MichiganRadio

New School Funding Plan Could Create Problems Next Year GRAND RAPIDS, MI (Michigan Radio) - A new plan in the state House could reduce a deep cut in school funding this year. But the plan could create bigger problems for next year.

The House voted to use $184 million in federal stimulus money to eliminate about a third of this year's funding cut for schools.

The state had been planning to save that stimulus cash for next year, when the financial picture for schools could be even worse.

John Helmholdt is spokesman for Grand Rapids Public Schools. He said it's hard to be against funding for schools, but this plan could create more problems.

"If there's one thing, there's one message, we don't need a short term solution," he says. "And this is kind of smells like a short term solution that may have a longer term impact unfortunately."

Michigan schools are facing a cut of about $300 per student this year. The plan to use the stimulus money this year still has to be approved by the Senate, and be signed by the governor.

Contact Dustin Dwyer at dtdwyer@umich.edu.

© Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio