Author: Elena Helmer
Whitmer’s new budget proposal includes universal preK-14 and free school meals
Free universal preschool and community college, along with continued record funding for Michigan’s public schools, are at the heart of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed 2024-25 education budget, which she announced Wednesday. Whitmer said her latest budget recommendation “builds on the historic investments we’ve made since I took office and delivers on the issues that make […]
Sen. Camilleri urging school districts to increase educator pay via state funds
State Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), a former teacher and the chairman of the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Budget, is urging school districts to increase educator compensation by leveraging state funding in the current year’s school aid budget. “We fought hard to get funding for teacher student loan forgiveness and at-risk money that can be used to bolster educator […]
Whitmer’s preK-14 education plan a game-changer for students
By Chandra Madafferi More than ever, our kids need a running start at a high-quality public education and a boost as they graduate from high school to prepare for the competitive modern workforce. It starts in preschool, which provides the building blocks for student learning and development of essential social skills to last a lifetime. […]
Benson, MEA advocate for driver’s ed to return to public schools
Improved equity, safer roads, lower costs and higher quality. For these reasons and more, the push to return driver’s education to public schools took center stage at a press conference with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Monday in Kearsley. Benson was joined by MEA President Chandra Madafferi, plus educators and students from the Flint-area […]
Lt. Gov. Gilchrist tours award-winning Mattawan school
When Mattawan Middle School won a prestigious award last fall, it wasn’t for a new program or a single employee. The School of Distinction award bestowed on the west Michigan school recognized a building-wide team-based commitment to students built over two decades. This week Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II visited Mattawan Middle in Van Buren […]
Whitmer’s universal preK-14 plan is a ‘game changer,’ MEA president says
EAST LANSING — Michigan Education Association President Chandra Madafferi, a teacher from Oakland County, issued the following statement Wednesday in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address: “Gov. Gretchen Whitmer again showed tonight why she’s the most pro public education governor Michigan has ever seen. The governor’s plan to provide every student […]
Whitmer, lawmakers and MEA retirees celebrate rollback of pension tax
Retired educator Isabell Nazar could not mathematically pinpoint the positive effects of a new law that will save her pension from being taxed; instead the former 38-year middle school science teacher from rural Homer in Calhoun County declared, “It will improve my life to the nth degree.” A board member of MEA-Retired, Nazar was among […]
Reforming retirement system will attract and retain quality educators
By Chandra Madafferi I feel optimistic when meeting first-year educators, who tell me they are excited and ready to face the future. Many say they still chose to go into the profession despite others trying to talk them out of it. These are educators we desperately need to keep – for the sake of our […]