Investing in Kids, Teachers and Workers

Jul 11, 2024 | Email

Senator McDonald Rivet Email Banner

Friends and Neighbors,  

I hope you enjoyed what you love most about the Fourth of July holiday. For me, it’s fireworks, festivals, food and family. No matter how many different ways we celebrate, our reason for celebration should always unite us — America boldly declaring its independence and hope in what’s possible in a land of freedom, equality and opportunity.  

To continue improving opportunities for every Michigander to build a betterlife for themselves and their families, Senate Democrats led the passage ofthe Fiscal Year 2025 State Budget last month. It’s balanced, bipartisan and will make a real difference by investing directly into our communities and putting hard-earned tax dollars back into the pockets of hard-working Michiganders. 

In this and upcoming newsletters, beginning with education, I will provide budget highlights by priority area, in addition to our regular legislative, community, and resource sections.

Senator McDonald Rivet Signature

Kristen McDonald Rivet  
State Senator 
District 35  

  
(517) 373-1725   
PO Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909   
SenKMcDonaldRivet@senate.michigan.gov   

 

 

In This Edition 

  • State Budget: Education
  • Legislative Updates
  • Community Investments & Connections
  • Job Opening, Office of Senator McDonald Rivet
  • Helpful Reminders, Resources, and Links
  • Connecting with Us 

 

 

State Budget: Education, Building Up Kids & Families 

Access to affordable, quality education is crucial for Michiganders to build better lives. I’m proud to have helped pass a budget that brings home $20 million in additional, new funding for schools in our Great Lakes Bay Region.  

Here are some details on how the FY25 School Budget significantly increases funding for students, teachers, and schools across our state. Building on last year’s historic 5% increase in the per pupil foundation allowance:  

  • We reduced the percentage of school payroll due to the state to cover Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System (MPSERS) obligations. 
  • This frees up $598 million — substantial resources which school districts may now invest directly into classrooms.  
  • The $598 million in new funding results in an average $400 per pupil increase, equivalent to a 4.2% increase in the foundation allowance
Education Budget

The FY25 School Aid Budget also provides Michigan schools with much-needed resources through funding that targets at-risk students, literacy needs, mental health, and more: 

  • At-Risk funding increased by $82.9 million (8.2% increase)
  • Before and After School program funding is now $75 million, increased by $25 million
  • Literacy investments total $165 million
    • Literacy Supports- $87 million
    • Early Literacy Teacher Coaches- $42 million
    • Early Literacy Added Instructional Time- $19.9 million
    • Literacy Coaches and Classroom Teachers- $10 million
    • Literacy and Math Essentials- $6 million
  • Investments in health services, mental health for students total nearly $180 million
    • School Mental Health and Support Services- $107.8 million
    • Per-pupil Mental Health & School Safety Grant- $26.5 million
    • School Based Health Centers- $33 million
    • Hearing, Vision, and Dental Screening- $11.6 million
  • Funding for career and technical education students, and students in rural school districts, increases by 6%  

To improve every kid’s chance of thriving and to make life more affordable for parents, we expanded free Pre-K and are continuing free school meals.  We also made investments to lower child care costs and boost child care workers while providing stabilization grants to child care facilities to help combat inflation and navigate demand impacts as Michigan moves toward universal pre-K. 

  • Continuation of the Free School Meals program- $200 million

    • Feeds 1.4 million public school students, saving families $850 per year

  • Continuing to expand free Pre-K to every 4-year-old in Michigan- $130 million
    • Will serve approximately 5,300 additional children
    • Saves families $10,000 a year 

  • New funding for childcare and bonuses for childcare workers- $65 million (15% rate increase) 

We’re also returning dollars — $181 million — directly into hardworking teachers’ pockets. By pre-funding the school employee retiree health system, we’ve eliminated the 3% healthcare cost contributions that many teachers have had to pay for over a decade. The FY25 budget also continues investments in a student loan stipend program established last year which helps retain and attract talent for critical teaching positions.

We’re expanding community college access so every Michigan high school graduate can receive an associate degree or skilled certificate tuition-free. The $30 million investment in the Michigan Achievement Scholarship saves students an average of $4,820 in tuition each year.

We’re also continuing support for Michigan Reconnect with an investment of $52 million, providing a tuition-free pathway for adult learners 25 and older to return to school for degrees or skilled trade certifications. These higher education investments lower costs for families and students, position Michiganders for better jobs, and enable our state to be more competitive economically.

Investing in children, helping hardworking teachers keep more money in their pockets, and improving Michigan’s workforce are top priorities for me and my Senate Democratic colleagues. The budget we passed is a big win for education, and a big win for Michiganders. 

 

 

Legislative Updates  

 

Diverse Coalition Endorses Working Families Tax Credit 

WPTC quote graphic<br />

More than 80 leaders from Michigan’s non-profit, business, and faith communities have endorsed a key component of my proposal to alleviate the childcare crisis holding back Michigan families and our economy. 

Senate Bill 838 would create the Working Parents Tax Credit, putting dollars back in the pockets of parents with children aged 3 and younger, so they can better afford childcare. Based on the same eligibility as the Earned Income Tax Credit, it would be paid monthly for an annual total of $5,500 per young child per family. 

I’m glad to see growing support for my legislation that would give immediate relief to Michigan’s young families and help tackle a top priority of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, local and regional chambers, Business Leaders of Michigan, and virtually every major employer in the state. 

 

Small Business Association of Michigan Awards McDonald Rivet Legislator of the Year 

SBAM pic

It is a great honor to earn Legislator of the Year recognition from the Small Business Association of Michigan. Small businesses add enormous opportunities and value to our Great Lakes Bay Region and local communities across Michigan. They generate thousands of jobs and are vital to our state’s economy. I’ll always look for practical ways to make it easier for Michiganders to get the training, talent and capital they need to start and grow their dreams. Midland Daily News coverage is linked here. 

  

First Charges Filed Under McDonald Rivet’s Child Access Prevention Law 

Despite averaging one unintentional shooting involving a child every day in our country, I always hoped my law on firearm storage around kids would never need to be used. This NBC News article details what happened when 3-year-old Skye McBride accessed an unsecure, loaded firearm. It’s the first case in which Michigan prosecutors are using my child access prevention lawto hold irresponsible gun owners accountable. 

 

Community Investments & Connections 

  

$1.6 Million for Bay City’s Share of Lafayette Bridge Reconstruction Costs Law 

I’m pleased to share that the FY25 State Budget allots $1.6 million to reimburse Bay City for its portion of funding the Lafayette Bridge reconstruction. Without this allotment, Bay City would have had to make cuts — in critical funding areas like sidewalks, parks, roads, and public safety — to meet its cost obligations for this project. 

I was proud to champion and secure this $1.6 million infrastructure grant that offsets more than 96% of Bay City’s cost burden. In the coming months, my legislative staff will work with city leadership on proper documentation for a seamless process of receiving and using the funds. More in this MLIVE article. 

 

 

$1 Million for Midland-Based Youth Development Program

For the second consecutive year, I’m proud to have supported a $1 million appropriation in the budget for “Discover You.” This Midland-based program offers tools and resources to students statewide to help build the critical life skills to help them successfully forge their futures. Last year, in our Great Lakes Bay Region alone, 2,628 kids were helped in 25 different schools. Across Michigan, an estimated 278,000 students were helped with 331 hours of assistance from 1,393 adults. The new funds will help them continue their impactful work and reach new classrooms, equipping more students with valuable development skills. 

 

Going PRO Talent Fund Awards $787,738 to Support Region’s Workers and Businesses

Thanks to the most recent round of Going PRO Talent Fund grants, eleven businesses in our Great Lakes Bay Region will receive more than three-quarters of a million dollars in combined funding to help 568 local workers receive the training they need to gain and retain high-skill, high-wage careers. 

Going Pro awards chart

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity awards Going PRO Talent Funds to employers through Michigan Works! Agencies. A majority of the $787,738 awarded through Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! will equip workers in agribusiness (244 employees at Michigan Sugar) and manufacturing (133 employees at UMBRAGROUP).  Local businesses in construction, agriscience, engineering, healthcare, hospitality, and professional development sectors also received funding.   

Every step we take toward higher-skilled, higher-paying jobs is a step in the right direction. Working with employers to equip their workforce with industry-recognized credentials or college credit sets both Michigan businesses and workers up for success.

Coffee Hour

Our next coffee hour is Friday, July 19, 10-11 a.m. at the IBEW 692 Electrical Trades Building, 1300 W Thomas St., Bay City 48706. Share what’s on your mind, learn about our work and the latest developments in Lansing directly from me.  

IMPORTANT NOTE: To ensure that our constituent hours respect and serve our 35th Senate District constituents, we are only opening them up for district residents. We will ask attendees to provide their address upon arrival, and we will ask anyone who is not a SD-35 constituent to connect with us through our online contact form, or to request a meeting through our scheduling e-form. 

 

Two Years Ago— Americans Lose a Constitutional Right for the First Time in History 

June 24th marked two years since the Supreme Court’s conservative majority overturned Roe v Wade — stripping millions of Americans of their federally protected right to abortion and jeopardizing their health. Never before had Americans lost a Constitutional right. Millions of Michiganders recognized the disastrous impact of this ruling and voted for pro-choice candidates and measures in the November 2022 election, by strong majorities at the state level. 

Reproductive Rights

Last month, I joined constituents rallying for reproductive rights in Saginaw and Midland. We applauded the protections that our Democratic trifecta delivered on reproductive health services including access to safe abortion,surrogacy, and fertility treatments, and we committed to fight back against new attacks on women and ob-gyn care providers. My Senate Democratic colleagues and I are doing everything we can at the state level to keep you safe, and to make sure you have the freedom to decide when and how to start or grow your family.  

  

Teach For America Roundtable   

It was great to join Teach For America’s Teach Michigan at their roundtable in Saginaw last month to hear local voices on challenges facing educators and how we can improve the teaching profession. Big improvements will come when my educator evaluation reform takes effect this coming school year. With more constructive evaluations and greater flexibility in determining the most appropriate metrics for educator and student growth, we’re making teaching more attractive for professionals and more effective for kids in the classroom. 

 

Gold Star Memorial Dedication in Midland

Gold Star Memorial pic

It’s so important to show families surviving our fallen military heroes how grateful we are for their loved ones’ service, and that we recognize their sacrifices continue. It was my honor to help dedicate Midland’s first Gold Star Memorial, located outside Dow Diamond. Thanks to sponsor Midland Garden Council and all who joined this dedication including local Gold Star Families and Honor Guard members from VFW Post 3651, American Veterans Post 3652 and Disabled American Veterans Post 94. I hope you’ll take time to visit, share your appreciation and remembrances. 

 

Job Opening: District Assistant 

My office has a part-time job opening for a District Assistant, 10-20 hours per week including non-traditional work hours as necessary. High school diploma or GED is required. Under the direction of my Chief of Staff and myself, the District Assistant attends and assists with in-district events and meetings and provides services and referrals to constituents in the district. The District Assistant represents me and the district’s legislative positions and priorities to constituents and in turn communicates constituent feedback to my office team to contribute to the legislative process. A full job description and information on how to apply can be found here. 

 

Helpful Reminders, Resources, and Links 

Human and Animal Safety In Hot Temperatures 

When temperatures and humidity are high, there is an increased risk of heat-related illnesses including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Pay attention to the daily heat index, which gives a more accurate picture of how hot it feels outside than the temperature alone.  

 

Severe Storm, Power Outage and Utilities Assistance Resources 

  

College and Career Training Resources and Scholarships 

 

Mental Health Crisis Lines 

  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or visit this Lifeline Chat, to connect with a trained crisis counselor at this free 24/7 nationwide confidential hotline. 
  • Veterans Crisis Line: Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838-255.  
  • The Trevor Project has counselors trained in the challenges young people in the LGBTQ community face. Call 1-866-488-7386, text 678-678, or click here for their 24/7 support.  

      

    Locating Mental Health Treatment Services 

    • Michigan 211: Call 211 or visit mi211.org to speak with a live person who can help you locate long-term mental health resources or talk through a problem. All conversations are confidential, can be made anonymously, and are available in 180 languages upon request. 
    • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Visit FindTreatment.gov, a confidential and anonymous resource, to locate treatment facilities for mental and substance use disorders near you.  
    • Michigan Community Mental Health Services Programs: CMHSPs provide a comprehensive range of services and supports to children, adolescents and adults with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities and substance use disorders in all 83 Michigan counties. Find your local program here. 

       

      Connecting With Us 

       

      If You Need Help 
      If you have issues dealing with any state government department, including accessing unemployment benefits or tax information, my office is available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to connect you with the most appropriate person or organization for help. 

        Most Current Updates 
        Social media sites are neither official government websites nor are they well suited for constituent correspondence. However, since we post frequently, our social media accounts can be a very timely way to learn about legislative action, community news and impacts. Visit my Facebook page or my Threads page. 

         

        Our newsletters, website and constituent hours are also great ways to learn about our work.