Monthly Archives: May 2021

(May 5, 2021 8:32 AM) Today Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation marking May 3 – May 7 as Teacher Appreciation Week.   “Teachers always go the extra mile for their students, but through the COVID-19 pandemic they have gone above and beyond to adapt to online learning and support their students,” said Whitmer. “Every child in Michigan deserves a high-quality public education, and I am proud that my administration is working to make that possible by securing the largest investment in K-12 education in state history to empower teachers, help students learn, and keep everyone safe.”     "We must always celebrate our teachers for their passion and commitment, and the joy they bring to educating our students and crafting our future,” said David Hecker, president of AFT Michigan. “This year we should celebrate their work even more given the incredible work teachers have done with our students during the pandemic."  “Teachers, along with everyone who works in public education, deserve our support and gratitude for their commitment to students, especially in these unprecedented times,” said Paula Herbart, president of the Michigan Education Association. “The best way to show that appreciation is by lawmakers listening to concerns and ideas from frontline educators, which I’m pleased has been a hallmark of the Whitmer administration since Day One.”   According to the Office of Educator Excellence, as of February 2020 there are 86,300 public school…

(May 4, 2021 7:36 PM) The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) its COVID-19 Gatherings and Face Masks epidemic order to encourage safer outdoor activities as spring and summer bring warmer weather and new opportunities to go outdoors. Under the new order, which goes into effect Thursday, May 6, and continues through Monday, May 31, masks are generally not required outdoors unless a gathering has 100 or more people.  In addition, anyone who is fully vaccinated and not experiencing symptoms is not required to wear a mask at residential gatherings, including indoors. New guidance for organized sports no longer requires routine COVID-19 testing for fully vaccinated participants if they are asymptomatic. Masks continue to be required for contact sports but are no longer required outdoors during active practice and competition for non-contact sports. For example, softball and baseball players will be required to wear a mask in the dugout but not when at bat or playing first base.   MDHHS continues to urge Michiganders to follow CDC guidance, even where not specifically required by an epidemic order. For people who aren’t yet fully vaccinated, that means masking up whenever around other people not from your household.   “The commitment by Michiganders to receive the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is allowing us to move toward a return to normal,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “The vaccines work. That means once Michiganders are fully vaccinated, they do not have to abide by as many health guidelines because of the protection the…