Chris Ward introduces bill on school funding

From the AP:

GOP lawmaker introduces measures to close gap in school funding
2/15/2006, 7:21 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker is proposing legislation that would close the funding gap among Michigan's school districts.

State Rep. Chris Ward of Brighton said two bills — one a constitutional amendment — would require the state to reduce the state funding gap between the highest- and lowest-funded schools to within 10 percent.

The current state portion of the annual per-pupil grant for K-12 public schools ranges from $8,175 to $6,875, a 19 percent gap. Districts that had spent even more prior to the school funding and property tax reforms of 1994 continue to do so with local funds, with some districts at $12,330 per-pupil, Ward said

(Snip)

In other news, State RepMary Waters runs for Secretary of State