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A Michigan Capitol Confidential story forms the basis of an editorial in today’s Detroit News that says school districts should stop using taxpayer dollars to subsidize union activity and instead redirect that money to the classroom.
About 40 districts in Michigan pay teachers who are in union leadership roles at least half of their salary, including 25 that pay full-time. Many other districts allow “release time” for teachers to work on union business on school time.
Mike Van Beek, director of education policy, told The News this represents a “hidden cost,” since in each case districts must spend additional taxpayer dollars to cover that time spent out of the classroom.
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