supporting K-12 education

Education is an issue of utmost importance because it shapes the potential of our future generations.  Thomas has spent a significant amount of time in the legislature working to keep schools open for in-person instruction and fixing our broken school funding model.

Since the beginning of COVID restrictions, kids have spent a significant amount of time away from the classroom.  This has not only led to kids falling farther behind, but also it has led to increased anxiety and depression. 

Thomas was successful in ensuring that the 2022 budget went back to pre-COVID requirements for the hours and days of in-person instruction needed to receive funding.  This was accomplished all the while providing the same per pupil funding for all children statewide.  This was a goal that was started in 1994 by the Proposal A reforms.    

In 2021, Thomas voted in support of HB’s 5405-5505 which would create education savings accounts to promote school choice in Michigan.  One thing many parents have realized since the onset of COVID is that they want the ability to move their kids to a school that will better perform if their local school is not offering a quality education.

Thomas also voted in support of HB 5097, which prohibits racial and gender stereotyping in Michigan’s public schools.  It is inappropriate to group kids into different factions in order to create division. 

Additionally, in 2017, Thomas led long overdue reforms to the public-school pension fund.  Nearly 30 cents of every state school tax dollar raised goes away from the classroom to pay pension liabilities.  The effect of these reforms is to stop digging more into debt and getting more money into the classroom.  This will help provide additional money to increase teacher wages and will ensure financial resources are available in the classroom.