New distance learning guidelines have been issued by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), taking into account that 500,000 of the state’s 1.5 million students – one-third of the K-12 school population – do not have home internet access. Mostly teacher written, the document is designed to help district administrators and local union leaders who…
DetailsEAST LANSING – The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding today’s extension of the Stay Home, Stay Safe order through April 30: “MEA supports Gov. Whitmer’s efforts to listen to public health experts and to take the necessary steps to address the coronavirus outbreak. That includes both her decision…
DetailsReaching and teaching amid coronavirus school closures By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA member Sarah VanderMeer says her heart aches with missing her developmental kindergarteners from Brown Elementary School in Byron Center, so she checks in via FaceTime to see how they’re doing, setting up appointments through parents. Recently she spent half an hour…
DetailsEducation has become a front-burner issue in a bid for re-election by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters in Michigan because of the stark contrast between him and his opponent, he says. Peters has fought back against the destructive budget cuts and policies of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. His Republican challenger, John James, is being aided…
DetailsRolonda Gleason is a secretary at Ferris State University. The Alaska native knows what it’s like to work without a union, so now she’s a one-woman MEA welcoming committee. What work did you do before coming to FSU? I was a support-staff person at the University of Alaska and worked closely with the School of…
DetailsYou can listen now as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and members of her education policy staff join MEA, AFT Michigan, and AFSCME for a Teletown Hall following her Thursday announcement that schools will remain closed for the rest of this school year. Whitmer told thousands of union members assembled on the call: “I know this is hard,…
DetailsGovernor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-35 earlier today, which orders all K-12 school buildings to close for the remainder of the school year — unless restrictions are lifted — and ensures at-home learning will be provided to students, families in need will still be provided meals, and all school employees will continued to receive…
DetailsBy Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor If schools remain closed for the rest of the year, educators at the local level should decide what learning opportunities are most important to provide for their students and how best to deliver them, says MEA President Paula Herbart. The union has been advocating for local control of local…
DetailsWith the ongoing crisis, it’s more important than ever to participate in the ongoing, once-a-decade United States Census. Today, April 1, is Census Day! Do your part by completing your Census form and encouraging others to do the same! Millions in federal funding for education programs depend on getting a complete count of Michigan residents…
DetailsGiven the unprecedented public health emergency unfolding across Michigan and the rest of the U.S., Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said during a radio interview this morning it is “very unlikely” that students in Michigan will return to classrooms before the end of the 2019-20 school year. MEA leaders and staff are part of ongoing conversations with…
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