Bringing parents and taxpayers back into Michigan's school governance
Some of the worst abusers of taxpayer money and voter trust are also some of the least noticed. Local school boards frequently act as shadow governments in their cities and towns, sometimes raising taxes and spending money in near-total secrecy. This is why Kyle Olson of the new Michigan-based Education Action Group (EAG) has focused his efforts on shining a spotlight on his state's educational establishment.
To be sure, most school board members are good people who wish to improve the educational opportunities for students in their districts. Political realities, however, can sometimes impede their good intentions when they realize the large amount of vested power held by local school unions.
This is why the mission of the EAG is to help school boards communicate their difficult financial decisions to the general public so that school board members may muster the courage to make decisions without the threat of a backlash from the unions.
"I'm a firm believer that if a school board knows the public is on their side, every decision they make will be in the best interest of the taxpayer," Olson said. "If not, unless they're a true reformer, the union machine will get them every time."
In the case of school boards--as with any other government institution--communication with the public is key. Michiganders are already fully aware of Michigan's economic troubles, but, like anywhere else, most Michigan voters pay very little attention to their educational governing bodies, at least until something goes very wrong.
"I've worked in Western Michigan for the past several years," said Olson. "Watching the tough economy, I have particularly noticed the lack of attention given to school boards and the abuse that this leads to."
General public apathy allows the voice of the unions, namely the Michigan Education Association (MEA), to be the loudest and most recognizable in Michigan's educational debates. Although the stated mission of these unions is to advocate on behalf of students, it's becoming clear the unions work only toward the benefits of their members. After all, as a labor organization, that is what they were founded to do in the first place.
A common instigator of school board-union showdowns is when board members propose ideas for saving money or trimming the budget. Because school districts receive funding from their state government-as opposed to local bodies-they usually do not appeal directly to their constituents for support. If they do, they run the risk of being recalled by a well-organized union.
Kyle Olson and the EAG have observed this one-sided intimidation, and see educating the public as one way to restore school board independence and accountability. The EAG plans to do so through e-mail, direct mailings, newspaper editorials, and their website. The group's site features an "In the News" section, which highlights news stories about its involvement in local school board fights, as well as a "Thug Watch" section exposing the heavy-handed tactics unions or union-backed groups use to intimidate school boards and their individual members. Through these online media, the EAG hopes to show locals that unions are not-and should not-be the only source of information about their public schools.
Currently, Olson and the EAG are talking to several school districts throughout the state to see if they can consult with them on transparency and accountability protocol. Expect to hear more from Kyle Olson and the EAG as they continue building the capacity for school board independence and accountability in Michigan.
Find out more about the EAG at educationactiongroup.org .
