MIDLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS & "MISINFORMATION" PART TWO
Dearest reader,
Spectacles on.
Quill sharpened.
Pearls within clutching distance.
Because before we continue discussing "misinformation," perhaps we should determine what the word actually means.
In Part One, Lady Budgetdown introduced the MPS ConNEXTion Team and its "homework" to listen for misinformation about school funding.
So what counts as misinformation? Fortunately, Midland Public Schools has given us some examples.
During its 2025 bond campaign, MPS published "Misinformation Mythbusters" containing 24 "myths."
Some were factual claims that can absolutely be checked against public records.
Others were... different.
📌 MYTH #4:
"Northeast should be repaired, not replaced."
That's a policy judgment. Two people can examine the same building assessment and costs and disagree about what SHOULD be done.
And interestingly...
📌 MYTH #14:
"Northeast Middle School needs to be replaced now."
Also a myth.
Keep it? Myth.
Replace it now? Myth.
Lady Budgetdown's quill is hovering. 🪶
📌 MYTH #10:
"My house is 100 years old, and I haven't had to replace floors and doors."
Dearest reader...
That appears to be somebody talking about their house.
It may be a wonderful analogy. It may be a terrible analogy. MPS is free to explain why a house and a school aren't comparable.
But a bad analogy is not automatically misinformation.
Pearls touched.
📌 MYTH #17:
"MPS mismanages funds, including the 2015 bond funds."
Specific claims about where money went can be verified.
But whether spending decisions constitute good or poor management can also be a judgment about priorities, efficiency and stewardship.
Those are not the same thing.
📌 MYTH #21:
"The bond will have a negative impact on our community."
"Negative" according to whom?
One taxpayer may believe improved facilities justify the tax increase. Another may believe the additional burden outweighs the benefit.
That's called public debate.
And then we arrive at Lady Budgetdown's favorite:
📌 MYTH #22:
"It is irresponsible for the district to include school bus purchases and technology equipment in the bond proposal."
MPS explained that Michigan permits certain bond proceeds to be used for buses and technology.
Excellent.
But the statement didn't say it was ILLEGAL.
It said it was IRRESPONSIBLE.
📜 Can bond proceeds legally be used for those purchases?
That's a factual question.
🧮 Is borrowing money to purchase them responsible fiscal policy?
That's a policy judgment.
Legal and fiscally prudent are not synonyms.
And there went the pearls.
This is why the word "misinformation" matters.
A factual statement can be proven true or false.
An opinion can be challenged.
A policy judgment can be debated.
An analogy can be dreadful.
But they are not the same thing.
And when a governmental entity places disagreement, opinions and policy judgments underneath a banner labeled "Misinformation," taxpayers should pay attention.
Especially when members of its new community information network are now being assigned to listen for "misinformation" about school funding.
So Lady Budgetdown has one question:
🔎 What definition of "misinformation" are they being taught to use?
Because in Part Three, we're going to look at what happened when one ConNEXTion member announced:
"Homework complete."
Lady Budgetdown has read the homework.
Now we're going to grade it. 🪶
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown
Midland Public Schools
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