New members named to House and Senate education committees

The new Legislature took office in early January, and soon after, the new members of the House and Senate education committees and K-12 appropriations subcommittees were named. These are the people who have a large say in setting education policy and deciding per-pupil funding, so we always pay special attention to these announcements.

The new committees are listed below. While it’s always a great idea to establish good relationships with the legislators who represent your communities – inviting them into your school, etc. – it’s especially important if they serve on an education committee.

• House Education Committee
  • Rep. Pam Hornberger, Chair, R-Chesterfield Township (Macomb and St. Clair counties)
  • Rep. Brad Paquette, Vice Chair, R-Niles (southwest Michigan)
  • Rep. Nancy Crawford, R-Novi (Oakland County)
  • Rep. Hank Vaupel, R-Fowlerville (Livingston County)
  • Rep. John Reilly, R-Oakland (northern Oakland County)
  • Rep. Matt Hall, R-Marshall (Calhoun/Kalamazoo counties)
  • Rep. Gregory Markkanen, R-Houghton (western Upper Peninsula)
  • Rep. Jack O’Malley, R-Almire Township (northern Lower Peninsula)
  • Rep. Rodney Wakeman, R-Saginaw (Saginaw County)
  • Rep. Darrin Camilleri,Minority Vice Chair, D-Brownstown Township (Downriver area)
  • Rep. Bill Sowerby, D-Clinton Township (Macomb County)
  • Rep. Brenda Carter, D-Pontiac (Oakland County)
  • Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit
  • Rep. Matt Koleszar, D- Plymouth Township (western Wayne County)
  • Rep. Lori M. Stone, D-Warren (Macomb County)

• House School Aid Committee
  • Rep. Aaron Miller, Chair, R-Sturgis (southern Michigan)
  • Rep. Pam Hornberger, Vice Chair, R-Chesterfield Township (Macomb and St. Clair counties)
  • Rep. Larry Inman, R-Traverse City
  • Rep. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell (Grand Rapids area)
  • Rep. Mark Huizenga, R-Walker (Grand Rapids area)
  • Rep. Gary Glenn, R-Midland (Midland County)
  • Rep. Kristy Pagan, Minority Vice Chair, D-Canton (western Wayne County)
  • Rep. Rachel Hood, D-Grand Rapids
  • Rep. Sheryl Kennedy, D-Davison (Genesee County)
  • Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit

• Senate Education and Career Readiness
  • Sen. Lana Theis, Chair, R-Brighton (Livingston and western Washtenaw counties)
  • Sen. Ken Horn, Vice Chair, R-Frankenmuth (Saginaw County)
  • Sen. Jon Bumstead, R-Newaygo (Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana counties)
  • Sen. Jim Runestad, R-Milford (Oakland County)
  • Sen. Kevin Daley, R-Arcadia Township (Bay, Tuscola and Lapeen counties)
  • Sen. Dayna Polehanki, Minority Vice Chair, D-Livonia (western Wayne County)
  • Sen. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor (Wayne County)
  • Senate K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee
  • Sen. Wayne Schmidt, Chair, R-Traverse City
  • Sen. Rick Outman, Vice Chair, R-Six Lakes (Clare, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta and Montcalm counties)
  • Sen. Jon Bumstead, R-Newaygo (Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana counties)
  • Sen. Kevin Daley, R-Arcadia Township (Bay, Tuscola and Lapeen counties)
  • Sen. Rosemary Bayer, D-Beverly Hills (Oakland County)