Jobs: It's time for Michigan to help create jobs, not bigger government.
For far too long Michigan has had the highest unemployment rate in the nation. Businesses have steadily been downsizing or leaving Michigan altogether. In talking to business owners throughout the region, clearly taxes are the major obstacle to their growth. It is time to reform the "out of control" taxes for small businesses.
By getting taxes under control, we will make Michigan attractive to new businesses; we will help existing business grow and expand; growing businesses means bringing our jobs back!
Economy: Michigan needs to get out of the way of families, jobs, and businesses by reforming taxes and our tax system.
A new system that is simple, fair, and encourages economic growth will have a lasting impact on Michigan's citizens and their communities. And before Michigan raises more taxes or creates new taxes for more revenue, we need to cut the fat we have built in the system first!
Education: We need accountability in our schools. From funding to curriculum, our focus needs to be on developing our students to their full potential.
Funding - Michigan must restructure our revenue system for our public schools. Our children's future should not be an area where we cut funding easily.
Curriculum - Michigan's curriculum has become "test based." We have forgotten that our students are individuals and should be taught and evaluated that way. Reform of our standardized test system is needed for our students to maximize student potential. Likewise we need to challenge teachers to teach students how to think again and not just what to think; how to form ideas and questions and find solutions is a valuable tool that must be taught.
Teachers - Our teachers need the opportunity to do what they were called to do: teach. We can improve the quality of our education by setting higher expectations for our students and teachers. This begins early on in education; by individualizing teaching strategies; by becoming more efficient with our classroom time; and by "continued education" requirements for teachers.
Our State Government: It is time for fresh ideas in Lansing and the backbone to follow through with them.
We need to be free of political and career motivations and stand for what's right. Jeff Fernandez has that backbone! As a pastor, Jeff is a listener. He will listen to the people of Kalamazoo and make decisions that will help us all grow again!