My GHEA Rocks!

State superintendent proposes mass school consolidation

Posted on 07/12/13 at 3:59pm

State Superintendent Mike Flanagan is proposing the consolidation of  local school districts into countywide districts.

Countywide school districts and service consolidation were mentioned a lot in the news this week, as State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan floated those ideas as a way to trim costs and help financially struggling schools.

While details haven’t been released yet, Flanagan told multiple media outlets moving to countywide districts — or some hybrid system that gives intermediate school districts more power — could save millions.

He contends streamlining non-instructional functions like transportation, food service and administration would be more efficient, and the dollars saved through consolidation could be streamlined back into the classroom.

Florida, Virginia and Maryland have countywide school districts in place, but a one-size-fits all model of school consolidation in Michigan is receiving some criticism and skepticism.

“Before I can embrace it or be opposed, I really need to see the data to see if it does indeed save significant resources and if it will indeed help improve instruction,” said Chris Wigent, superintendent for the Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency, the intermediate school district for Wayne County, according to the Detroit Free Press.

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274 Michigan school employees attend NEA Representative Assembly

Posted on 07/09/13 at 4:30pm

Stephanie Sepko, a student delegate from Wayne State University, at the NEA Representative Assembly in Atlanta.

Nearly 9,000 school employees from across the nation — including 274 from Michigan — came together to share ideas and set policy at the 2013 NEA Representative Assembly, held July 1-6 in Atlanta.

During his keynote address, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel urged delegates to take on leadership roles, fight for social justice and work together to create positive change for students in their schools and classrooms — ensuring great public schools for every student.

“This is a defining a moment,” Van Roekel told the delegates.

Van Roekel recounted slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s warning to his followers: “There is no time, ‘to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the drug of gradualism,’” stressing that the delegates must “act in the urgency of now” to empower NEA members to create change that really helps improve student success.

 “We educate America,” Van Roekel said  “It’s what we do every day as individuals, but also what we do together as an organization … working to lead our professions and taking responsibility for our professional practices.”

Michigan delegates said the RA provided them with an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues from other parts of the country.

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MEA member Maury Koffman elected to NEA Executive Committee

Posted on 07/09/13 at 4:34pm

MEA member Maury Koffman was elected to NEA’s Executive Committee on Friday, giving Michigan educators a prominent voice on NEA’s top governing body.

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Michigan educators save man from oncoming subway train

Posted on 07/09/13 at 4:37pm

Recent events like the Sandy Hook shootings and the Oklahoma tornado have shown that public school employees are committed to making a difference in the lives of others — even if it means putting their own lives at risk.

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Dr. Dalton’s ‘Hot Chocolate Club’ helps ESL students at Lansing school

Posted on 07/09/13 at 4:41pm

Robert Dalton starts his day at Lansing’s Everett High School with his “Hot Chocolate Club” at 7 a.m. His students know they can stop by and get some help with a homework assignment, practice their English and check out the latest soccer scores — all with a cup of hot chocolate.

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Negaunee food service employees’ jobs saved as school board opposes private contract

Posted on 06/25/13 at 8:49pm

Twenty food service employees at Negaunee Public Schools still have jobs as the school board voted last week against a contract for private food service.

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Scam alert: MEA members should beware of fake association con

Posted on 06/28/13 at 3:35pm

It has come to our attention that a right wing, anti-union group has been soliciting MEA members in Livingston County, urging them to disaffiliate from the MEA.

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MEA members have access to full range of legal services

Posted on 07/02/13 at 1:59pm

Since 1852, when 20 teachers came together in Ypsilanti to form what would eventually become the MEA, public school employees have joined together to win and protect basic rights that help ensure they are treated with the fairness, respect and dignity they’ve earned.

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