Parents in the Shelby School District, including those in the Ferry area, should not be angry with the Shelby Board of Education or district administration. They should be frustrated with state legislators who refuse to adequately fund public schools in Michigan. Shelby is not alone. Schools across the state have had to make decisions that were not based on children, but on finances. Until those in state government come up with a solution to the budget crisis, children in this state will continue to pay the consequences. This is detrimental to Michigan's future, as children today need a quality education to survive in the world economy of tomorrow. Please contact our state legislators and demand they fund public education for our children.

Thank you for saying that, Kim. I wish I could say this was an isolated problem, but Florida's system is just as bad if not worse. My husband and myself, having both gone through Michigan public schools (Mason County Eastern and Shelby respectively), always assumed that was the route our children would take. Now, faced with the possibility of sending them to school in Florida, we're finding ourselves thinking more about private education. I can't believe how good we had it. On a personal note, I wish Mrs. Beischizen and Mr Wyns the best of luck. I had them both at New Era and know that the school is losing two excellent teachers.