Michigan and UP Infrastructure, Veterans in the House and Senate, More on the Census, and Michigan’s Elected K-12 School Boards

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This Week in Rural Insights

We will feature a video/podcast with Upper Peninsula State Representative Sara Cambensy of Marquette. A very interesting and informative session that will be well worth your time.

Take a look/listen and let us know what you think about our new podcast series. Want more of it? Prefer videos? Prefer written articles? Combination? 

Michigan and the Upper Peninsula Infrastructure

We have all read reports about the state of our state’s bridges and roads. That includes the condition of bridges, roads and other infrastructure needs in the Upper Peninsula.

In 2016, the state published a report saying that more than 25% of the state’s bridges were obsolete or deficient. The report called for Michigan to spend $4 Billion annually on bridges and other infrastructure needs. 

Michigan was expected to get $7.3 Billion for highway improvements over a five-year period and $563 million for bridge replacements. 

In the most recent federal infrastructure bill there was only $340 million for annual Michigan highway improvements. Experts say that amount falls short of what is needed… 

Veterans Serving in the US House and Senate

There are 535 elected members of the US House and Senate at the start of this 117th Congress. Only 91 of them are veterans.

One of the lowest numbers in modern history. 

Michigan’s US Senator Gary Peters is a veteran, as is the 1st Congressional District (includes the UP) Congressman Jack Bergman.

Clearly this number needs to improve, military and veteran advocates report. 

More on the US Census and Michigan

Last week we reported on the newly-released census numbers from the US Census Bureau. We talked about the losses in the Upper Peninsula and southeast Michigan.

The Michigan Independent Citizens Commission that will conduct reapportionment is starting their work and looking at potential maps for the state’s federal and state legislative districts. 

They are beginning to take citizen testimony on their thoughts and suggestions about maps. 

With the loss in population in the Upper Peninsula there is going to be a need to readjust the boundaries in these legislative districts. There is one US Congressional district (1st CD) that covers the entire UP and a good part of northern lower Michigan, and it is expected to extend even further into lower Michigan with this reapportionment.

All of our UP state House and Senate districts will see some realignment. The change in boundaries will have a big impact on the lives of folks in the UP and impacts how we get what we need and want from the legislature.

It’s important to pay attention to what is being proposed. If you have ideas you can submit them to the Citizens Commission. Go to the Michigan Secretary of State website for more information. You can also find a listing of public hearing locations throughout the state.

Michigan’s Elected K-12 School Boards Across the State and the Upper Peninsula

Michigan has 600 elected K-12 school boards and 294 publicly-funded charter schools (all which have their own boards that are appointed by charter authorizers, such as university boards who are appointed by the governor).

Some education advocates are once again calling for a discussion on a cap on the number of charter schools allowed in Michigan, and other advocates are also talking about school district consolidation–questioning whether we really need 600 public K-12 districts in the 21st century. 

These discussions in past decades have gone nowhere since Michganders seems to want to keep their own local school districts and local sport teams. No one is really expecting anything to be different this time around. 

For more on this topic, you can listen to our upcoming podcast/video interview with Don Wortruba, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of School Boards. It is a fascinating discussion of local school board issues statewide and what the future holds for local schools. 

By the way, Don Wortruba was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula. He is from Carney.

Watch for this interview in the next couple of weeks.

Quotes That Make Us Go Hmm

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If the elephant has its foot on the tail of the mouse, and you say you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Desmond Tutu.

“If you can’t tolerate critics, then don’t do anything new or interesting.” Jeff Bezos.

Books Recommended by our Readers

The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War. Craig Whitlock. 2021.

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David Haynes

David Haynes has served as a professor of public administration and public policy. He previously has served as President of Northern Michigan University. David has been involved in the public administration and political science field for over 45 years.

4 Comments

  1. Nancy Uschold on August 23, 2021 at 12:36 pm

    Regarding the number of veterans serving in Congress: You report “only” 91 of 535 are veterans and “clearly this number needs to improve”. Without knowing the percentage of veterans in the general population, it is not at all clear whether this number (about 17% of total people in congress) over or under represents veterans. According to the census.gov (https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/acs-43.html) in 2018 veterans made up about 7% of the total population. If anything, Veterans are over-represented. More “clear” instances of under-representation are women (126/535 or 23%) who make up at least 50% of the population. https://cawp.rutgers.edu/women-us-congress-2020 And minorities (which is also about 23%) despite being over 40% of the population (https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/12/census-data-white-pouplation-shrinking-504253

  2. Jim, NMU 1975 and 1983 on August 23, 2021 at 1:51 pm

    While MDot under Gov Whitmer ignores broken vital infrastructures, they are busy building questionably useful roundabouts that many people don’t know how to use. The monstrosity off US 41 near Ishpeming looks like it was designed by spilling a plate of spaghetti. Check out MDot maps from 10-15 years ago… read and laugh at the grandiose scheme that would have solved our infrasrtucter problems, but never came to fruition – except to play it again in 2020 as an encore.

  3. David A. Wirth on August 23, 2021 at 3:08 pm

    David:

    Regarding the consolidation of the 600 public school districts: In Redford Township we have 2 school systems and part of a third. They are South Redford Schools, Redford Union Schools and part of the Clarenceville School District. South Redford and Redford Union Schools receive vastly different per pupil funding from the State of Michigan. Both Schools have had declining enrollments.

    Several years ago David Knesek, our State Senator, proposed a funding program to unite the districts. His plan would have take the state funding of the larger school district added $100.00 per pupil in both districts and the new united school district would be funded at the new per pupil rate. I do not believe this ever made it out of committee.

    Economics will probably be the only way to consolidation, when a district cannot afford to operate. It is always better to be proactive v. reactive and provide a proper education for the children of Michigan.

  4. Dale Borske on August 23, 2021 at 3:48 pm

    Agree with Jim above, those roundabouts cause more traffic slowdowns and accidents. I am not sure how they would contribute to a more efficient highway system because I am not seeing it.

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