Statement from MEA President on ordered closure of Michigan schools due to coronavirus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, March 12, 2020 Contact: Doug Pratt, MEA Director of Public Affairs, 517-337-5508 EAST LANSING – The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding tonight’s order from Gov. Whitmer that Michigan schools will be closed for three weeks starting Monday: “Earlier today, I recorded a message urging that we […]

MEA President statement on Whitmer education budget proposal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 6, 2020 Contact: Doug Pratt, MEA Director of Public Affairs MEA President statement on Whitmer education budget proposal   EAST LANSING —The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding today’s education budget recommendations from Gov. Whitmer: “While we have a long way to go to fully fund Michigan’s […]

MEA President statement on Whitmer State of the State address

EAST LANSING —The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding tonight’s State of the State address from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: “Gov. Whitmer should be commended for addressing how to truly help all Michigan children be better readers, without leaving behind our most vulnerable students. Educating parents about their options under the third-grade […]

MEA President statement on education line-item vetoes

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 […]

MEA President blasts “pensions for potholes” scheme during conference speech

EAST LANSING – MEA President Paula Herbart blasted the so-called “pensions for potholes” scheme today, and urged public school employees across the state to raise their voices to oppose the risky shell game. By many accounts, including by some conservative economists like Patrick Anderson, the reckless road funding scheme is irresponsible. Raiding pension funds for road […]

Report finds Michigan public teacher salaries continue to decline amid growing teacher shortage

Michigan Education Association calls for reinvesting in Michigan students, teachers and support staff EAST LANSING – New data from the National Education Association’s annual Rankings and Estimates report found average salary for teachers declined last year, continuing the 12% decline over the last decade when adjusted for inflation. Only Indiana, West Virginia and Wisconsin have […]