By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-909436.mp3
LANSING, MI –
About five-thousand teachers and school employees rallied at the state Capitol Thursday to protest budget cuts to schools.
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There will most likely be no further cuts to schools in the coming fiscal year. But many teachers and advocates say the Legislature needs to do more.
Sue Hill is an elementary school teacher in Swartz Creek.
"If we don't invest in these kids, which means investing in teachers, we might as well just turn the lights out and leave Michigan," she says.
Senate Republicans want to take money from a surplus in the School Aid Fund to fill holes in other areas of the budget. But some House Democrats argue that money belongs to schools that already took a cut last year. Lawmakers are struggling to reach a compromise before the end of next week.