Educators for Affordable Water: Sign-on Letter

To: Honorable Members of the Michigan State Legislature

We, who work to educate children in Michigan, want to bring your attention to the thousands of students and their families who struggle regularly with unaffordable water bills. For this reason, we support the proposed legislation presently being considered in the Michigan House (HBs 5088-5093) and Senate (SBs 489-454 and SB25).

The package of bills offers a statewide program to make water affordable for all eligible residents of our state, including many students sitting in our classrooms. The program also offers protections from water shutoffs and reimburse local utilities for the cost of providing affordable bills.

As educators, we are concerned about the safety and welfare of our students and their families. One of the greatest dangers faced by some of our students is the reality of not having access to water and adequate sanitation. Physical and mental health, hygiene, and dignity are at stake.  Some of us have quietly assisted students whose households have had water shut off due to unaffordable bills. 

We know that from the minute our students get up in the morning until they go to bed at night, they are dependent on water and adequate sanitation.  The physical, emotional, and social toll taken on students living in homes that are water insecure is incalculable.  In some cases, unaffordable water bills lead parents to pay for water instead of other necessities, like food, medicine, and housing. All of these consequences of water insecurity work against student well-being and optimal learning.

We cannot say that we support Michigan’s children and then deny them access to life-giving water. As educators, we have a duty to advocate for policies that allow our students to thrive. We, the undersigned, support the proposed water bills package and call upon all our Michigan legislators to stand with our children and their families by passing these bills. 

A summary of the bills and more information about water affordability in Michigan can be found at MIWaterPlan.com 

(Please sign below)

  1. Khari Brown, Ann Arbor, Professor of Sociology at Wayne State University
  2. Linda Pence, Beverly Hills, Teacher-retired
  3. Lori Lutz, Bloomfield Hills, Retired Associate Director, The Roeper Institute
  4. Victor Kennerly, Canton, Professor of counseling
  5. Kellyn Szajnecki, Dearborn,  Teacher
  6. Elvia Murga-Zeno,  Dearborn Heights, Director of Social Emotional Counseling Department
  7. Christine Crawford, Detroit, Social Worker
  8. Robert Dalka, Detroit, Assistant Professor of Physics
  9. Susan Gallagher,  Detroit,  LMSW, Retired SSW, Detroit Public Schools
  10. Laura Garcia,  Detroit, Teacher Corporate Work Study classes (work skills)
  11. Lindsay Karty, Detroit, Independence Paraprofessional, Boggs School
  12. Jill Kress,  Detroit, Student Enrichment Coordinator
  13. Danielle Maxwell,  Detroit, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  14. James Perkinson,  Detroit, Professor of Social Ethics and Theology/Ecumenical Theological Seminary
  15. Spencer Price, Detroit, Teacher
  16. Kimberly Redigan,  Detroit, Director of Campus Ministry, Detroit Cristo Rey High School
  17. Sydney Redigan,   Detroit, Teacher
  18. Amanda Rosman, Detroit, Executive Director, K-8 School, 
  19. Michelle Sheng, Detroit, Teacher
  20. Alexander Slavsky, Detroit, Teacher
  21. Jo-Ann Snyder,  Detroit, Professor of Education (retired), Wayne State University
  22. Samuel Stolper,  Detroit, Assistant Professor of Environmental Economics
  23. Lara Treemore-Spears, Detroit, Research Project Manager, Wayne State University 
  24. Sylvia Oatley,  Farmington, Teacher
  25. Marcus Dickson,  Farmington, Professor of Psychology at Wayne State University
  26. Audrey Pleasant,  Farmington Hills,  Public School Teacher, Retired
  27. Marnina Falk, Ferndale, Former DPSCD teacher and current Instructional Strategist 
  28. Mara Livezey,  Ferndale, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
  29. Ruth Biersdorf,  Lathrup Village, Retired librarian 
  30. Anne Perez,  Livonia, Professional Learning Specialist, former HS English teacher
  31. Steve Spreitzer, Livonia, Racial and Social Justice Education
  32. Robert A. Martin,  Oakland County, Oakland University Faculty
  33. Kerry Marroni, Oscoda, Retired teacher/Media Specialist Novi Community Schools
  34. Paul Agosta, Plymouth, President -Applied Technology Systems 
  35. Arthur L. Liebhaber, Royal Oak,  Librarian
  36. Linda Slowik,  Royal Oak, Professor
  37. Diane Weckerle, Royal Oak, retired Nursing Instructor, Eastern Michigan University
  38. Hans Wittrock,  Shelby Township, Teacher
  39. David Ascher, South Lyon, Principal, retired
  40. Sam Stark, Southfield, Retired, UAW Education Dept., Discussion Leader
  41. Hillary Sesi,  Sterling Heights, School Counselor
  42. Peggy Case, Thompsonville, Retired Pontiac teacher
  43. Melvin Chudnof, West Bloomfield, Professor Oakland Community College
  44. Carolyn Lowe, West Bloomfield, Teacher
  45. Barry Rubin, West Bloomfield, Retired Teacher, Principal, Pontiac Schools

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