UP Gazette

State Rep. Karl Bohnak has introduced House Bill 4802, a proposal aimed at ensuring continued funding for Michigan's island school districts. The bill would guarantee financial support for districts with fewer than 250 students that are either located at least 30 miles from any other public-school building or situated on islands not accessible by bridge.

“When considering our smallest school districts in Michigan, per-student funding doesn’t come close to covering the necessary operating costs and teacher salaries, let alone costs for textbooks, extracurriculars, or other expenses,” said Bohnak, R-Deerton. “My plan would guarantee these schools will receive the funding they need to continue educating our kids.”

Bohnak pointed out that his district includes Burt Township School District (BTSD) in Grand Marais, which enrolls between 18 and 40 students each year. He noted that the standard per-student state allocation is insufficient to meet the district’s operational needs.

The legislative effort was prompted after BTSD Superintendent Miranda McShane attended an office hour event hosted by Bohnak to discuss state government issues with local residents and officials. During this meeting, McShane highlighted the importance of maintaining state funding for island school districts.

“I want to thank Superintendent McShane for proactively seeking me out so we could discuss the unique challenges faced by our island districts,” Bohnak said. “She attended one of my office hours and thoughtfully explained how important continued funding is to ensure that even our most rural students receive the education they deserve. I’m committed to fighting for this funding throughout the budget process so we can keep the doors open at fantastic schools like Burt Township and many more like it.”