October 16, 2019 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association “It’s not just about the mother, it’s about the health and well-being of her child.” That is how Amy Urbanowski-Nowak, president of MEA’s Birch Run local association, explained her fight for one of her teacher members to get the time needed to express breast milk…
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer averted a government shutdown on Monday by signing a state budget sent to her on the eve of a fiscal-year deadline, but she used her veto pen to press Republican leaders in the state House and Senate to return to the negotiating table. Whitmer described the Legislature’s budget as “fatally flawed” in…
EAST LANSING —The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding the education budget signed into law by Gov. Whitmer, along with her line-item vetoes “Aside from the pet projects and vendor contracts Gov. Whitmer line-item vetoed, there are meaningful education programs and initiatives that were also cut. Those are tough choices to…
By Brenda Ortega Editor Something was missing from opening day in Grand Blanc Community Schools this year. For the first time in more than a half century, MEA member Vickie Weiss was not in attendance. In June she completed an astounding 55th year teaching elementary school in the district, and in August she passed away…
EAST LANSING —The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding today’s passage of the K-12 education budget by the Michigan Legislature:
“While this budget isn’t everything we had hoped for, it is a good first step to ending the decades long underfunding of public education.
September 18, 2019 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association We often hear politicians say, “It’s about the kids,” and, “The students of today are the leaders of tomorrow.” If they truly believe that, they need to craft a state education budget that recognizes a simple fact: Not all students are the same. Unfortunately, the Republican education…
MEA member Matthew Cottone has traveled to six countries for (almost) free as he aims to help his students better experience the world. Now he wants to share how other educators can follow in his footsteps. The Rochester World Studies teacher will be presenting at a Global Ed Conference at Oakland University on Oct. 19. The…
At last – Michigan will begin recognizing the important work of Education Support Professionals with an annual award. Nominations are now open for the new Education Support Staff Professional of the Year award – to be presented by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) in partnership with MEA, AFT Michigan, and AFSCME Council 25. Who’s…
MICHIGAN — As tens of thousands of UAW members go on strike across the country, the American Federation of Teachers Michigan and Michigan Education Association released a joint statement in solidarity with the striking workers. The statement should be attributed to David Hecker, president of AFT Michigan and Paula Herbart, president of the MEA: “From schools…
If every student is going to get a great education, then we have to provide the funding so that every student gets the support they need. The Republican education budgets presented Thursday in legislative conference committee fail to do that. MEA members need to act now to tell lawmakers to reject this budget and advocate for…
