Letter to Members: Good changes afoot

By now we’ve all heard much conversation about what it means that voters in the last election handed Democrats control of the Michigan Legislature with a Democratic gov ernor at the helm for the first time in 40 years.

Less has been written about another result that has never hap pened before: Educators now chair the most important state House and Senate committees responsible for making preK‑16 education policy.

Read. That. Again.

For too long, our focus has had to be on fighting off the destructive school privatization agenda of power ful interests such as Betsy DeVos. Of course, one election doesn’t end that battle, but clearly voters have sent a strong message.

Last month DeVos pulled her school vouchers scheme from consid eration for the 2024 General Election ballot after spending millions gather ing petition signatures. Read more on page 8.

That victory alone is worth celebrat ing. But there’s more — much more.

Check out our coverage of MEA legislative priorities, developed over months and years with the help of statewide MEA leaders, members and staff, on pages 10‑16. For the first time in a long while, public school employees can rest assured their voices are being heard in the halls of power.

This doesn’t mean we can rest. With narrow majorities in both leg islative chambers, we are commit ted to working with members of both parties to secure meaningful support, resources and change to address our most pressing problems.

What can be done to begin to solve critical educator shortages, the mental health crisis, and interrupted student learning? It’s time to imagine possibilities, so let’s appreciate the wins we’ve made for educators and students and resolve to do what we can to make the future even brighter.

From MEA’s officers:

President Paula Herbart

Vice President Chandra Madafferi Treasurer Brett Smith

Quotables

Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D‑Beverly Hills), in Chalkbeat Detroit , discuss ing a new study of Michigan school funding that calls for boosting transportation dol lars for districts with higher costs, such as in less popu lated areas. Recent research shows attendance rates increase when economically disadvantaged families have access to a school bus.

MEA/MAEA Art Show

ENTER NOW: MEA and the Michigan Art Education Association (MAEA) are seeking entries for their 59th annual juried art purchase exhibition. Members of MEA, MAEA and MEA‑Retired can submit artwork week days from Feb. 20 to March 3, 8 a.m.‑5 p.m., and Saturday March 4 from 8 a.m.‑noon. The pictured mixed media entry from last year’s show, titled “Yew,” by MEA member Megan Ormerod from Whitmore Lake Public Schools won a juror’s choice award. For more information and an entry form go to mea.org/art

View more scheduled MEA events at mea.org/calendar

MEA member Bryan Schuerman occupies two roles that put him in the spotlight: Grosse Pointe teacher and weekend meteorologist at WDIV‑TV in Detroit, page 30.

On the cover: Educators and MEA members Matt Koleszar and Dayna Polehanki have transitioned from the classroom to candidates and now education committee chairs. Read more, page 10.

Infusing mental health , page 17. ESP leader nominated , page 20. Para helps build home, page 22. More inside: My View on knowing your values, page 7. DeVos withdraws voucher scheme, page 8. MEA legislative priorities, page 12. MEA Region Elections, page 23.

Interim Executive Director Earl Wiman Director of Public Affairs Doug Pratt Editor Brenda Ortega

Staff Photographer Miriam Garcia

Publications Specialist Shantell Crispin

For more indepth story coverage with links and additional photos, visit mea.org/voice

The MEA Voice ISSN 1077‑4564 is an official publication of the Michigan Education Association, 1216 K endale Blvd., East Lansing, MI 48823. Opinions stated in the MEA Voice do not necessar ily reflect the official position of the MEA unless so identified. Published by Michigan Education Association, Box 2573, East L ansing, MI 48826‑2573. Periodicals postage paid at East Lansing and additional mailing offices. Payment of the active membership fee entitles a member to receive the MEA Voice. Of each annual fee whether for active or affiliate membership, $12.93 is for a year’s sub scription. Frequency of issue is October, December, February, April and August.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the MEA Voice, Box 2573, East L ansing, MI 48826‑2573 or via email at webmaster@mea.org . Allow at least three weeks for change of address to take effect.

MEA Voice telephone: 517‑332‑6551 or 800‑292‑1934. Circulation this issue: 108,159.

Nominations Sought for ESP Caucus Executive Board

Nominations are being accepted for three positions on the MEA ESP Caucus Executive Board with three‑year terms and an interim position:

Director by Classification

• Office Personnel (one position; Sept. 1, 2023 – Aug. 31, 2026)

• Transportation (one position; Sept. 1, 2023 – Aug. 31, 2026)

• Maintenance (one position; Sept. 1, 2023 – Aug. 31, 2026)

• Food Service (one position; immediately – Aug. 31, 2024)

Elections to the ESP Board will take place at the MEA Representative Assembly in East Lansing on April 21‑22, 2023. Information needed for each candidate includes: name, occupation, home address, home and work telephone numbers, home email address, school district, name of nominee’s local ESP association and written con sent of the candidate running for office.

Candidates must be members in good standing of MEA/NEA. Direct ques tions or nominations to ESP Caucus Elections Chairperson Jim Sparapani at jsparapani@att.net

Additional nominations will be accepted from the floor at the MEA/ESP Caucus meeting on Friday, April 21. Candidates will be given up to three minutes to address delegates, and a table will be provided for distribution of a candidate’s brief biographical sketch before the meeting starts. Campaign materials may not be distributed or worn inside of the MEA ESP Caucus RA meeting room.

BIG ISSUE, BITE SIZE

Hattie Maguire, MEA member high school English teacher in Novi, joking with Bridge Michigan about ways she has used the new artificial intelligence app, ChatGPT, to perform timesaving t asks.

Number of schools in 54 Michigan districts that will need to enter into partnership agreements with the state to help improve academic outcomes, up from 98 schools in 26 districts last year, an increase that officials with the state Department of Education attribute in part to fallout from the pandemic.

ChatGPT launched in late November and its sophisticated ability to produce answers, solutions, and tasks quickly became the talk of education circles. Within five days of the chatbot’s release by OpenAI, a small San Francisco company, the free‑for‑now ChatGPT hit 1 m illion users. Fearing widespread student cheating, in December New York City Public Schools banned the app on school devices and networks. By January the chatbot’s success contrib uted to layoffs at Google.

As AI becomes more sophisticated, educators worry and wonder about the implications for schools and students. From student cheating to job replacement and more dire scenarios depicted in popular science fiction such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, there are downsides to consider.

But the technology offers possibilities as a teaching and learning tool also. Check out several MEA mem bers quoted in the comprehensive Jan. 20 article at bridgemi.com : “Did Johnny write this or a robot? AI chat bots rock Michigan schools.”