By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Michigan last March, MEA member Chris Thomas found himself in a unique position to help other educators in the district where he worked – Ann Arbor – get up to speed in figuring out how to deliver remote learning. Now he’s doing the same […]
If you are a brand new school employee, or know someone who is, be aware that state law requires newly hired school employees in Michigan to select between two retirement plan choices within 75 days after their first payroll date—or the state will choose for them. And once a selection is made, it can’t be […]
As the federal government continues to push in court for an earlier end date for the U.S. Census, it’s more important than ever for Americans to step forward now and be counted. Educators can play an important role in informing their school families of the importance of the once-a-decade national headcount and encouraging folks to take 10 minutes […]
Under a new state budget adopted by the Legislature on Wednesday, education funding avoided major cuts that had been expected due to the national economic downturn related to the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement Wednesday night, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she would sign the budget, which passed with bipartisan majorities in both chambers. “When we […]
When MEA member Richard Mui was growing up in Ferndale, not many Asian Americans lived in the community, which he believes accounted for the discrimination he encountered – teasing and racist comments about his perceived culture and language. “I learned to have a tougher skin, but it created an awareness of some injustices that are […]
September 16, 2020 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association For decades, we’ve all heard the refrain: “This is the most important election in our lifetime.” More than ever, this statement is ringing true for voters with more than 190,000 American lives — and counting — lost to the pandemic, a crumbling economy that has devastated […]
About 625,000 essential workers who continued performing their frontline duties during the height of the pandemic in Michigan are eligible for free college tuition, under a program announced Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “This initiative is Michigan’s way of expressing gratitude to essential workers for protecting public health and keeping our state running,” Whitmer said […]
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is accepting nominations of outstanding educational support staff members for the state Education Support Staff Professional of the Year Award and national RISE Award. The awards recognize and promote the commitment and excellence exhibited by school employees who provide exemplary service to students as paraprofessionals and in clerical services, transportation, […]
More than 450 educators from capitol-area school districts stretching from St. John to Holt, Okemos and Lansing have returned to their school duties armed with some health and safety essentials courtesy of their local unions. Every year, several MEA units combine their efforts in a late August back-to-school bash that draws hundreds to a family […]
Michigan is facing a record shortage of poll workers this year due to the coronavirus. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has engaged in a full-scale push to ensure there are enough workers to safely conduct this November’s election. NEA has partnered with “Power the Polls” to help recruit people to be poll workers. Our democracy […]
