The Saginaw Intermediate School District (SISD) has approved a special education millage election for August 2, 2022. If approved by voters, this millage directly benefits students in all of Saginaw County’s local school districts and public school academies, including Freeland.
This election is important to Freeland as, if it is approved by voters, the 1.5583 mill proposal will return well over $500,000 to our general operating budget each year for ten years. That’s a total of over $5,000,000 in general fund revenue over the next decade. As is the case in each local school district, we determine how the millage revenue will benefit all students attending the Freeland Community School District. The following will be funded in Freeland with the savings provided by the SISD Special Education Millage:
- Two (2) Student Intervention Specialists (K-6 & 7-12);
- Six (6) Intervention Paraprofessionals (2 @ LC/ES & 4 @ MS/HS);
- One (1) Elementary Counselor;
- One (1) Secondary Social Worker;
- Pathways to Graduation (staff and materials for this program specifically designed to assist students who are struggling to find success at FHS);
- And, a portion of one (1) additional special education teacher to assist our schools to service Freeland students in Freeland.
This is an opportunity to create a sustainable funding source for many of the meaningful supports we are providing for our students. Many of these supports are being funded through ESSER (federal) funds and will become the responsibility of our general fund next year and in the years to come. If there is a successful millage, Freeland will be committing all revenue it provides to these supports.
This election is necessary because the State of Michigan has not fully funded special education. As a result, this year the SISD has had to invoice local school districts and public school academies the $8.1 million to cover the funding shortages. Our costs to pay these funding shortages are paid from our general operating budget and reduces the resources we have to provide programs and services to our 2030 students.
If voters approve the millage, the SISD will levy the tax and distribute all the revenue to Saginaw County’s twelve (12) local school districts and six (6) public school academies. None of the revenue from this millage will be used to pay for special education programs and services provided by SISD because SISD programs are funded by the current tax levy.
The 1.5583 special education millage would cost a homeowner living in a $200,000 house ($100,000 SEV) $155.83 per year/about 42¢ a day. Homeowners with a more expensive home would pay more, those with a less expensive home would pay less.
In the coming months, the Freeland Schools will be working to communicate the rational for the election to our community so that all are aware of this opportunity to invest in supports for our students.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the contacts below if you have questions.
For more information, contacts include:
Erin Senkowski, SISD Exec. Dir. of Special Education: 989.249.8708 or senkowskie@sisd.cc
David Krantz, SISD Special Education Director: 989.249.8754 or dkrantz@sisd.cc
Emily Groulx, Freeland Spec. Ed. Supervisor: 989.695.5527 or groulxe@freelandschools.net
Matt Cairy, Freeland Superintendent: 989.695.5527 or cairym@freelandschools.net
Special Education Millage Election
SISD Special Education Millage Survey