After months of conflict in six counties over COVID school mask mandates, “my health is suffering” Lisa Peacock said.
Ron French
Ron reports on a variety of subjects across the state. Ron came to Bridge in 2011 from The Detroit News, where he was a project reporter. Born and raised in Indiana, Ron graduated from Purdue University. He reported for newspapers across Indiana before moving to Michigan in 1995. Ron lives in Okemos, and like the true Michigander he’s become, he now has a family cabin Up North. You can reach him at rfrench@bridgemi.com or 517-214-3636.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan needs skilled workers, but lacks enough instructors to train them
There does not appear to be a shortage of high school students eager to enroll in career tech. But it’s difficult to find CTE instructors because schools can’t match the salaries of industry.
Posted inTalent & Education
$100M Kalamazoo career tech center shows promise, inequities in Michigan
Michigan’s career and technical education system is hobbled by enormous funding inequities across the state, even as Kalamazoo builds a state-of-the-art CTE center bankrolled by an anonymous donor.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan GOP bill: Schools must post curriculum, books, assignments
The proposal is similar to bills introduced in at least a dozen other states, and comes in the wake of concern by some parents and conservative politicians that schools are teaching divisive lessons on race and other issues.
Posted inTalent & Education
Amid snowmageddon, Michigan schools are out of snow days: What to know
Some districts used up all their allowed closure days for COVID, staff shortages and school shooting threats. Students will still get snow days, but they may have to attend classes longer in June.
Posted inMichigan Government
Gov. Whitmer, don’t forget these four pressing issues facing Michigan
The first-term Democrat is set to deliver her 2022 State of the State address on Wednesday. From mental health and sagging test scores to COVID and the economy, she has a lot on her plate.
Posted inTalent & Education
How many COVID cases are in Michigan schools? State has no idea anymore
The state’s school outbreak report data is even less reliable than in the past, as omicron overwhelms the reporting system and schools end contact tracing.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan schools running short on COVID tests, imperiling in-class learning
One health official called it a “COVID test supply crisis,” with the state “triaging” test kits and some schools saying they may run out of needed tests next week if new supplies don’t arrive soon.
Posted inTalent & Education
At U.P. school, many students felt fine, but 1-in-6 tested COVID positive
The more school officials tested, the more COVID cases they found among mostly asymptomatic students at Norwood Elementary in the western Upper Peninsula, underscoring the challenges schools face keeping kids in class amid omicron.
Posted inTalent & Education
Etsy, ice cream and flirting: What emails show about U-M’s Mark Schlissel
Emails from the fired U-M president appear to show an improper relationship. They also document his love of Etsy, Hulu, ice cream and apparent aversion to big tips.