and retain school-based mental health professionals. Schools are often the first point of contact for kids who are struggling with mental health so it's critical that our schools have all the resources they need to help kids succeed."