Genesee News

The Davison Board of Education voted to lay off five teachers, effective July 1, by a five-to-one vote while approving a 2020-2021 budget, because of financial uncertainties stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Board member Matt Smith was the lone dissenting vote. He indicated that not enough information has been received from state leaders in Lansing to justify a yes vote.

“We’re not getting a lot of answers out of Lansing, like we should,” Smith was quoted in The Burton View. “It’s hard because this is projected; there are no answers whether these layoffs are actually needed. I wish we had an answer. It’s not the administration’s fault; it’s the fact that Lansing needs to get it together and get some answers about what kind of funding we’re going to get.”

The Burton View report said the action was taken and next year's budget approved based on a grim financial picture. Because of the coronavirus, the budget will have a $600 per-pupil drop in state funding with continuing uncertainties remaining about how much the state will send to schools.

Superintendent Kevin Brown said the decision to go ahead with the layoffs was a tough one.

“Laying off staff is never easy to do,” Brown said, according to The Burton View. “In the budget you approved earlier this evening, it does call for the layoff of five certified staff members. That budget, most of the cuts are in things that don’t involve people or programs.”   

Smith, the owner of a flooring business, is also member of the Genesee County Republican Party and a candidate for 9th District County Commissioner.