Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia), who just a year ago was transitioning from a high school English teacher to a state legislator, has introduced SB 633, which would strike the retention requirement in the 3rd grade reading law. In a recent Detroit News column, Polehanki shared her reasoning behind introducing the legislation. “Let’s trust our teachers […]
Last week, a potential deal fell apart to end the standoff over supplemental appropriations to fill gaps in the state budget. Now, with the Legislature’s fall hunting and Thanksgiving break upon us, a solution will likely wait until lawmakers return to Lansing in December. MEA members need to contact all our lawmakers and urge them […]
The Utica Education Association is calling on members from other locals to join in an informational picket and rally outside the Utica Community Schools Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11. Educators in the UEA have been bargaining since March and working without a contract since June. The largest K-12 MEA […]
By Amy Urbanowski-Nowak Birch Run Education Association President We have a big problem in Michigan schools, folks, and it has nothing to do with test scores or differentiated instruction. It has everything to do with treating teachers like professionals and human beings. Most recently, this came to the forefront for me as a union president […]
Amanda Young, a special education teacher from Bay-Arenac Intermediate School District, is the first of four MEA member winners of the MiDREAM contest sponsored by the MSU Federal Credit Union and MEA Financial Services. For being selected, Young receives $250 for herself and an addition $250 for a charity of her choice, Area 9 Special […]
All seven past and current presidents of MEA Local 1 were on hand for a recent celebration of 41 years since the 1978 formation of the Multi Association Bargaining Organization (MABO) representing more than 5,000 educators in Macomb, Wayne, and St. Clair counties. Leaders, members, and staff from past and present crowded into the organization’s […]
By Brenda Ortega Editor Last Friday was not an unusual day at school for MEA member Amber Guerreiro. Nothing in particular happened to make the middle school Spanish teacher feel frustrated or discouraged. But she came home “overcome with exhaustion,” she said, “and I just broke.” “It was a regular day, like any day, but […]
The application to be on the state’s new redistricting commission is now open—you can apply through June 2020 to be a part of redrawing fairer district voting maps in Michigan. The commission is being formed by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson after voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to end gerrymandering of state voting maps […]
The ongoing budget battle between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and GOP legislative leaders has taken up much of the oxygen in Lansing lately, but several other key issues are bubbling up to the surface at the Capitol. MEA lobbyists expect members will need to engage on legislation that has been introduced or will soon appear related […]
After nearly a month of stop-and-start discussions between the Governor’s office and the Legislature, schools are still without critical funding needed for this current school year. MEA members need to contact all our lawmakers and urge them to reach agreement on supplemental budget bills that fund priorities that were cut last month because of the lack […]
