BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich.— It was back to school for students in Michigan Monday, but districts across the state are kicking off the year with major financial worries.
Lawmakers in Lansing have yet to pass a state budget, missing the legally required July 1st deadline.
With just over a month left before the new fiscal year begins, district leaders are calling on lawmakers to come to a compromise for students and faculty.
In Niles, Brandywine Community Schools Superintendent Travis Walker said the district had to take a gamble earlier this summer, making staffing decisions and negotiating contracts without knowing what funding they’ll actually receive or if cuts are in store.
“I just hope that the legislators come together and agree on a budget,” Walker said. “It’s impacting just about everything we do right now… and here’s the thing, it’s extra work on us, but it’s going to impact families in our community. We need the knowledge of what we can do moving forward, we really do,” he added.
Walker says in all his years in education, he’s never seen the state budget arrive this late.
Some programs like free school meals are still funded through September 30th, but after that, it’s unclear.
Districts expect students who qualify will still receive free or reduced meals, and schools enrolled in the federal Community Eligibility Provision will likely be able to keep providing meals to students,but local leaders say without guidance from the state, they’re left making big decisions with a lot of uncertainty.
Last week, ABC57 also spoke with officials from Niles and Benton Harbor Area Schools. Both districts said they plan to continue offering free meals, regardless of what happens with the state budget.