David Randels

I do gov relations for Oakland Schools. Please don’t hold my teachers accountable for typos. Views are informed by everyone I’ve ever met.

[David Randels @randelsd]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[Senator Dayna Polehanki @SenPolehanki]

"Madam President, half a dozen construction workers came to my office yesterday wanting to talk about Michigan's roads, and I was struck by the great pride with which they talked about the careers that they built, making Michigan's roads smooth and safe for us to travel on.

We agreed that Michigan needs a sustainable plan to keep our roads fixed and fixed the right way so they last as long as possible.

When we talked about road funding, the guys I spoke with did not want to pay for roads by cutting money from our public schools.

I showed them how around 46% of Republican Speaker Matt Hall's road plan is paid for out of the School Aid Fund.

They didn't like that and agreed that we have to find a way to fund roads that isn't on the backs of Michigan's public schools, which are still underfunded by billions of dollars each year.

Speaker Hall's roads plan is a clever shell game involving holding schools harmless on the revenue side only to inflict serious harm on the appropriations side as it pushes $1.47 billion of higher ed appropriations currently paid for using the General Fund to the School Aid Fund.

Speaker Hall's budget proposal also strips $600 million of the MPSERS savings the Democrats gave back to schools.

So, in all, his plan guts school funding to the tune of over $2 billion.

So when you hear him say, 'We will pay for roads with no new taxes,' please know that he can claim that because his plan blows a $2 billion hole in school funding, but doesn't raise taxes.

It's classic smoke and mirrors.

I look forward to voting on a real roads plan that leaves our great public schools alone."

[David Randels @randelsd]

Michigan’s school leaders don’t need more lectures from Lansing politicians on how to run schools — we need them to do their job and vote on a budget.

[NBA Summer League @NBASummerLeague]

11 Days. 76 Games. All 30 NBA Teams.

Tickets are NOW ON SALE for the NBA 2K Summer League taking place July 10-20 in Las Vegas.

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[David Eggert @DavidEggert00]

These bills are dead. The Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance says the Legislature 'failed families' and 'there was too much at stake for representatives to throw in the towel without taking action on important issues that impact our state.'

[David Randels @randelsd]

Oakland County voters are K-12 voters…and they hold the future of the world in their hands.

[Tim Alberta @TimAlberta]

Good morning and happy Election Day. The closest I'll come to a prediction:

Eight years ago, I wrote about the conflict between my brain and my gut. Everything I knew (state data, demographic trends, etc) pointed to a Clinton victory. Yet everything I saw (hidden support, intensity of opposition toward Clinton) suggested Trump would win.

Today feels eerily similar—with the roles reversed. Everything I know (high floor, erosion within the Dem coalition, good environment) points to a Trump victory. Yet everything I see (hidden support, intensity of opposition toward Trump) suggests Harris will win.

My brain has told me, since springtime, that Trump is the favorite. That didn't change when Harris took over the ticket; I told audiences throughout September and part of October that I thought he'd win. But my gut—especially over these last two weeks—keeps saying Harris, and maybe even Harris by a comfortable margin.

Bottom line: a massacre in the suburbs would realign the electorate more than any shift among urban non-whites. Trump may well improve in Detroit, but if he loses Oakland County by 20 points it ain't gonna matter.

[David Randels @randelsd]

Housing policy is education policy.

[Sasha Pudelski @SPudelski]

I am obsessed with this New America graphic on the cycle of school and neighborhood inequality. So easy to understand and so powerful.

[David Randels @randelsd]

Suburban voters are K-12 voters. Candidates who want to win must communicate how they plan to support and encourage public education. https://t.co/uziuZlVBrD via @BridgeMichigan

[Oakland Schools @OaklandSchools]

Today, we celebrate the document that shapes our democracy. In our classrooms, we’re teaching students about their rights and responsibilities as citizens!
#ConstitutionDay

https://t.co/hqbMc2UHiQ

[Sasha Pudelski @SPudelski]

5th Circuit rules FCC authority under the Universal Service Fund (which funds E-Rate, the 5th largest federal funding stream that school districts receive) is unconstitutional. https://t.co/5K11y3jqeC

[Peter Spadafore @PeterSpadafore]

Today’s consensus revenue numbers emphasize that the days of funding GF programs with education dollars must come to an end. It’s imperative that lawmakers prioritize K-12 classroom spending with school money and fully fund the school community’s proposal for pension liabilities.

[David Randels @randelsd]

State revenue experts just announced that the fund voters set aside to support K-12 schools is not keeping up with inflation. Lansing MUST end the practice of balancing the budget on the back of our kids. #SchoolRaidFund

[David Randels @randelsd]

Here’s @mtbarra laying all the blame for everything wrong at our K-12 system’s feet. And, for sure, lots to fix. But let’s be very clear, public educators in Oakland Co are proud of their students who change the world, like Mary Barra. https://t.co/x6PjYNGwU1 @detroitnews

[David Randels @randelsd]

With the healthcare portion of the retirement fund projected to be fully funded, Michigan has a historic opportunity to begin correcting past mistakes without additional tax burdens on our citizens or cuts to other vital programs.

[David Eggert @DavidEggert00]

Detroit superintendent Vitti is urging lawmakers to keep all savings from Whitmer's pension maneuver in Sec. 147 - it'd enable MI to lower what districts pay to 14% of payroll, from 21%, freeing up $ for schools locally. Whitmer wants much of that $ for other education spending.

[CNN Breaking News @cnnbrk]

Congressional leaders announce a deal to keep the rest of the government funded through the fiscal year. There's a Friday night deadline to pass it. https://t.co/MFsvPyFFFW

[Bridge Michigan @BridgeMichigan]

Opinion | Michigan schools don’t need heavy-handed edicts to improve safety https://t.co/jvl9gKEYO5

[The K-12 Alliance of Michigan @K12Michigan]

"Fully funding IDEA is not just a fiscal commitment; it embodies the principles of equity, inclusion and individualization — a commitment to treating every child with dignity and providing them with an equal opportunity to learn and thrive."

https://t.co/mLMahQm1GM

[David Randels @randelsd]

@mrobmused @DNBethLeBlanc Lansing politicians NEVER know more about what my kid needs than me, their teachers and schools leaders do. NEVER

[Sasha Pudelski @SPudelski]

Don't believe the hype that districts are not laser-focused on using ESSER funds for additional instructional time. New @ASBOIntl report released today shows, like AASA's prior reports, it's the top district spending priority: https://t.co/WqotMkQBLU

[David Randels @randelsd]

Thank you!

[Rep. Haley Stevens @RepHaleyStevens]

Thank you to the hard working @K12Michigan for making your way from Michigan to press law makers to fully fund special education in this country, in addition to free and reduced lunch, and ways to address the teacher shortage. Your partnership and work is so appreciated.

[David Randels @randelsd]

Thank you!

[Jeremy Moss @JeremyAllenMoss]

After tirelessly advocating, @RepBrendaCarter & I are proud to deliver debt relief for the Pontiac School District. This will ensure funding is directed right into the classroom to provide students with the resources, opportunities, & education they rightfully deserve.