Author: Miriam Garcia
NEA Hosts Fireside Chat with Dr. Fauci
UPDATE: You can watch a recording and read a recap of the event with Dr. Fauci here. NEA and AFT are hosting a national “fireside chat” with Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the leading experts on the American response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. NEA President Becky Pringle and AFT […]
MEA President statement on request for 2021 federal testing waiver
EAST LANSING — The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart about the Michigan Department of Education’s request for a federal standardized testing waiver for 2021 that was filed today with the U.S. Department of Education: “MEA applauds Superintendent Rice and the Michigan Department of Education for continuing efforts to obtain a federal […]
COVID Updates: Funding, Vaccines, Testing and More
This week has marked major news on several fronts in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic: – New President Joe Biden has made good on promises for swift action to fight the pandemic, including another COVID relief package to fill in the gaps left by the last Congress and provide essential federal funding and support, […]
Labor Voices: In-person school is coming, but classrooms must be safe first
January 13, 2021 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association Since the beginning of the pandemic, educators have longed to safely return to the classroom for in-person learning. Virtual learning options — while vastly-improved thanks to the hard work of educators — are no match for the academic and overall benefits that come with face-to-face […]
School district cited and fined for COVID safety violations
South Lake Public Schools in Macomb County was cited and fined $9,800 last week by the state for COVID-19 safety violations. According to MIOSHA, the district was among eight workplaces cited and fined for violating workplace rules to protect employees and the public from the coronavirus. From the department’s Friday news release: “South Lake Public […]
Joint Statement on Governor’s In-Person Learning Goal
The following statement is from leadership of organizations representing Michigan’s PK-12 Schools: David Hecker, AFT-Michigan President; Don Wotruba, MASB Executive Director; Tina Kerr, MASA Executive Director; Ray Telman, Middle Cities Executive Director; Paula Herbart, MEA President. Since this pandemic began, it has been our most fervent wish to safely reopen our schools for in-person learning. […]
From President Herbart: An Affront to American Democracy
MEA members, The siege on our nation’s Capitol this week was an affront to American democracy, pure and simple. But for us, as educators, it is a moment we must reckon with as we work with students who saw something unimaginable happen in our country – an act of open sedition at the temple of […]
MEA President statement on COVID vaccine availability for school employees
EAST LANSING — The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding today’s announcement that preK-12 school employees will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination beginning next Monday: “This is great news for Michigan students and educators alike. Ensuring our frontline teachers and education support professionals can be vaccinated to protect themselves, their families, […]