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Amidst the negotiations of various Appropriation committees wrestling with how to address our budget situation this week, the House Education committee voted in a Bi-Partisan fashion to move a package of School reform bills out of committee.  The bills are now slated to go before the full-legislature in the coming weeks.  The package, sponsored by Rep. Johnson(Detroit) and myself, creates a process for seriously addressing our state's lowest performing schools.  After seven weeks of testimony on issues related to school restrucuturing, the committee came together to support the bills.  I commend the committee members for working to create a sensible, reform-minded package of bills.  The vote came after the committee heard testimony from two Education professors from MSU, and representatives from the Michigan Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers.  Both groups testified in support of the package, as a way to focus on restructuring the existing school, with buy-in from all parties in that school.  I am very pleased to say that the MEA and AFT (along with other stakeholders) were proactive, and positive partners in our discussions about addressing these schools.  The staff in those buildings are essential to turning around underperforming schools and selflessly committed to instruction.  I look forward to voting on these bills and sending them over to the Senate.