Newsroom

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor A deep dive into the state budget passed by Michigan House Republicans shows their aim is to cut $1.4 billion from schools and $1.6 billion from other state programs to boost spending on roads by $3 billion next year — as educators' contract talks spill into the school year in many places. The new…

By Chandra Madafferi, MEA President & CEO School buildings throughout our Michigan communities are once again becoming hubs of activity, as students and educators begin another school year. However, with the buzz of activity and excitement also comes a sobering reality: Health care costs are skyrocketing for school employees in particular, and this hurts our ability to attract and retain…

Survey results highlight need for House Bill 6058 to be signed into law without further delay In a statewide MEA survey, 80% of Michigan public school educators who responded said they have been paying more out-of-pocket health care costs since January, with the average increase at $2,400 more per year. The survey results highlight the need for House Bill 6058…

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Despite uncertainty from lack of a state budget, educators in a number of Michigan school districts spent their spring and summer securing solid wins in contracts that underscore the importance of union expertise, cohesion and leadership. Latest from Lansing The state House and Senate still have failed to agree on a spending plan for…

Glenn Maleyko EAST LANSING — 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 Board of Education’s selection of Glenn Maleyko as Michigan’s next State Superintendent of Public Instruction: “MEA looks forward to working with Superintendent Maleyko and the State Board of Education to…

Every Labor Day, we're reminded of the power of solidarity in the fight for progress. With the debate still ongoing around this year’s education budget, we are encouraging members to come together and convey a simple message: We Love Public Education – that’s why it's past time to approve a quality education budget for our students. MEA members are gathering…

Legislative and political landscapes in Michigan and Washington, D.C. are changing every day, and this magazine takes a few weeks to print and arrive to you, so timely updates are challenging. In general we can say this: At the federal level, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon is cutting funding for public schools, while trying to shut down the education department,…

QUOTABLES “Now we just need to get the word out that this opportunity is available statewide for prospective educators in our rural regions.” — MEA member Kathryn Dirkin, a faculty member at Central Michigan University and director of Partnerships and Programming at MiCAREER Resource Hub, a new initiative offering no-cost credentialing to current and prospective rural educators. Read the story.…

ESP Caucus Chair and Dowagiac custodian Roy Freeman was honored with the MEA’s Paul Blewett Friend of Education Award at the MEA Representative Assembly with fellow ESP leader Jennifer Shelito making the award presentation. By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor In the early 1980s, when Roy Freeman first became a school custodian following a post-high school stint in the U.S.…

Stories by Brenda Ortega, MEA Voice Editor This report features MEA members combating Michigan’s educator shortage. Holland High School graduate Liebbe Martinez (left) and teacher Sarah Le Febre graced the August-September MEA Voice cover in a story on high school classes for students interested in teaching careers. Their story is one part of our Special Report on Teacher Recruitment. In…