North Michigan News

State Representative Cam Cavitt presented his proposal to the House Education and Workforce Committee, aiming to ensure statewide representation on the State Board of Education (SBE). The committee approved the plan along party lines.

"We need to decentralize power and ensure that all parts of the state have a voice in crafting statewide education policy," said Cavitt, R-Cheboygan. "Without geographic diversity, educational priorities from smaller, rural communities like my own become nothing more than background noise in debates between folks from Grand Rapids and Detroit."

Currently, SBE candidates are nominated at Republican and Democrat state conventions. Candidates can reside anywhere in Michigan, often resulting in nominations from areas with dense populations such as Metro Detroit or Grand Rapids.

Cavitt's proposal, House Bill 4148, mandates that SBE candidates be selected from four districts corresponding with Michigan Court of Appeal districts. It also proposes a rotating election schedule for the SBE. Starting in 2026 and recurring every eight years, parties would nominate one candidate each from Districts 1 and 4. In 2028 and every eight years thereafter, parties would nominate one candidate each from Districts 2 and 3.

The bill now advances to the House floor for further deliberation.