LANSING, Mich. (Feb. 9, 2022) — Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) issued the following statement after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer presented her Fiscal Year 2023 budget recommendations to a joint House and Senate Appropriations Committee meeting today, during which she proposed making significant additional investments in students, teachers, and schools:

“Our students deserve good, well-qualified teachers, and Governor Whitmer’s budget proposal proves she understands that. Her commitment to ensuring adequate public school per-pupil funding and demonstrating support for teachers by providing them retention bonuses has my full support. I hear from constituents and as a parent I understand the impact of school closures. It is my hope this will show our dedicated teachers that we hear and see them, and that we have their backs.”

Governor Whitmer has proposed a $2.3 billion investment in recruitment and retention efforts, to be used over four years, which includes annual bonuses ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 by 2025. This fall, school staff members will be eligible for a $2,000 bonus. In Fall 2023, they would earn another $2,000 — growing to $3,000 if they return in Fall 2024. Eventually, in Fall 2025, the retention incentive would reach $4,000.

It’s been estimated that 110,000 teachers and more than 330,000 school workers in total — including social workers, nurses, and counselors — would stand to benefit from these incentives.

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