You don’t always get a second chance like this
Last month, in a post titled “Cyber schools: A for-profit model designed to destroy our public school system & benefit corporations”, I wrote about the effort by Michigan Republicans to dramatically expand cyber schools in our state, an effort that is yet another step in destroying our public school system.
This is from the fine folks at We Are the People Michigan:
In a narrow 56-54 vote, our House of Representatives voted last week to place thousands of Michigan children into “cyber schools,” taking them out of real classrooms and draining as much as $210 million in desperately needed revenue from our public schools.However, it’s not too late to stop this taxpayer rip-off in its tracks. The Michigan House of Representatives will re-consider SB 619, the cyber schools bill, today, Tuesday, May 1. Because the original vote was so close, we’ve still got a chance to turn this around. We need just one Representative to change his or her vote.
Rep. Dale Zorn, of Ida Township, is the deciding vote on this issue. If he votes for the bill, it passes. If he votes against, it will fail. Zorn needs to know the whole state is watching.
Rep. Zorn had promised to vote against the bill. He was one of the last representatives to cast his vote. At the last second he broke his promise, gave in to lobbying from K12 Inc. and voted for the bill, causing it to pass.
You can make a difference by contacting your state representative TODAY.
For-profit cyber schools have no accountability, no track record of success, and no plan to provide comprehensive academic services, transportation, art, music, athletics or special education.
What they do have is plan to milk the taxpayers: Charge full price for each child enrolled in cyber school, drill them long-distance at a fraction of the cost of a real school… and pocket the difference.
Teachers, parents, student and school officials are united against this wrong-headed move. So who’s for it — besides the for-profit companies that will get top dollar for bottom-of-the-barrel services?
Good question – and YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO ASK YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE.
Your state legislator could be the one who makes the difference. Click here to find his or her phone and email, and please contact him or her right away.
Urge your Representative to support reconsidering last week’s vote by which SB 619 passed and voting NO on SB 619 . Please make a call or send an email today — this vote is scheduled for this afternoon, Tuesday, May 1, 2012.
P.S. If your Representative is already voting the right way thank them and reach out and urge Representative Zorn to change his vote on SB 619. Rep. Zorn has a second chance to stand up to protect our schools and our communities. His vote affects everyone in the state. Tell Rep. Zorn the whole state is watching and Michigan wants him to say no to “cyber schools.” Zorn was the tie breaking vote last time and we need to let him know he has a second chance on today to do the right thing.
