The Michigan State Board of Education has passed a resolution condemning executive orders and directives by the Trump administration designed to 鈥渄ismantle public education, weaken civil rights protections, and destabilize the economic security of hardworking families.鈥�

Passed at Tuesday鈥檚 meeting of the board, the takes aim at Trump鈥檚 orders to 鈥渄efund the U.S. Department of Education,鈥� which it says will jeopardize education funding for Michigan鈥檚 schools, as well as the 鈥渇utures of low-income, special education, and at-risk students.鈥� The board also challenged other Trump executive orders to, among other things; deprive schools of funding if they don鈥檛 eliminate initiatives that advance diversity, equity and inclusion, attack curriculum standards, and prioritize privatization and school vouchers which divert funding away from public schools.

鈥淪ome would suggest that we accept these changes without question, but let鈥檚 be clear鈥攖his type of change is not an evolution of policy, it is a dismantling of opportunity,鈥� said State Board of Education President Dr. Pamela Pugh. 鈥淢ore disheartening is that what some call 鈥榗hange鈥� will be detrimental for our schools and most vulnerable children, our economy, and our communities. Our children are already suffering under years of harmful policies, and this will only push them further behind.鈥�

The resolution passed along party lines, with all Democratic board members voting in favor. Of the two Republican members, Tom McMillin voted no and Nikki Snyder opted not to vote. Snyder had attempted to add an amendment to the resolution to adopt Trump鈥檚 executive order 鈥渒eeping men out of women鈥檚 sports,鈥� but that failed, also along party lines, with McMillin and Snyder providing the only two votes in favor.

Prior to that vote, state school Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice noted that the issue of transgender athletes was not one affecting the vast majority of high school athletes.

鈥淏ecause we can go really deep into the rabbit hole here, I want to make it clear where we are,鈥� he said, adding that the Michigan High School Athletic Association indicated there were only two transgender girls participating at the high school level, both in cross country.

鈥淭he board of the MHSAA determined that there were no safety issues in cross country and that there were no competitive disadvantages associated with these two running cross country,鈥� said Rice.

McMillin, however, said that wasn鈥檛 the point.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 care if there鈥檚 one or two or none right now or whenever, but we鈥檙e talking about in the future,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is very simple. You either support boys playing against girls in girls鈥� sports, or you don鈥檛.鈥�

Board member, and former state Sen. Marshall Bullock (D-Detroit), objected to the amendment even being added, saying it was not germane to a resolution condemning the defunding of public education.

鈥淚 get the political play. You guys can play that all day. I鈥檓 good at it, but it鈥檚 almost insulting to add it because the resolution is about everyone, not just specifically women, not just specifically the disabled,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his resolution is about the executive orders that infringe upon the rights of everyone.鈥�

Despite the open display of partisanship, Pugh said the resolution had a broader purpose.

鈥淲e refuse to stand by while students lose access to funding for their education and while our democracy is dismantled piece by piece,鈥� said Dr. Pugh. 鈥淭his is not about partisanship鈥攖his is about right and wrong. And history is watching. Will we stand up, or will we surrender to these attacks on our schools and families?鈥�

Just hours after the resolution passed, it was after 600 voluntarily took buyouts, reducing the department鈥檚 workforce to roughly half the number in place when President Donald Trump took office.

Also passed Tuesday was a resolution in support of all elementary school children having music instruction while in school. According to the resolution, Michigan is currently one of only six states and Washington, D.C. that does not require music instruction in elementary school.

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