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