Howell School Board Members Criticize Legislature Howell School Board Members Criticize Legislature

12/11/12 - While thanking outgoing members for their service, two Howell Board of Education members chose to speak out on the recent actions of the Michigan legislature. Last night marked the final meeting for members Ed Literski, Jan Lobur, and Board President Ann Routt. During the meeting Routt took time to express her opinions regarding actions taken by the Republican-led lame duck legislature. She said she was saddened by how the legislature chose to act on bills such as the right-to-work law and that she believes its actions will be detrimental to public education in the state. Routt was not the only board member to speak on state issues. Mike Witt, who will remain on the board, also chose to speak out regarding how changes in state funding made by the legislature would affect public education. He claims $1 billion was taken out of state school funding to compensate for the single business tax cut and that legislators blame the move on the poor fiscal decisions of school districts. He called that a “smoke screen” and blamed failing schools on a lack of state funding rather than a poor fiscal planning. Budget projections predict $3 million shortfalls for Howell Schools for the next two years. Board member Mike Maloney, who ran as part of a conservative slate in November, declined to give comment on the statements made by Routt and Witt, saying the issues were beyond the scope of the office to which he was elected. All members of the board and Superintendent Ron Wilson publicly thanked the outgoing members for their work on the board. (TD)