MEA-Retired

What do our experienced members think about this topic?

Michigan K-12 crisis: State slow to respond as kids miss school, scores fall - Bridge Michigan Michigan has some of the highest absenteeism rates in the nation — and worst reading scores. It’s not a coincidence, but unlike other states, Michigan has been slow to pursue reforms.

Calling teachers heroes is nice but fully funding manageable class sizes is the responsibility of the wider community. Teachers and students deserve better.

Many MEA retirees helped lobby for this in person, and with phone calls, postcards, and emails!

HB 6058 update: MEA congratulates Michigan Senate on victory in lawsuit against state House - Michigan Education Association NOTE: The House of Representatives has until early December to appeal the Court of Appeals’ ruling to the state Supreme Court. Alternatively, House Speaker Matt Hall could unilaterally choose to end the legal battle by sending House Bill 6058 to the governor’s desk, as the Michigan Constitution ...

OUR MEMBERS ARE OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUING THEIR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES!
Top: Region 4 members advocate to maintain Medicaid because cuts will harm children and adults alike
Bottom left: MEA members from around the state attend the fundraiser “Best of the West”
Bottom center: Region 2 members meet as a chapter at their MEA UniServ office
Bottom right: Diana Irons from MEA/NEA Retired Region 6 pickets for the Protection of Social Security with members from AFT and UAW unions.

Early voting
(Submitted by Sid Kardon, South Oakland County Retired)

Michigan Proposal 2 of 2022 – The Right to Voting Policies Amendment – provided for early voting. The constitutional amendment had other provisions as well such as insuring, for example, that military and overseas ballots would be counted if postmarked by election day.
Every municipality must provide for at least nine consecutive days of early voting for at least eight hours during the day, ending on the Sunday before Election Day which falls on the upcoming Tuesday. As an example, the voting hours this year in Oakland County are 8:30 to 4:30 every day beginning Saturday, October 25th and ending on Sunday, November 2nd. On Thursday of the early voting week the polls are open from noon to 8:30 to accommodate any voter who cannot make it to the polls during the day.

Early voting, not to be confused with absentee voting, is the same as in person voting on election day. You go to your polling site, show your ID and fill out the voting application slip. You then get your ballot to fill out and put it into the tabulator which automatically records your vote. The main difference between early voting and absentee voting is that in early voting you put your voted ballot directly into the tabulator yourself. In absentee voting you mail your ballot to your municipality or put it in a drop box. Also, if you have already received an absentee ballot, you can bring it to your polling place during early voting or on election day and put it directly into the tabulator.

Early voting is great. In Michigan, we have 10 days to vote. Your polling place may be in a different location, but it’s easy to find. You can either contact your city clerk or go online to Michigan Early Voting. There will be a website where you just must enter your address to find your polling place. https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/voting/early-in-person-voting

Now that you know about early voting – go vote!

Early in-person voting The Michigan Department of State / Secretary of State will never ask people to send money or personal information via text message. Please contact the Michigan Department of Attorney General for more information on how to identify scams and to file a complaint.

Meet newly-elected statewide MEA-Retired President Barb Schram! Read more about her on our website: https://www.mea-retired.org/mea-retired-officers

What Barb taught and where:
Barb taught for most of her 33 ½ years in Grand Ledge, MI. Most of that time was in kindergarten but also in 1st and 2nd grades and a couple of years in 3rd grade. She also taught 1st grade in Paw Paw, MI and was a reading consultant. For two years, Barb was a 1st grade teacher in Bangkok, Thailand at the International School.

What Barb did as an active member and does now as a retired member for MEA:
During her tenure as a teacher, Barb was active in the MEA. She began as a building rep, went on to the Grievance and Negotiations teams, President of the MABO, and also President of Capital Area Political Action Committee. She has held positions on the local, state and national levels, sitting on both the MEA and NEA Boards.

READ MORE ABOUT BARB'S FAMILY AND HOBBIES ON OUR WEBSITE: https://www.mea-retired.org/mea-retired-officers
Congratulations, Barb!

Thanks to Governor Whitmer and those who voted for this statewide funding, Michigan families can better weather federal budget lapses. Elections matter.

All public school students will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget. Contact your child’s school directly for additional information.

Please visit our website to meet our newly-elected statewide MEA-Retired Vice President Bridget Fox: https://www.mea-retired.org/mea-retired-officers
"Bridget Fox begins her role as MEA Retired Vice President in deep appreciation of the members before her who built this union into the organization it is today. Just as being building rep or chief negotiator back in active union days, she believes it is a privilege and an honor to serve. Though not raised on the west side, Bridget moved to Lake Michigan’s shoreline almost 50 years ago as a brand-new teacher hired by Muskegon Public Schools. She worked first as a teacher/teacher consultant for deaf and hard of hearing students, and later as a high school counselor for a combined 40+ years of service to the district." Read more at: https://www.mea-retired.org/mea-retired-officers.

Yup!

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what your Secretary of Education thinks is a good Halloween post. Is this what you voted for?