Fighting for your students
Novi teacher true believer in MEA initiative to provide stable funding for public schools
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| Longtime Novi EA member Jim Tinsley, addressing Region 7 delegates at the MEA Fall RA in November, explained how a fairer tax structure and sensible economic development policies can provide stable funding for education. |
Jim Tinsley has logged more than 30 years as an educator in Novi Community Schools, teaching an array of subjects, from English to American government. For the past two years, he’s served as a media specialist at Novi High School.
While his teaching assignments have changed over three decades, one thing hasn’t: Michigan public schools need fair and equitable funding.
That’s why Tinsley is helping spread the word about MEA’s new initiative to provide stable funding for public schools. It’s called TEF—that stands for Tax structure, Economic development polices and Funding for schools.
“I really believe in the TEF message,”
Tinsley said—that investing in education
will result in a far greater economic return
than handing out tax breaks to businesses.
“Tax breaks are taking money away from
education.”
That’s why he became part of a 40- member training cadre composed of MEA local leaders and staff who will be educating MEA members, the public and legislators about the TEF initiative in the months ahead.
“In light of the defeat of Proposal 5 (the Educational Funding Guarantee rejected by Michigan voters in 2006), we need funding stability for our schools more than ever,” Tinsley said. “TEF makes a lot of sense.”
Over the winter, Tinsley plans to deliver the message to teachers in every building in the Novi school system.
“There’s a misconception that since Proposal A was passed in 1994, Michigan property taxes don’t help fund education,” Tinsley said. “That’s simply not the case. Today, 18 percent of a company’s property tax assessment goes to education, and education takes a hit every time a local government gives a business a break on property taxes as an enticement to get them to move to a community.”
Tinsley hopes Novi teachers will hear his message and “start more conversations with others on taxes and how they’re being used.”
Local leaders and staff can become part of the TEF training cadre by attending a workshop March 12-13 at MEA headquarters in East Lansing. To learn more about the TEF initiative, go to www.mea.org/TEF or contact Teri Battaglieri at tbattaglieri@mea.org or telephone 800/292-1934.