You might have missed a controversial part of the state education budget. It would penalize public schools for spending tax dollars on lawsuits against the state.
The proposed budget item comes after several lawsuits by school districts against the state.
Schools would have to forfeit state money if they spend tax dollars on a lawsuit against Michigan. The penalty would be equal to what the school spends on the lawsuit.
Critics say it could have a chilling effect on schools.
Peter Spadafore is with the Michigan Association of School Administrators.
“You know I can see the spirit of this but the idea here is really to tell school districts no they shouldn’t be suing the state.”
Republican Representative Tim Kelly chairs the committee in charge of the education budget. He says he still wants private schools to get the money.
“We’re going, we’re well past a year. They’ve been held up for a year, we’re into a second year of expenses that these schools deserve to be reimbursed for.”
“How often do we hear from the school community that we’re underfunding classrooms; we’re underfunding education? And here they turn around use their money to sue the state.”
Critics worry the penalty could scare schools into no longer filing lawsuits against the state.