Rep. David Knezeks' Site Feed

Knezek, Zemke Introduce Bills to Give Schools Funding Flexibility

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

LANSING — State Representatives David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) and Adam F. Zemke (D-Ann Arbor) have introduced legislation that would remove restrictions on certain funds, allowing school districts to use that money to make infrastructure improvements and capital investments.

“Many school districts find themselves unable to provide students with the latest technology as a result of the deep funding cuts that have been imposed over the last few years,” Knezek said. “Technology in the classroom supplements a high quality education, and ensures our children are ready to enter the 21st century workforce.”

The three-bill package would affect sinking funds, which are voter-approved pools of money intended to maintain the liquid assets of a school district or other public entity. Knezek’s bill, House Bill 4483, would allow school districts to spend the money on technology upgrades, while Zemke’s bills, HBs 4368 and 4515, would let them put sinking funds toward safety and security equipment and transportation purchases and repairs, respectively.

“These bills expand local control by giving school districts, and the people who live in them, more of a say in funding decisions,” Zemke said. “Rather than simply accepting the decisions made for them in Lansing, community leaders can have another tool at their disposal to improve schools and give kids a brighter future.”

Knezek to Host Tax Town Hall

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

GARDEN CITY — State Representative David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) will hold a town hall to provide residents with information about recent changes to the tax law in Michigan. Representatives from H&R Block and the AARP Tax Aide program will be present at the event.

The town hall will take place:

Tuesday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. inside the council chambers of Garden City City Hall, 6000 Middlebelt Road

“There are a lot of changes to Michigan’s tax code that are taking effect this year, including a tax on seniors’ retirement income,” Knezek said. “I’m hosting this event to ensure residents have all the information they need to file their taxes and get the biggest refund possible.”

Rep. David Knezek Speaks Out Against EAA

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:34:00 -0400

State Representative David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) spoke in opposition to legislation that would expand the Educational Achievement Authority (EAA) in Michigan on the House floor March 21. House Bill 4369, narrowly passed, 57-53.

Rep. Knezek to Read to Children at Schools in His District

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

LANSING — State Representative David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) announced several dates on which he will read to children. Knezek is celebrating March is Reading Month with visits to schools in his district to share a love of reading with students.

Knezek will be in his district on the following dates:

March 18 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Starfish Family Services in Inkster
March 22 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Douglas Elementary School in Garden City
March 22 from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. at Hayes Elementary School in Westland

Additional times and locations will be announced soon.

Reps. Lipton and Knezek Vote Against Gutting Public Schools

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:13:14 -0400

LANSING - House Education Committee Vice Chairwoman Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods) and committee member Rep. David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) today voted against an education reform proposal that enables for-profit charter school companies to take over public schools and opens a back door to school vouchers.

“House Bill 4369 is little more than the corporatization of public schools masquerading as education reform,” Lipton said. “Rather than looking for real solutions that will benefit students in the state’s most troubled schools, this plan does nothing but throw open the door to the corporate takeover of public schools. Our kids deserve more than that, and that’s why I voted against this bill.”

House Democrats on the committee offered several proposals that would have held the EAA accountable to voters and protected students in EAA schools. They included prohibitions against converting public schools into for-profit charter academies, requiring monthly meetings for each school in the EAA system akin to a local board meeting, placing the EAA under the authority of the elected state Board of Education and subjecting the EAA to the Freedom of Information Act. The amendments were rejected by Republicans on the committee.

Despite a lack of support from every Democrat on the committee, HB 4369 was voted out of committee and is expected to make its way to the House Floor. A similar bill proposed last year also made it out of committee but never reached a vote in the House.

“The people of Michigan don’t want their local schools turned over to for-profit corporations,” Knezek said. “This proposal failed last year because even some Republicans found the measures too extreme. The proposal is still too extreme, and that’s why I voted against it in committee and will continue to fight against it.”