I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
In a follow up from yesterday’s story about Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s call for jailing parents who fail to participate in parent teacher conferences, Michigan Messenger asked the gubernatorial candidates to weigh in.
Only Democrat Andy Dillon and Republican Pete Hoekstra responded to our inquiries.
Dillon spokesman T.J. Bucholz wrote of Dillon’s take on the issue:
Parental involvement is the key to student success in school. The Speaker supports efforts to increase parental involvement in schools, and as Governor, will make strategies to increase parental involvement and participation in parent conferences a critical part of his education agenda. The Speaker supports increased parental involvement in schools throughout the state, but does have some concerns about the implementation and enforcement of the authority requested by the Wayne County Prosecutor. In some cases, a parent who cannot attend a P/T conference does not always mean they aren’t engaged. The real question for parental involvement ultimately becomes more than just a single meeting – emphasis must be placed on maintaining parental involvement throughout the year on a more consistent basis.
While Hoekstra spokesperson Sara Sendrek wrote of her candidate’s views on the issue:
“Pete believes that parental involvement is extremely important to the education system. The way we are going to improve elementary and secondary education is by reinstating parental involvement, expanding flexibility, adding competition and eliminating bureaucratic barriers.”
If and when Democrat Virg Bernero and Republican candidates Tom George, Mike Bouchard, Rick Snyder and Mike Cox respond, we’ll let you know what they say.
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