Senate District 7 Updates

Jun 24, 2022 | Email

State Senator Dayna Polehanki

Friends,  

I hope you’ve been able to kick off this summer with family and friends outdoors. As always, it is an honor to serve as your State Senator in Lansing, and I thank you for sharing thoughts and concerns with me.  

Featured in this newsletter:  

  • Bill package introduced to attract and retain teachers in Michigan 
  • Children ages 6 months through 4 years now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine 
  • Staying safe in the heat 
  • Keeping kids safe online 
  • MDHSS Baby Fair for new or expecting families 

Should you need any help, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (517) 373-7350 or by email at SenDPolehanki@senate.michigan.gov. 
State Senator Dayna Polehanki

Dayna Polehanki
State Senator
7th District

 

 

BILL PACKAGE INTRODUCED TO ATTRACT, RETAIN TEACHERS IN MICHIGAN 

Last week, alongside Senator Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) and several of my Democratic colleagues, I introduced a package of bills designed to attract and retain teachers in Michigan to address the educator shortage that has been many years in the making. 

In February 2020, just before the pandemic, the Michigan Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers released a report finding that newly issued teacher certificates were down nearly 25% between the 2013-2014 and 2017-2018 school years. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated the problem, and now, teachers are retiring faster than they can be replaced. 

Michigan’s teacher shortage is getting worse by the day, and it won’t go away unless we get proactive about recruiting and retaining excellent educators. These bills will go a long way toward ensuring our hardworking teachers can stay in the profession long-term, so our students can have the world-class education they deserve at every level. 

The legislation in the package includes: 

  • The Student Teacher Stipend Act, which would provide a student teacher stipend up to $9,600 in total for service as a student teacher (Sen. Polehanki). 
  • A resolution to eliminate higher education funding from the School Aid Fund. (Senate Joint Resolution Q, Sen. Polehanki). 
  • A grant program to reimburse student teachers for the cost of childcare during their service by up to $10,000 (Senate Bill 1092, Sen. Brinks). 
  • A grant program to pay for the cost of teacher professional development that is required with teacher certification (Senate Bill 1095, Sen. Brinks). 
  • Expanded support for new teachers to provide coaching and a support system for teachers in their first three years of service (Senate Bill 1096, Sen. Stephanie Chang). 
  • A loan repayment program for recently certified college graduates who commit to teaching, hold a valid teaching certificate, and are employed in a school (Senate Bill 1098, Sen. Rosemary Bayer). 
  • Elimination of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) requirement for out-of-state teachers with three years of successful performance evaluations in their previous state (Senate Bill 1097, Sen. Paul Wojno). 
  • Elimination of the prohibition on wage and step increases, allowance of retroactive wage increases, and eliminates the insurance increases passed to employees when a contract expires (Senate Bill 1094, Sen. Marshall Bullock). 
  • A no-cost pathway for support staff members to become certified teachers (Senate Bill 1100, Sen. Sean McCann). 
  • A grant program for districts to provide hands-on learning experiences in grades 6-12 to encourage students to consider a career in education (Senate Bill 1099, Sen. Jeremy Moss). 
  • A repeal of P.A. 53 of 2012, which prohibits school districts from collecting union dues or fees via payroll deduction (Senate Bill 1093, Sen. Erika Geiss). 
  • A bill to eliminate cost sharing of unfunded actuarial accrued liabilities (Senate Bill 1101, Sen. Jim Ananich). 
 
CHILDREN AGES 6 MONTHS THROUGH 4 YEARS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR COVID-19 VACCINE 
 

MDHHS is recommending providers begin vaccinating children ages 6 months and up as soon as possible. 
 
  • The Moderna series is two doses given 28 days (about 4 weeks) apart for ages 6 months through 5 years. For children 6 months of age through 4 years.  
  • The e series is three doses, the first two given three weeks apart and the third dose administered at least eight weeks after the second dose. For ages 5 and older, the Pfizer series is two doses given 21 days (about 3 weeks) apart.  
MDHHS recommends all eligible children get vaccinated and stay up to date on vaccines even if they have previously had COVID-19. Children younger than 5 can receive vaccine from a primary care provider, local health department or federally qualified health center. Some pharmacies will vaccinate people ages 3 and up.  

Visit Vaccines.gov for nearby vaccine locations — age specific information will soon be available.  
 
 
STAYING SAFE IN THE HEAT 

Hot days are here! With the current and upcoming excessive heat warnings, please be mindful and stay hydrated. As daily temperatures rise above 80°, emergency department visits for heat-related illness tend to increase. This is often more likely early in the summer season as people are not yet used to elevated temperatures and are not taking the necessary precautions. 

To prevent complications from the heat, residents are encouraged to: 
 
  • Drink more fluids and avoid liquids with substantial amounts of sugar or alcohol. 
  • Limit outdoor activities to when it is coolest in the morning and evening. 
  • Spend time indoors with air conditioning. 
  • Angle venetian blinds so that you have indirect sunlight entering rooms. 
  • Use ceiling fans to help circulate cool air, even if you have air conditioning. If you do not have air conditioning and have box or window fans, use them as exhaust to draw warm air out. 
  • Wear lightweight, light colored, and loose-fitting clothing. 
  • Wear sunscreen rated at least at SPF15, as sunburn affects a body’s ability to cool down. (Reapply it often especially if you perspire or go swimming.) 
  • Check on elderly neighbors and relatives to determine if they need assistance. 

Never leave children, the elderly, or pets in closed vehicles with the windows up and engine off. 

 
 
MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS STAY SAFE ONLINE
  
Are your children safe while online? Michigan families, especially minors, are becoming inundated with advertisements from alcohol, tobacco, pornography, illegal drugs, and gambling marketers through different internet and cell phone inboxes. Thankfully, the State of Michigan offers a free program to stop adult advertisements from reaching emails, text messages, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.   

The Michigan Child Protection Registry is a free, do-not-contact service for Michigan’s families and can be located at ProtectMIChild.com.   

I encourage you to sign your entire family up for the Registry and inform your friends and colleagues about how it can also protect their children and families from unwanted adult advertising. It takes seconds to sign up — visit ProtectMIChild.com today and keep your family safe.
 
 
MDHHS HOSTING BABY FAIR FOR NEW OR EXPECTING FAMILIES  
 
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has been hosting virtual baby fairs for new or expecting parents this month free of charge. At these virtual events, families have an opportunity to learn about available resources, important health and safety information and ask questions directly to program experts.   

The final free virtual event takes place at the following date and time:  
Tuesday, June 28 from 9 to 11 a.m.  
 
Some of the many MDHHS programs participating in these baby fairs include:  
  • Newborn Screening  
  • Infant Safe Sleep  
  • Women, Infants and Children  
  • Immunizations  
  • Early Hearing Detection and Intervention  
  • Maternal Infant Health Program  

Participants can register for one of these sessions online.