ALPENA — Northeast Michigan’s education leaders are cautiously optimistic about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The governor on Thursday released a $67.1 billion proposed budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year, which includes a total of $11.4 billion in the general fund and a total of $14.7 billion in the school aid fund.

Legislators in the state house and senate now have until Sept. 30 to work out the final details and formally approve the budget.

“We’re excited that the governor’s preliminary budget proposal puts an emphasis on education,” Scott Reynolds, superintendent of the Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District, said. “However, my experience is, we’re optimistic, but we’re a long way from a final product. So we’re just going to advocate strongly that our legislators and governor can come to a consensus that keeps education the priority the governor has placed on her budget.”

The proposed budget includes $203 million to increase per pupil funding for districts and a 2% increase totalling $14.1 million for economically disadvantaged students, English language learners, special education students, and students in rural and isolated districts.

It also includes one-time funding, such as $250 million to support academic recovery, physical and mental health, and post-secondary readiness and transition. There is also $200 million in one-time funding in the proposed budget for declining enrollment to stabilize budgets for districts experiencing fiscal losses in fiscal year 2022.

“It’s a great sign and direction, but we’ll wait and see what happens as it goes through the rest of the process,” Alpena Public Schools Superintendent David Rabbideau said.

Rabbideau said the proposed budget has “tremendous benefits” and would raise per pupil funding, and provide additional money for students in rural districts, special education, English language learners, and other programs that would all benefit the district.

Alcona Community Schools Superintendent Dan O’Connor said in an email to The News the governor’s proposal is encouraging, but just the beginning of the process.

“We desperately need the legislature and Governor’s office to collaborate on the 2021-22 budget, pending changes to days of the school year required, summer learning expectations, and a decision on how to disperse additional federal COVID relief funding to schools that are currently tied up in state government,” he said. “Schools cannot be waiting until May, June, or later for clear answers.”

There is also $32 million included in the proposed budget for the Great Start Readiness Program, which would raise the state payment for a full-day preschooler to $8,275 from $7,250, which is the same as the proposed K-12 foundation allowance.

Additionally, $2.9 million in the proposed budget would address the educator shortage and provide more supports for current teachers as well as incentives to recruit former and future educators.

Colleges and universities would also see an increase in the proposed budget. A one-time increase of equal to 2% of operations funding and an additional $70 million in one-time support upon adoption of policies related to COVID-19 testing, quarantining, and contact tracing.

Alpena Community College President Don MacMaster said the governor’s budget is ambitious and looks promising in some areas. He said the increase of operation funding and the $70 million in one-time support for costs related to COVID-19 would be helpful.

“That would appear to be about $12.7 million for community colleges out of that $70 (million) to cover costs, as I’m understanding it, related to COVID-19 or things that we are doing or have paid for,” MacMaster said. “This would be helpful as well.”

MacMaster said if the proposed budget were to be approved, it’s unclear how much of that funding ACC would receive. He said the college has certainly incurred expenses from COVID-19.

The additional dollars proposed for the Futures for Frontliners and the Reconnect program are also a step in the right direction, he said.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.