by Becky Andrus | Jun 13, 2022 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer to Sign Bill Funding Security Plans at All Michigan Schools to Protect Students, Funds Mental Health Support & Enhanced Security for Oxford
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer will sign House Bill 6012, a bipartisan bill that makes an historic investment in school safety by fully funding risk assessments and critical incidence mapping to help protect students and create safety plans in the event of an emergency. The legislation also fully funds resources to hire and retain mental health professionals, enhance security measures, and provide additional learning opportunities for Oxford Community Schools.
“I am proud to sign this bill to help keep students safe. This bill represents a true collaboration between the legislature, my office, community members, and school leadership to make sure our schools have the tools they need to protect students in cases of school shootings or other critical incidents,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Today we are also proud to deliver necessary resources to Oxford Community Schools so they can hire more mental health staff and offer additional learning time to their students as they recover from the horrific shooting last year. I know we can continue working together to make sure we are supporting our students, including improving public safety measures to keep violent criminals out of our schools and off our streets, funding effective law enforcement solutions, and storing firearms safely. Let’s get it done.”
“We carefully listened to the needs expressed by Oxford and worked with them to provide the tools they need to recover from the lasting impact of the tragedy that students, staff and the building itself withstood,” said State Reprepresentative Hornberger (R-Chesterfield), a former public school teacher. “This funding plan will help obtain and retain mental health professionals necessary to help with trauma response, help cover legal and public relations costs, provide enhanced security features, cover costs for damage to school property during the shooting, and more.”
“I am proud to have advocated on behalf of the students, staff, faculty, and Oxford community as a whole in getting this funding across the finish line,” said State Senator Rosemary Bayer (D-Beverly Hills), whose district includes Oxford. “While I will remain committed to preventing more tragedies by enacting gun violence prevention policies, this funding for school security, mental health support, and more is a start to working on the immediate needs of the Oxford community, and for that, I am grateful to my colleagues and the governor for their support.”
“This new law provides needed funding for Oxford schools, as well as important funding for risk assessments and critical incidence mapping,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. “That said, we still have more work in front of us: the need for the legislature to support the governor’s FY 23 budget request of a $361 million increase in children’s mental health and $51 million for school safety grants; and the need for greater gun safety, including a red flag law and other measures to reduce the likelihood that guns will fall into the hands of those who are dangerous to themselves or others.”
“The passage of House Bill 6012 marks a significant milestone for the Oxford school community,” said Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson. “Our children, parents, and educators have been impacted by trauma. While there is a long road ahead, we are comforted by the support we have received from the Michigan Legislature. This funding will help the Oxford school community obtain the tools necessary to recover from the lasting impact of the tragedy faced by students and staff.”
The bipartisan legislation will go a long way towards keeping our students safe. First, it would help schools implement risk assessments to comprehensively identify the current status of their campus safety and determine where further investments are needed. Second, it would help schools complete critical incidence mapping for their campuses, ensuring that emergency plans and protocols are effective and in-place. The legislation includes a total of $14 million that will be awarded to all schools, including traditional public, intermediate school districts, and private schools, for $2,000 grants to complete a comprehensive safety and security assessment. The grants will be administered by the Department of Education. Third, the bill directly invests in Oxford Community Schools to help them recover from the shooting late last year. It will help them hire mental health professionals, enhance security, and offering additional learning time to students lost in the wake of the tragedy.
House Bill 6012 was sponsored by Rep. Pamela Hornberger, R–Chesterfield, and a copy can be found here.
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by Becky Andrus | Jun 9, 2022 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Boosts Funding for 16 Schools to Expand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Programs to Prepare Students for In-Demand Jobs
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer along with state environmental and workforce leaders announced 16 K-12 institutions, school districts and educational partnerships have been awarded $205,028 to develop Great Lakes-based science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educational programs for students. These grants build on the Governor’s historic educational budget proposal, which includes the highest per-student investment ever, $1 billion for new school construction and renovation, funds to hire and retain 15,000 teachers, and more resources for on-campus mental health support.
“These grants will support freshwater literacy programs and offer students access to real world STEM experiences,” said Governor Whitmer. “Our Great Lakes are our greatest asset, and we must empower young Michiganders to learn more about them and continue advancing conservation efforts. Michigan’s economic competitiveness depends on a workforce proficient in STEM and committed to solving our biggest challenges. Investments like these will help prepare our kids to lead our state into the future.”
The grants, announced in connection with Michigan’s Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week, are a collaborative effort of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) MiSTEM Network to expand freshwater literacy and place-based STEM education and to support innovative STEM 3-P (problem, place and project-based) learning.
“The Great Lakes State is investing in great leadership for our future,” said Liesl Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. “These innovative educational programs and experiences will shape tomorrow’s advocates, policymakers and champions who will value and safeguard Michigan’s waterways and watersheds.”
“This continued partnership between EGLE and LEO supports students and educators through new and innovative approaches to STEM education to help close our state’s talent gap and prepare our students for high-demand career paths in STEM fields and beyond,” said Susan Corbin, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “We applaud these schools and community partners across the state for taking advantage of this grant opportunity and working with us to gear up today’s talent for the jobs of the future.”
Grant proposals were submitted and reviewed through a competitive request for proposal process. Projects were selected that best incorporated freshwater-focused efforts, place-based approaches and real-world experiences to engage students about the importance of Michigan’s Great Lakes and water resources and prepare them for careers in a variety of STEM fields.
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$6,892 to expand 3-P learning across grades 6-7-8 using the lens of coastal and wetland habitats.
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$8,078 to facilitate a program where students work as scientific researchers collecting data and making observations to determine if environmental issues are impacting the Thunder Bay River Watershed.
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$5,000 for students to adopt two beaches in the township in partnership with the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Students and families will participate in science lessons, Earth Force Environmental Inventories and field trips that directly involve the land and beaches they have adopted and expose them to careers in science, engineering and natural resource management.
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Atherton Community Schools
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$10,000 to engage 195 middle and high school science students in 3-P learning through its “Health in Our Hands” curriculum, conduct three health summits, and provide professional learning for four middle and high school science teachers.
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Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District
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$20,000 to institutionalize 3-P learning to schools across their ISD by supporting teachers, partnering with community and/or businesses and engaging students.
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Farmington Public Schools
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$15,870 to incorporate “student voice” in water steward topics and institutionalize 3-P teaching and learning in the district.
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Forest Hills Central Woodlands 5/6 School
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$20,000 to provide 3-P learning experiences for students including transportation for all students to visit the Inland Seas Schooner and engage in the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) program through Inland Seas Education Association.
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Grand Rapids Montessori, Grand Rapids Public Schools
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$8,862 to help students identify and begin solving the problem of habitat loss for local pollinators, bird and turtle species in the city through a partnership with educators at John Ball Zoo.
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Harrington Elementary School
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$12,000 for Marshall Public Schools to partner with Albion College to develop “outdoors at school” curricula for grades K-5 to be piloted at Harrington Elementary School including field trips to the college’s Whitehouse Nature Center.
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Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency
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$20,000 to support Southwest MiSTEM and the Kalamazoo Nature Center to establish a Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative hub to continue water stewardship education programs like monitoring efforts on the Kalamazoo River.
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Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools
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Mt. Morris Middle School – $15,000 to continue participation in the Flint River Green project. This student-led endeavor invites students to learn about the Flint River Watershed and its community impact through a partnership with a civil engineer from the Genesee County Drain Commission.
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Muskegon Area Intermediate School District
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$15,000 to support the expansion and institutionalization of 3-P learning for 420 fourth grade students and 3-P training for 19 fourth grade teachers in partnership Orchard View Schools and Reese-Puffer Schools.
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$9,996 to allow students to continue gathering water quality data from the local watershed using the data sensors deployed during the current school year through the MiWaterNet initiative.
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Stanton Township Public Schools
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$5,000 to train new teachers to carry out future Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative activities and to sustain student undertakings with the Stanton Township Schools’ gardens.
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Washtenaw Intermediate School District
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$20,000 to build a foundation for cross-district collaboration in support of freshwater-focused place-based education among teacher teams in southeast Michigan.
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Wayne-Westland Community Schools
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$13,330 to implement a rigorous, community-centered 3-P learning program which will allow students to begin to see themselves as scientists, innovators, mathematicians, readers and writers.
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From Students to Stewards was launched to teach students about the Great Lakes, Michigan watersheds and the impact people have on water resources. The program integrates water literacy principles into place-based education and STEM learning across all grade levels to engage students.
The Importance of Michigan’s Great Lakes
The Great Lakes and Michigan’s abundant freshwater resources have tremendous value to Michiganders. Michigan is home to more than 3,200 miles of coastline along four Great Lakes, 11,000 inland lakes and ponds, 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, and enough groundwater to fill Lake Michigan over again. More than 30 million people in the U.S. and Canada rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water.
Michigan has the potential to become a world leader in STEM education and careers, due to strong talent, educational institutions and thriving industries. According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM careers had median wages in 2020 that were more than double that of non-STEM occupations. These careers are expected to grow at more than twice the rate of other occupations in the upcoming years. Michigan has the 4th largest engineering, design and development (EDD) workforce in the nation, with over 113,000 employed in related industries in 2020. Employment in EDD industries is almost twice as concentrated in Michigan as the national average.
Governor Whitmer’s Education Investments
For three years straight, Governor Whitmer has worked across the aisle to make the largest education investments in Michigan history—without raising taxes. Since taking office, she’s tripled the number of literacy coaches and last year, she signed an education budget that closed the funding gap between schools, boosted per-student investment to an all-time high, and helped districts hire hundreds of on-campus mental health professionals. The Whitmer-Gilchrist administration’s education accomplishments can be found here.
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by Becky Andrus | Jun 7, 2022 | Regional News
ICYMI: Forbes: State of Michigan a Top-Ten Employer for New Graduates
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Whitmer celebrated the State of Michigan’s ranking as a top ten employer for new graduates in Forbes’ “America’s Best Employers for New Graduates” list. The State of Michigan was ranked 8th out of the 300 total recognized organizations. The list is based on an independent survey of more than 20,000 young professionals in the United States from companies with at least 1,000 employees.
“I am proud that the State of Michigan has been recognized as a top ten organization for new graduates to bring their talents, develop new skills, and start their careers,” said Governor Whitmer. “By enacting paid parental leave, increasing workplace protections, and boosting transparency, my administration has strived to ensure our state’s nearly 50,000-strong workforce has the support to thrive and serve the people of Michigan at the highest level. We will always ensure that State of Michigan employees have what they need to raise a family and ensure a solid quality of life in the state they serve.”
Since being elected to office, Governor Whitmer has implemented new initiatives to build and strengthen the state’s workforce.
Enacting Paid Parental Leave
In February 2020, Governor Whitmer announced the State of Michigan would begin offering paid family leave. This commonsense, family-first approach provides 12 weeks of paid leave immediately following birth or adoption of a child to the near 50,000 State of Michigan employees. Governor Whitmer’s paid family leave policy celebrated its second anniversary this year. Since its implementation, nearly 2,000 civil servants have spent more time bonding with their children.
Creating A More Welcoming Workplace
In 2019, Governor Whitmer signed an executive order to enhance anti-discrimination laws in state employment, contracting, and provision of services.
In her 2019 State of the State Address, Governor Whitmer acknowledged the importance of government transparency and strong ethical standards. She signed a series of executive directives setting new rules for the executive branch. These reforms have led to the creation of the public “Sunshine” webpage, which includes the governor’s public calendars, federal income tax returns, and personal financial information.
The first executive directive of Governor Whitmer’s administration was signed to empower state employees to speak up about imminent threats to public health, safety, or welfare. It encourages openness and reassures workforce protections by law for state employees who speak up.
If you’re interested in pursuing employment with the State of Michigan, click here.
by Becky Andrus | Jun 7, 2022 | Local News
ONTV Announces the Premiere of New Series
“Ideas and Insights”
Orion Neighborhood Television, Orion’s community access television station, announces the premiere of a new series entitled “Ideas and Insights.” The program will premiere on June 11 at 9 p.m. on Comcast Ch. 10, AT&T U-verse 99 and simulcast at orionONTV.org. The show is produced and hosted by Dr. Badrinath Rao, Associate Professor of Sociology and Asian Studies at Kettering University. In the 8 episode series, Dr. Rao remotely interviews authors and professors from all over world to discuss topics about some of the most pressing issues of our time.
In the premiere episode, Dr. Rao discusses the distressing state of democracy across the globe with John Keane, professor of politics at the University of Sydney in Australia. Prof. Keane offers a seminal analysis of the aberrations of democracy from his latest book, “The New Despotism.” “Ideas and Insights” is like no other program ONTV has produced before,” says Ian Locke, ONTV executive director. “When Dr. Rao approached us with his idea for a program that would challenge viewers to think about the times we are in, we couldn’t say no. This program connects our viewers with leading thinkers of our time from across the globe to inspire us to think about how we interact with, and treat one another. It’s very inspiring and thought provoking.”
The program is produced at ONTV, but will be shared nationwide with other community TV stations. “Meaningful programming isn’t just found on commercial media outlets,” says Locke. “Stations like Orion Neighborhood Television exist to allow the public access to media, to encourage free speech, and the sharing of independent ideas.”
A new episode of “Ideas and Insights” will air weekly on Saturdays at 9 p.m. and include additional air times on Sundays at 9 a.m., Mondays at 9 p.m. and Wednesdays at 5 p.m. on all ONTV media platforms.
Orion Neighborhood Television is an award winning community access television station serving the Village of Lake Orion and Orion Township. ONTV is housed at the Orion Center at 1349 Joslyn Rd. ONTV can be seen on Comcast Cable, AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, Roku and Amazon Fire TV, via the Cablecast channel. Programs can also be seen on-demand at www.orionontv.org. Contact ONTV by phone: 248-393-1060, Email: ONTV@orionontv.org.
by Becky Andrus | Jun 7, 2022 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday June 4th at 8:00 PM
By Sammy Taormina
Bloomfield Hills performed very well on Friday afternoon at the Division One State Tennis Finals at Western Michigan University. The Blackhawks had 10 State Finalists and eight State Champions but it wasn’t enough as they scored 32 points which was good for second place. Ann Arbor Pioneer took home the State title with 33 points.
The OAA was well represented in Kalamazoo besides the Blackhawks. Troy was third with 22 points, Clarkston was seventh with 12 points, Stoney Creek was tied for eighth with 10 points, Adams was tied for 15th with four points, Troy Athens and Lake Orion were tied for 19th with three points, and Farmington was tied for 22nd with one point.
Groves, Berkley, and Seaholm were in the Division Two State finals which took place on Saturday afternoon at Hope College. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern took the crown with 34 points. The Maples finished second with 30 points. Groves tied for fourth with 17 points. Berkley was tied for 12th with six points.
The OAA should be strong again next season in girls tennis.
by Becky Andrus | Jun 7, 2022 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Announces Canadian EV Charging Network Operator FLO Investing $3 Million, Creating 133 Jobs in Oakland County
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined Louis Tremblay, the chief executive officer of FLO, a leading North American electric vehicle charging network operator and smart charging solutions provider, to announce a new electric vehicle charger manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills. This $3 million investment is FLO’s first-ever U.S. manufacturing facility and is expected to create 133 jobs in 2023, continuing Michigan’s momentum leading EV-related investments as the state prepares for an electric future.
“We are proud to welcome FLO to Michigan and serve as the home for their very first manufacturing facility in the United States,” said Governor Whitmer. “As we look toward growing our economy, investing in our workforce, and creating good-paying jobs, we know the importance of leading the transition to electric vehicles. FLO’s presence in Oakland County builds on our tradition of automotive manufacturing with an eye toward our electrified future. This announcement is the latest in a series of recent, major investments in Michigan’s economy, and I could not be prouder that the world’s manufacturing leaders know Michigan is the place to be.”
FLO offers smart home charging solutions for both single-family houses and multi-unit residential buildings, as well as access to thousands of public charging stations across the country. FLO will receive an $800,000 Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) grant for the project. The company expects to produce 250,000 EV chargers by 2028 for the U.S. market and the Auburn Hills facility is expected to create a total of 730 direct, indirect and induced jobs by 2028.
“The opening of this U.S. facility marks a new chapter in FLO’s efforts to support EV adoption across North America,” said Louis Tremblay, FLO president and CEO. “Our team brings over a decade of experience at all levels in the EV charging industry to the U.S. market. From manufacturing and installation to charger maintenance – we are a part of the charging process every step of the way. We look forward to getting to work here in Michigan and continuing our mission of fighting climate change by accelerating EV adoption.”
Governor Whitmer has launched several initiatives to advance Michigan’s EV infrastructure to draw investments from companies such as FLO. Those include the Michigan Revolution for the Electrification of Vehicles (MiREV), which works directly with employers to ensure Michigan has the programs and resources to fill both current and future talent gaps for in-demand and emerging jobs in the mobility and electrification industry and played a key role in helping to attract FLO to expand and grow in Michigan. The governor also launched the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, which works across state government, academia, and private industry to enhance Michigan’s mobility ecosystem.
“Michigan is an ideal location for EV charging companies wanting to change the world. We offer customer proximity, a strong supply chain, a talented workforce, commitment to innovation, and aggressive programs to rollout charging infrastructure,” said Trevor Pawl, Chief Mobility Officer for the State of Michigan. “We are honored to have FLO, one of the most exciting charging companies in the world, join our mobility and electrification industry as they expand their presence across North America.”
Today’s news builds on other recently announced initiatives to expand Michigan’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure and deploy mobility projects across the state. In May 2022, Governor Whitmer announced a partnership with Adopt a Charger and electric vehicle automaker Rivian to install charging stations in Michigan state parks. The installation at Holland State Park kicked off phased state park EV charging installations as part of the Lake Michigan EV Circuit and across the state. The state of Michigan and National Park Service also announced a partnership in April 2022, which aims to improve safety, sustainability, and equitable access at national parks through innovative mobility technologies deployed in Michigan’s five national parks: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and River Raisin National Battlefield Park.
Also in April 2022, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II announced that Michigan will launch six new services to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure, increase access to electric vehicles, and broaden electric vehicle adoption in communities around the state. The six mobility companies – Chargeway, eCAMION, ElectricFish, Fleet Lab, MoGo, and Volta – will receive more than $577,000 in total funding through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform to deploy mobility projects in Lansing, Traverse City, Port Austin, Allegan County, Burt Township, Monroe, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and DTE Energy’s Service Territory.
These electric vehicle projects align with the governor’s April 2022 announcement of her MI Healthy Climate Plan, which outlines a series of goals to encourage greater electric vehicle adoption statewide.
“Electric vehicles need reliable, sustainable charging wherever and whenever they travel, and that’s forcing a complete reimagining of the infrastructure and ecosystem to support them,” said Maureen Donohue Krauss, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership. “It’s exciting, the future of mobility is being created in the Detroit Region and companies that want to be part of it need to be here. We are proud to partner with the MEDC in bringing an innovative company like FLO to Michigan.”
With a common goal of sustainability and increasing electric vehicle charging infrastructure, FLO will feel right at home in the state of Michigan.
“FLO’s announcement underscores Michigan’s leadership in the EV and mobility sector. As Team Michigan, we remain committed to winning the future of mobility and EV manufacturing here in our state,” said MEDC CEO and Michigan Strategic Fund President and Chair Quentin Messer Jr. “We are thankful for the opportunity to welcome FLO’s newest U.S. manufacturing facility to our state and appreciate the legislature’s continued partnership and support for critical tools like MBDP that are helping us secure these critical investments. Companies looking for innovative partners, a supportive business climate, and dedicated workforce need look no further than right here in Michigan.”
