>>> WELCOME BACK.

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS FORMER REPRESENTATIVE, TALKING ABOUT FACING A HUGE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

AND TURMOIL IN THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE'LL GET THE INSIDE OUT OFF OF THE RECORD.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO OFF THE RECORD, OUR DAYS OF ZOOM OTR ARE NUMBERED.

AUGUST 6TH, WE'LL BE BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH THESE GOOD PEOPLE.

GOOD TO SEE ALL THREE OF YOU, EVERYBODY IS DOING WELL.

KYLE A LITTLE TURMOIL IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

IN >> THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS JASON ROWE, AND HE WAS BROUGHT IN BY THE CURRENT CHAIR TO RUN THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.

HE WAS NOT A FAVORITE OF THE TRUMP REPUBLICAN SECT OF THE PARTY, BECAUSE HE BASICALLY SAID, HEY, LOOK, I'M SORRY, BUT TRUMP LOST, AND HE LOST IT HIMSELF BECAUSE HE DIDN'T CAMPAIGN IN MICHIGAN TOO WELL.

AND SO WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.

THAT DIDN'T SIT VERY WELL WITH A VERY SPECIFIC PART OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO MAKES UP A LOT OF THE ENERGY AND GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM, SO THEY PUT OUT A PETITION AND URGED HIM TO RESIGN.

SO THIS WEEK HE DID RESIGN.

TO THE EXTENT THAT IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS, WE MAY NEVER KNOW EXACTLY.

BUT THE TRUMP REPUBLICANS IN THE PARTY ARE SPIKING THE FOOTBALL AND DOING THEN ZONE DANCE, BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THE RHINO, BEING IN NAME ONLY, IS OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND MORE SHOULD BE ON THE WAY OUT.

>> HOW SERIOUS IS THIS, OR IS THIS MUCH TO DO ABOUT INSIDE BASEBALL THAT NOBODY GIVES TWO HOOTS ABOUT?

>> IT DEFINITELY WILL SET SOMEWHAT OF A TONE.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS GONE THROUGH A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS RECENTLY.

THEY HAD A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR WHO -- JASON -- I'M SORRY -- TED GOODMAN, WHO WAS A PART OF THE PARTY RECENTLY, AND LEFT TO PURSUE AN UNNAMED OPPORTUNITY WHICH IS WHAT JASON SAID EARLIER THIS MONTH.

AND THEY HAD ANOTHER WOMAN WHO WORKED FOR THE "DETROIT NEWS" FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, AND LEFT AFTER TWO DAYS, SO WHETHER THAT MEANS THE PAR TRY IS ALIGNING BEHIND A CERTAIN NARRATIVE REMAINS TO BE SCENE, BUT IT APPEARS THEY ARE LINING UP INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE VERY PRO-PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> STEVEN, IS THERE AN INTERNAL CIVIL WAR QUIETLY GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES?

IN >> I THINK -- LOOK AT THE PARTY NATIONALLY, THERE IS A CIVIL WAR GOING ON.

THERE IS THIS REAL PUSH AND PULL BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T.

PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THE 2020 ELECTION WAS HANDLED FAIRLY, AND THE REPUBLICANS LOST, AND PEOPLE WHO LEAVE THAT THERE WAS SOME MISCHIEF AFOOT, THAT IS PLAYING OUT HERE IN MICHIGAN, AND I DON'T EXPECT THAT IT IS GOING TO RESOLVE ITSELF ANY TIME SOON.

I THINK THE REAL QUESTION IS THE EFFECT THIS HAS ON 2022.

WE SAW THE FORMER POLICE CHIEF GIVE A SPEECH INDICATING HOW ENTHUSIASTIC HE ABOUT GETTING INTO POLITICS, TALKING ABOUT HIS CRITICISMS OF GOVERNOR DUCEY.

HOW DOES THAT EFFECT THIS CAMPAIGN?

IS HE GOING TO HAVE ANSWER THIS QUESTION ABOUT DONALD TRUMP, AND THE 2020 ELECTION, WHICH AS THE POLICE CHIEF HE HAD SOME HAND IN OVERSEEING HERE.

I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE DIGGING THEMSELVES A HOLE THAT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO CRAWL OUT OF BY NEXT SUMMER WHEN PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHO TO SUPPORT IN THAT NOVEMBER 2022 MIDTERM ELECTION.

>> AND SITTING ON THE SIDELINES GOING, YEAH, IS GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY, KYLE.

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL FOR THE D'S IS IT NOT?

>> YEAH, THEY ARE CERTAINLY SITTING BACK AND EATING THE POPCORN AND WATCHING THIS GOING.

BUT INTERNAL CONFLICT THAT PLAYS OUT PUBLICLY IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE CAN GO BACK TO THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT WHEN THEY WERE SEEN AS AN AGGRESSIVE FRACTION, AND THEY WERE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT, AND NOW MA SEAN MADDUX IS THE CO-CHAIR, OR REMEMBER WHEN RONALD REAGAN WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE OUTSIDERS, AND THEN HE BECAME THE HEAD OF THE PARTY, SO THIS IS NOT UNIQUE.

THE QUESTION WILL BE AS IN THOSE PRIOR-TO CASES, IF THAT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE MENDED OVERTIME, AND IT USUALLY IS, AND WILL THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF TRUMP, OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT CAN TURN ITSELF AROUND AND THE FOCUS BE ON GOVERNOR DUCEY, JAMES CRAIG IN 2022.

>>> LET'S TURN TO ANOTHER STORY.

THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

>> IT WAS AS IF IT WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE 9TH INNING.

WHEN SUDDENLY THE UMPIRE CALLED TIME-OUT.

THAT'S WHAT THE STATE BOARD DID TODAY FOR LACK OF ENOUGH VALID PETITIONS.

LAST WEEK THE BOARD STAFF DECLARED FAIR AND EQUAL MICHIGAN DID NOT SUBMIT ENOUGH NAMES BUT THE PROPONENTS ARGUED THAT THE STATE BOARD NEVER CONSIDERED SOME PETITION NAMES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COUNTED >> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PETITIONS.

WE SUBMITTED 61 EXAMPLES THAT WERE NEVER INCLUDED IN THE GROUP OF PETITIONS THAT WERE COUNTED IN A SAMPLE.

>> OVER 400,000 PETITION NAMES WERE SUBMITTED WITH 314,000 VALID NAMES REQUIRES.

THE STATE BOARD DECIDED THERE WERE ENOUGH UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT THIS DELAY WAS WARRANTED.

>> THE ATTORNEY FOR THE GROUP OPPOSING THIS PROPOSAL ASKED FOR TIME TO SUBMIT MORE SIGNATURES.

>> IF WE ARE GOING TO EXTEND THIS, WHICH I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD CHANGE THE OUTCOME AT ALL.

>> THE FAIR AND EQUAL ATTORNEY WAS RELIEVED TO HAVE MORE TIME.

>> I THINK THAT PROVIDES MORE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE STAFF THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BALLOT SIGNATURES THAT SHOULD BE COUNTED.

>> MEANWHILE THE UMPIRE'S TIME-OUT WILL LAST UNTIL JULY 26TH WHEN THE BOARD MEETS AGAIN.

SO JORDAN, WHERE ARE WE HEADED HERE?

IS THERE A SENSE IN TOWN THAT MAYBE THEY ARE GOING TO COME UP WITH ENOUGH NAMES TO QUALIFY FOR THE BALLOT OR THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS?

>> IT REALLY ALL DEPENDS ON THE ARGUMENT THAT THEY ARE MAKING RIGHT NOW, THAT THE BUREAU OF ELECTIONS HAS HELD THEM TO A HIGHER STANDARD THAN ANY OTHER DRIVE TO DATE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE CLAIMING, THAT THERE IS A NUMBER OF PETITION FORMS THAT -- YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ALLEGED TO NOT HAVE A DATE, BUT THERE IS A DATE THERE THAT IS CLEARLY WRITTEN.

HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF WRITING 9, IT LOOKS MORE LIKE A Q.

OR THEY MAY HAVE THE NAME OF NICK, BUT THEY ARE REGISTERED AS NICOLAS, SO THEIR NAME MAY HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT.

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT THOSE ARGUMENTS ARE PERSUASIVE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CASE THAT THOSE SIGNATURES SHOULD BE COUNTED.

THERE IS STILL THE ISSUE OF FAIR AND EQUAL MICHIGAN WENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND GATHERED SIGNATURES ELECTRONICALLY DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THEY GATHERED ALMOST 20,000 ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES THAT WERE JUST STRAIGHT THROWN OUT BY THE BOARD IN THEIR STAFF REPORT, AND THE QUESTION WHETHER THOSE SHOULD COUNT OR NOT IS ALSO STILL UP IN THE AIR.

WHETHER THE BOARD DOES END UP APPROVING THE PETITION INITIATIVE, IF THEY DO NOT, THE FAIR AND EQUAL GROUP HAS SIGNALED THEY ARE WILLING TO GO TO COURT FOR IT.

SO EVEN IF THEY DECIDE IT IS NOT A VALID PETITION FROM THEIR VISAGE, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE AROUND FOR SOMETIME YET.

>> STEPHEN, AS WITH MANY STORIES IN OUR TOWN, THERE ARE ALWAYS TWO SIDES TO THE STORY.

UNDERTHE STORY, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN 2022, THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ON THE BALLOT.

AM I READING THE TEA LEAVES CORRECTLY?

>> I THINK THIS IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOR REPUBLICANS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN ON THE PRECIPICE SINCE THE GAY MARRIAGE DECISION AT THE SUPREME COURT IN WASHINGTON.

THESE ARE THE NEXT ISSUES.

WHY SHOULD YOU BE ABLE TO FIRE SOMEBODY BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

WHY SHOULD YOU BE ABLE TO DENY SOMEBODY HOUSING OR OTHER SERVICES BECAUSE OF THAT.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT KIND OF DISCRIMINATION IS WRONG, AND IF THE LEGISLATURE WERE ASKED TO HAVE TO VOTE ON IT, THAT CAN ANGER A LOT OF THOSE VOTERS.

AT THE SAME TIME, OF COURSE, THE BASE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY STILL IS LIVING A LITTLE IN THE DARK AGES ON THIS ISSUE, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE ANGERED IF THEY SAW THEIR REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURES VOTE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, SO IT IS JUST SOMETHING YOU WOULD RATHER NOT SEE IF YOU ARE SITTING IN THE LEGISLATURE, BUT, AGAIN, IT IS SO FRUSTRATING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TO HAVE THIS ARGUMENT ABOUT FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY.

THESE SEEM LIKE VERY BASSIC ISSUES NOW THAT WE JUST HAVE NOT GOTTEN RIGHT IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

>> AND THE BIG FEAR FOR THE REPUBLICANS, IF THIS GOT ON THE STATE-WIDE BALLOT, IT COULD DRIVE MORE PEOPLE TO THE POLLS.

KYLE, THE VACCINE PROGRAM, AND THE LOTTERY PROGRAM, IS IT WORKING?

>> WELL, IF THE GOAL WAS TO TRY TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED, THEN THE PERIOD OF TIME PRIOR TO THE SKEEP -- SWEEPSTAKES?

THEN THE ANSWER IS NO.

SO I GUESS WE REALLYING DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE THEY HAVE GOTTEN A FEW MORE THOUSAND.

THE NUMBERS DON'T BEAR OUT THAT IT HAS BEEN THIS TIDAL WAVE.

BUT IT HAS KEPT VACCINATIONS TOP OF MIND OR AT LEAST IN THE BACKGROUND FOR FOLKS, AND THE ABILITY TO WIN, YOU KNOW, $50,000, OR MAYBE THIS GRAND PRIZE, IT COULD BE THAT LAST NUDGE FOR SOME FOLKS.

THE SENATE FISCAL AGENCY, THOUGH, DID REVISE THEIR -- THEIR ESTIMATES ON WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT 70% VACCINATION TOTAL FROM NEXT YEAR, BASICALLY AT THIS TIME TO DECEMBER, SO THEY ARE SEEING ENOUGH MOVEMENT IN THE NUMBERS THAT -- YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S WORKING A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE -- IT'S CERTAINLY NOT CAUSING A STAMPEDE TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

>> WHEN YOU SAY THEY REVISED THEIR NUMBERS, I THINK YOU ARE BEING GENEROUS.

HOW DID THEY GO TO JULY OF NEXT YEAR TO DECEMBER 5TH?

WHAT DID THEY MISS IN BETWEEN?

OR AM I WRONG?

>> IT COULD BE THE SWEEPSTAKES, AND THEY COULD BE SEEING A HIGHER NUMBER IN THE PERCENTAGE.

YOU ARE EXPECTING KIND OF A SLOPE DOWN, SO MAYBE THAT SLOPE HAS FLATTENED OUT A LITTLE BIT, AS OPPOSED TO BEING A SKI SLOPE ON A BLACK DIAMOND, MAYBE NOW IT'S A BUNNY HILL.

>>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, AND CALL IN THE FORMER REPRESENTATIVE.

ARE YOU THERE, MAGICALLY?

>> I AM, TIM.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HOW ARE YOU DOING, MAN?

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I'M DOING WELL.

>> LET'S PLAY THIS OUT.

WORSE-CASE SCENARIO, WHEN THE KIDS SUPPOSEDLY GO BACK IN THE CLASSROOM THIS FALL, WHEN THERE WILL BE SOME CLASSROOM, BUT NOBODY AT THE CHALKBOARDS SAYING WELCOME BACK?

>> I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A DOOMSDAY SCENARIO, BUT I THINK THIS IS A REAL CONCERN.

BASED ON OUR DATA, THERE IS AN UP TICK OF 44% OF POTENTIAL RETIREMENTS FROM EDUCATION, AND WHAT THEY TOLD US IN THIS SURVEY IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING COVID.

COVID EXACERBATED PROBLEMS THAT ALREADY EXISTED.

WE SURVEYED TEACHERS IN 2019 AS WELL WITH SIMILAR QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO ADDITIONAL ONES IN 2021, AND COMING BACK, WE'RE SEEING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT EXISTED.

>> SO THERE WILL BE SOME TEACHERS THAT WON'T SHOW UP ON THE OPENING DAY OF SCHOOL; IS THAT NOT A FAIR STATEMENT?

>> I THINK THAT IS ALWAYS A FAIR STATEMENT.

>> AND THE NUMBER WILL BE HOW HIGH?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA.

IT'S -- YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF EDUCATORS, AND SO YOU COULD SEE A LOT.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IT, PROBABLY IN AREAS THAT HAVE STRUGGLED TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT EDUCATORS IN THE PAST, ALTHOUGH YOU ARE SEEING AS A RESULT OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PLAN, MUCH MORE EQUITABLE FUNDING GOING INTO SOME OF THOSE REGIONS.

>> JORDAN, HAVE YOU GOT ONE?

>> YEAH, SO WHEN LOOKING OVER YOUR REPORTED, I WAS KIND OF STRUCK BY THE SIMILARITIES IN MY MIND AT LEAST BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ISSUES WITH CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, AND HAVING AN UNDERSTAFFING PROBLEM.

YOU NOTED THAT YOU -- THIS TEACHER RETIREMENT WAS NOT SOLELY DRIVEN BECAUSE OF COVID.

IS THIS DUE TO AN INFLUX OF TEACHERS WHO ARE NOW RETIREMENT AGE, AND WE'RE SEEING OLDER PEOPLE GETTING OUT OF THE PROFESSION, LEAVING A BIG GAP, WHERE YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS WERE ADVISED AGAINST JOINING THE TEACHING PROFESSION?

IS THAT PART OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE MAY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE HERE?

OR WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS FALLING APART?

>> YEAH, FOR SURE.

THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT YOU HAVE SOME OF THESE EDUCATORS THAT ARE AGING, AND GETTING READY TO RETIRE, AND THIS SORT OF PUSHED THEM OVER THE EDGE, BUT I THINK THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE 2019 ANSWERS TO WHY THEY ARE LEAVING THE CLASSROOM, THE LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE PROFESSION, THE FACT THAT COMPENSATION AND EMPOWERMENT AND SUPPORT HAVE NOT BEEN PRIORITIES FOR -- FOR THEM, OR TO SUPPORT THEM.

THOSE ANSWERS ARE VERY CONSISTENT FROM 20 19D TO 2021.

SO CERTAINLY DEMOGRAPHICS ARE PLAYING A ROLE.

BUT THE POINT YOU JUST MADE, JORDAN AROUND HOW YOU HAVE GOT FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN DISCOURAGED TO GO INTO EDUCATION IS PLAYING A ROLE AS WELL, BUT THE REASONS ARE CONSISTENT.

YES, COVID ACCELERATED THINGS, BUT THE REASONS FROM 2019 AS TO WHY THEY ARE LEAVING ARE THE SAME.

>> STEVEN?

>> SO WE SAW THE GOVERNOR SIGN A BUDGET THIS WEEK FOR SCHOOLS THAT SHE SAYS IS THE LARGEST BUDGET IN THE STATE'S HISTORY FOR EDUCATION.

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THAT WAS A WELCOME SIGN TO YOU, BUT I WONDER WHAT EFFECT YOU THINK THAT WILL HAVE ON THIS PROBLEM, AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU GUYS POINT OUT IN THIS REPORT.

>> YEAH, SO -- I MEAN CERTAIN LIVE, IT IS AN HISTORIC BUDGET, AND THE FACT THAT WE NOW HAVE EQUAL FUNDING PER PUPIL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW SMALL DISTRICTS IS VERY HISTORIC, AND WHAT WE FEEL -- OUR TAKE AWAY FROM THAT IS THAT IS POSITIVE FOR THE TEACHER SHORTAGE, BUT THERE IS FUNDING AND THERE ARE RESOURCES, SO HOW WE ALLOCATE RESOURCES TOWARDS TEACHERS IS GOING TO PLAY INTO THIS.

THE OTHER THING THAT I'LL ALSO REMIND FOLKS IS THAT THIS -- WHILE THIS BUDGET IS VERY HISTORIC, AND WE HAVE NOW REALIZED THE PROBLEMS FOR PROPOSAL A, WE HAVE A TON OF EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS WE NEED TO GO TOWARDS EQUITABLE FUNDING.

SO IT'S OUR HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION AS A STATE.

BECAUSE WE KNOW EVERY STUDENT IS UNIQUE, AND THEY NEED DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN THEY ARE COMING INTO THAT CLASSROOM.

AS A RESULT, ALL OF THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THAT WE NEED TO BE FUNDING THAT WAY.

SO WE'RE HOPING TO GET INTO NEED-BASED FUNDING.

>> THERE IS A REPORT SITTING ON A SHELF IN LANCING RIGHT NOW FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THAT SHOWED, IN FACT, THAT WE NEED EQUITABLE FUNDING.

WHAT WILL GET THAT ON COVER ACCUSATION GOING?

IT HAS BEEN STALLED SINCE THAT REPORT CAME OUT.

>> YEAH, ACTUALLY THERE ARE TWO REPORTS IN FACT.

AND THEY SAY SIMILAR THINGS BY A DIFFERENT COMPARABLE VALUE.

BUT I THINK CERTAINLY TAKING THE EQUALLIZATION OF FUNDING OFF OF THE TABLE, LIKE THE GOV NOSH JUST DID, GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE, IS HELPFUL, BU MICHIGAN HAS STRUCTURALLY A SCHOOLS FUNDING FORMULA THAT IS ACTUALLY NOT TERRIBLE, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT ADEQUATE NOR TOTALLY CORRECT EITHER.

BUT THE ISSUES ARE ACTUALLY SPEAKING TOWARDS -- GETTING TOWARDS THESE EQUITY WEIGHTING FACTORS.

IT'S NOT QUITE ALIGNED, BUT NOT A BAD PLACE TO START EITHER.

SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, THIS IS ABOUT A CONVERSATION WITH THE VOTERS, WITH PARENTS, AND A CONVERSATION TO INFLUENCE THOSE POLICY MAKERS.

I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO DO ALL THREE.

>> KYLE?

>> ADAM HOW DID THE LEGISLATURE DO IN RESPONSE TO COVID IN -- VIS-A-VIS THE CLASSROOM.

THERE WAS TALK ABOUT HOW TEACHERS RECEIVE RAISES AND SOME OTHER ISSUES AS WELL.

DID THEY ADDRESS THOSE OR DROP THE BALL?

>> BASED ON THE SURVEY DATA THAT WE HAVE, I WOULD SAY THAT MOST EDUCATORS WERE PRETTY SATISFIED AT LEAST WITH THE WAY THEIR SCHOOLS HANDLED IT.

SO IF FUNDING AND POLICY WERE DIRECTING THOSE SCHOOLS' ACTIONS, THE RESPONDS WHO WE HAVE SAID THEY DID ALL RIGHT.

>> ONE OF THE NUMBERS IN THERE, IS THAT YOUR TEACHERS, 72% WERE, QUOTE, NOT GETTING RESPECT FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS HISTORICALLY EVER MADE ANY REAL PROGRESS ON TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO DO.

THE -- BUT -- BUT I DO THINK THAT, CERTAINLY SOME HEADLINES INFLUENCED WHAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING IN THE FIELD, AND I -- I JUST THINK OVERALL -- AND THIS IS WHAT WE HEARD FROM EDUCAORS MORE THAN ANYTHING, IS THEY ARE FEELING DEMORALIZED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SUPPORT AND FUNDING.

AND WE ASKED THEM ABOUT THE SUPPORT FROM THEIR BUILDING-LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPPORT FROM THEIR DISTRICT-LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS.

THESE THINGS ARE ALL -- THEY ARE NOT A SCIENCE IN A LOT OF WAYS.

IT'S AN ART.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING TRANSLATES IN THE BACK, OR IF WE NEED MORE POLICY DECISIONS.

>> JORDAN WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE.

PLEASE.

>> I AM SO SORRY THERE.

GOING BACK TO THE BUDGET, MORE THAN $17 BILLION HAS BEEN APPROVED IN THE K-12 BUDGET.

OF THAT AMOUNT, ABOUT 240 MILLION ARE GOING TOWARDS HIRING PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS TO ADDRESS STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, AND CONSIDERING HOW BIG OF A PUSH THAT THAT HAS BEEN BY BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC OF ADDRESSING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, AND WHAT IMPACTED THAT HAS HAD, IS $240 MILLION ENOUGH?

>> SO I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT ANY OF THOSE STUDIES THAT STEVEN PREVIOUSLY REFERENCED, YOU WILL SEE IT IS HELPFUL, BUT PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH.

IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE STUDIES AROUND WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE IN EVERY CLASSROOM, CLASSROOM-STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIOS, COACHES, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, COUNSELORS, CAREER COUNSELORS, THE NUMBERS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND FRANKLY THE ABILITY TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE QUALIFIED ARE SOME OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS.

THOSE RATIOS, THAT STAFFING POTENTIAL, TO ACHIEVE THAT, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO HIRE PEOPLE INTO THOSE PROFESSIONS AND GET THEM IN CLASSROOMS, AND THEN KEEP THEM IN CLASSROOMS OR SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

SO I THINK IT'S A HUGE STEP FORWARD.

IT MIGHT BE -- MAYBE IT IS ENOUGH GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE WORKFORCE THAT WE NEED TO GET TO THOSE EVIDENCE-BASED LEVELS.

TIME WILL TELL, BUT LONG TERM IF WE WANT TO GET TO A VISION OF WHAT THOSE STUDIES SAY WE SHOULD HAVE IN MICHIGAN TO MOVE THE NEEDLE, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BOTH FUNDING, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, AND CERTAINLY RESOURCE.

>> ONE MINUTE, STEVEN.

>> SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE RETIREMENT ISSUE, WE ALSO THINK ABOUT, OF COURSE, RECRUITMENT, AND TRAINING OF TEACHERS.

WHAT ARE WE DOING ON THAT END HERE IN MICHIGAN TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTO THE PROFESSION?

>> THERE IS RESOURCES THAT ARE IN THE FUNDING STATE BUDGET TO HELP -- HELP DO THAT, BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE NEED TO DO A LOT MORE.

IF YOU HAVE A PROFESSION THAT IS DEMORALIZED THAT WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY SEEN FROM THOSE IN THE PROFESSION, WHO ARE TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO GO INTO THE PROFESSION, YOU HAVE TO FIX THOSE ISSUES, AND ALSO, YOU THEN NEED TO HELP RECRUIT AND RETAIN.

SO I THINK WE NEED A -- IT'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE IT, BUT A MASSIVE PSA-STYLE CAMPAIGN WITH INCENTIVE AND A WORKFORCE THAT FEELS EMPOWERED AND HAS THESE PROBLEMS THAT THEY TOLD US ACTUALLY CORRECTED.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A TWO-PART SOLUTION.

IT IS GOING TO BE A TEN-YEAR SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

DO YOU MISS US, SIR?

>> I ALWAYS MISS YOU, TIM.

>> NOT ME, THESE GOOD FOLKS.

>> THEM TOO, BUT I ESPECIALLY MISS THEM -- YOU.