Sonoma's Angel Tree
Mrs. Freedberg's First Grade Class
No retirement contribution refund for public school employees (Posted on 12/1911)
As of right now, public school employees will not be getting a refund of their 3 percent retirement contribution that state employees are getting. We are still awaiting decision on our issue from the Michigan Court of Appeals who heard oral arguments on Oct. 19.
MEA sponsored the challenge to the 3 percent contribution as unconstitutional under various provisions of the Michigan and United States constitutions. We won the case, McMillan v Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System, before the Michigan Court of Claims. The state appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals who has yet to issue a decision.
The state employees challenged the constitutionality of their 3 percent contribution under a provision in the Michigan Constitution which gave authority to the Civil Service Commission to establish the wages and benefits of classified civil service employees - not public school employees. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the employees. Since, the state Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by the state, state employees will get their refund next month.
Last week, Gov. Snyder signed legislation that allows the return of the state employees' 3 percent retirement contribution, but, at the same time, requires them to pay 4 percent if they stay in the current defined benefit retirement plan. If state employees move to a 401 (k) defined contribution plan, there s no contribution.
MEA sponsored the challenge to the 3 percent contribution as unconstitutional under various provisions of the Michigan and United States constitutions. We won the case, McMillan v Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System, before the Michigan Court of Claims. The state appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals who has yet to issue a decision.
The state employees challenged the constitutionality of their 3 percent contribution under a provision in the Michigan Constitution which gave authority to the Civil Service Commission to establish the wages and benefits of classified civil service employees - not public school employees. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the employees. Since, the state Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by the state, state employees will get their refund next month.
Last week, Gov. Snyder signed legislation that allows the return of the state employees' 3 percent retirement contribution, but, at the same time, requires them to pay 4 percent if they stay in the current defined benefit retirement plan. If state employees move to a 401 (k) defined contribution plan, there s no contribution.
No education funding cuts next year?
Given the legislative attacks of the past year, it's hard not to be skeptical when we get news that Gov. Snyder says that his next budget won't include funding cuts to public schools and universities. He wants to roll out his budget proposal sometime in Feb.
In an Associated Press interview, Snyder said that schools endured some major reductions last year and "now we're getting to a point of stability where we can be thoughtful about where do we invest back dollars."
But don't get your hopes up too high. Snyder wants to tie some of the K-12 funding in the 2012-13 school year to student achievement - - if a student learns more, the school district gets more money. He plans on working with the Legislature to decide how best to measure student learning.
The Governor's Council on Educator Effectiveness must provide a report to the Legislature on a student growth and assessment tool and a state teacher evaluation tool by April 30. Those systems must be in place to meet the Governor's deadline of a June 1 adoption of a new budget.
Despite the governor's so-called plans for funding, we can't forget the "shared sacrifice" that was imposed on us this year - - a 3 percent retirement contribution, an increased contribution to health care, salary reductions, and layoffs -- all so CEOs can enjoy a $1.8 billion tax break. And it may not stop there since Gov. Snyder is interested in investigating whether the new retiree health care changes state workers are facing will also work for public school employees.
I guess we'll believe good news when we see it.
In an Associated Press interview, Snyder said that schools endured some major reductions last year and "now we're getting to a point of stability where we can be thoughtful about where do we invest back dollars."
But don't get your hopes up too high. Snyder wants to tie some of the K-12 funding in the 2012-13 school year to student achievement - - if a student learns more, the school district gets more money. He plans on working with the Legislature to decide how best to measure student learning.
The Governor's Council on Educator Effectiveness must provide a report to the Legislature on a student growth and assessment tool and a state teacher evaluation tool by April 30. Those systems must be in place to meet the Governor's deadline of a June 1 adoption of a new budget.
Despite the governor's so-called plans for funding, we can't forget the "shared sacrifice" that was imposed on us this year - - a 3 percent retirement contribution, an increased contribution to health care, salary reductions, and layoffs -- all so CEOs can enjoy a $1.8 billion tax break. And it may not stop there since Gov. Snyder is interested in investigating whether the new retiree health care changes state workers are facing will also work for public school employees.
I guess we'll believe good news when we see it.
