School Advocacy in Bond Elections Questioned

Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 11/2/2010 | Tom Gatnert

[MichCapCon]

Two school districts could have been in violation of state law by using school resources to promote their funding proposals.

The Lansing School District released a flier promoting its bond that asked residents to vote and added a promotional slogan: "Preserve Our Heritage. Fund Our Future." Lake Orion School District had an internal e-mail sent out asking for volunteers to make phone calls about the bond.

A Lansing School District spokesman defended the flier, saying encouragement to "Fund Our Future" was just a slogan.

An attorney representing the Lake Orion district said the school was "headed down the wrong path" with its e-mail.

"We stopped it very quickly," said Jim Crowley, an attorney representing Lake Orion School District. Crowley said a committee to set up passing the bond was formed that didn't involve any school resources.

There have been numerous reports this election campaign season regarding school districts crossing the campaign finance laws that forbid schools from using school resources to promote a candidate or a funding issue.

The Lansing flier had statements that the sinking fund would contribute "to a more nurturing learning environment for our kids" and that the fund would be created by "a slight" millage increase...

[GeronL]

This probably happens everywhere a bond package is up for a vote. Of course the local MSM is always FOR the bonds it seems, so they don’t need to do it.

[I still care]

This has always happened.

I was in elementary school in the 60’s, and I remember, every time the budget came up for a vote, an older student would come into our rooms and give a talk. It was always something along, “Tell you parents to vote for the budget, because if they don’t, you won’t have any more field trips, you won’t have band, you won’t have sports.”

They scared me to death every year, and I (young 7 or 8 or whatever I was) went home and BEGGED my mom and dad to vote for the budget. I simply didn’t believe my mom when she told me it wouldn’t happen. Didn’t they say so in school?