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Michigan superintendents call on lawmakers for inclusion of school aid in 2nd stimulus package

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Michigan Education Leaders Thursday called on Congress to pass a stimulus package that included more funding for public schools. The comments came during a meeting with superintendents across the state of Michigan, in an effort they said to highlight the “critical need for both short- and long-term K-12 funding commitments from the state and federal government."

Back in May, educators had called on lawmakers for funding, after the Michigan School Aid Fund projected that schools were over a $1 billion short of its budget. The Cares Act and other help came to the rescue, but with the lingering pandemic, school officials say the money is beginning to dry up, and therefore, are once again asking for resources and assistance as Congress in Washington continues to debate getting another stimulus package done before the new year.

Speaking during the roundtable discussion Thursday was Muskegon Area ISD Superintendent Dr. John Severson.

“We need our Congress to come on board to fix the funds that we need. We need our state government to be supportive and not look at this as a quick fix, this is going to take some time, for years to come,” Serverson said. “The stability of schools is one of our strongest foundations as a society. And to fund that correctly and to come together is going to make a significant difference in the years to come.”

The United Sates House on Wednesday voted 343-67 to approve a weeklong extension of negotiations as lawmakers continued to fight over key details of a 2nd COVID-19 stimulus package. Liability protections for businesses — favored by Republicans — and the Democratic Party's demand for more aid for state and governments remain the two disagreeable points.

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