The family of one of the three students killed in the Feb. 13 mass shooting contends MSU had “dangerous or defective” building conditions that made it easier for the shooter to access the building where Alexandria Verner and several other students were shot.
Isabel Lohman
Isabel reports on early childhood, K-12 and higher education for Bridge Michigan. She loves visiting schools and analyzing how policies made in Lansing affect students and educators. Previously, she was the children’s issues reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel in Tennessee. There, she reported on the state's third-largest public school district's COVID-19 response and how a community copes after losing teenagers to gun violence. Isabel grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and has also lived in Missouri, Tennessee and Belgium. Isabel moved to Ann Arbor in January 2022 where she experienced her first Michigan winter. She has a warm winter hat with a snap-on puff ball. You can reach Isabel at ilohman@bridgemi.com.
Posted inTalent & Education
University of Michigan probed on claim it falsified student grades
A college accrediting agency said it is reviewing U-M’s actions after the union representing graduate student instructors said the university falsified students’ grades this past semester while grad instructors were on strike.
Posted inTalent & Education
Two Michigan State shooting survivors plan to sue, citing MSU negligence
Lawyers for two critically injured students say they intend to sue the university for ‘gross negligence’ for security failures that allowed a gunman to easily access classrooms and buildings, killing three and injuring five others.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan State plans memorial for shooting victims as part of $2M in donations
More than 4,200 people donated to the Spartan Strong Fund, which will also pay for ongoing support to victims, mental health services and more.
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Michigan State University expands ability to issue emergency alerts
The university is using outdoor speakers and phones and an app to increase access to emergency alerts following the Feb. 13 mass shooting that killed or injured eight students. Crews are also adding classroom door locks this summer.
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Bill would let Michigan schools start in August without state approval
School calendars are once again a source of debate as Michigan lawmakers consider a bill to make it easier for schools to begin before Labor Day.
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Michigan college enrollment decline among worst in the nation
Michigan and the rest of the country suffered enrollment declines during the pandemic. But new data shows the state is recovering slower than just about any other state, presenting a challenge to Michigan’s economic growth.
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Records: MSU shooting lockdown delayed 10 minutes by miscommunication
A sergeant sought a campus-wide lockdown 2 minutes into the shooting, reports show. By the time it was finally issued, another student was killed.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan Democrats vote to give teachers more say in classroom placement
How much discretion should teachers have in which classes they teach? Unions want the ability to bargain on teacher placement, evaluations and more.
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Teach for America launches Michigan teacher retention and training program
What does it take to keep a Michigan teacher in the classroom? In a time of teacher shortages, Teach for America Detroit is partnering with six districts to pay teachers up to $35K in bonuses for training.