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Press conference, Senate lawsuit push for health cost bill to be presented, signed
UPDATE JAN. 22: The state Senate adopted a resolution today authorizing Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) to bring a lawsuit against House Speaker Matt Hall to compel him to send HB 6058 to the governor for her review. Read more about this developing story. State Rep. Mai Xiong speaks at Tuesday's press conference about the importance of HB…
MEA members leading the way in addressing student, educator mental health concerns across Michigan
Jennifer Sepetys MEA members across Michigan are finding new and innovative ways to address the pressing mental health needs of Michigan’s public school educators and their students. Two MEA members — one in West Bloomfield and another in the Upper Peninsula — are taking bold action to help address mental health concerns in the classroom and beyond. The efforts of…
Urge Speaker Hall to present health insurance bill to governor
The new House leadership under Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) has yet to present House Bill 6058 to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her review. This critical legislation, passed by the Legislature last month, would rein in skyrocketing health care costs for teachers, school support staff and other public employees. The State Constitution clearly states that, “Every bill passed by the…
Reforming health insurance law will keep great educators in our kids’ schools
By Chandra Madafferi, Michigan Education Association President and CEO UPDATE (Jan. 13, 2025) — The new House leadership has yet to present House Bill 6058 to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her review. This critical legislation, passed by the Legislature last month, would rein in skyrocketing health care costs for teachers, school support staff and other public employees. Learn more about this delay…
MEA statement on Senate’s passage of educator retention bill lowering health care costs
The following statement can be attributed to Michigan Education Association President and CEO Chandra Madafferi, a teacher from Oakland County, in response to the Michigan Senate’s passage of House Bill 6058: “The Michigan Education Association applauds the Senate for passing House Bill 6058, which will help keep the best and brightest educators working in our students’ classrooms and helping them…
Michigan Education Association hails House passage of bill lowering health care cost for educators
The following statement can be attributed to Michigan Education Association President and CEO Chandra Madafferi, a teacher from Oakland County, in response to the state House’s passage of House Bill 6058 and the Senate’s approval of Senate Bills 1129 and 1130: “By taking swift action on this critical issue, the legislators have taken a critical step in reigning in skyrocketing…
Don’t overlook this benefit of membership
By Kandy Slack MSU-APA Membership Chair MEA Scholarship recipient Ren Short (left) and mom Kandy Slack remind members to check if college‑age dependents are eligible to apply at mea.org/mea‑scholarship. Slack is membership chair of the Administrative Professionals Association at Michigan State University (MSU-APA). As membership chair of my local MEA unit at Michigan State University, I love talking with new…
Aides, custodians join Petoskey union
Ron Furgeson enjoys a lunchtime chat with third‑grader Emma. Working as a custodian in Petoskey schools has been a rewarding career for 28 years — thanks to union pay and benefits, he says. When Ron Furgeson first joined Petoskey Schools as a custodian nearly 30 years ago, he subbed on nights for nearly a year before a longtime employee retired…
New spelling app promises more student learning, less educator work
Ed-tech entrepreneur is veteran Utica elementary teacher This year MEA member Jonathan Marceau is watching the dream he shepherded to reality take on a life of its own out in the world. A veteran elementary teacher in Utica Community Schools, Marceau launched his award-winning app—Spelling Safari—in mid-August from an idea that has stayed with him ever since his student teaching…
Teamwork lifts student achievement, earns school National Blue Ribbon
Any successful basketball team is made up of players motivated to come to practice every day, set new goals, and achieve personal bests. Getting students excited about coming to school and learning is no different, the staff at Hughes Elementary School in Marshall has found. In 2012 the state flagged Hughes as a Focus School for the gap between its…