Send new stories and press releases to JP at news@wgrt.com.

Local News

Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Reimbursement Part of Proposal to Address Teacher Shortages

The Michigan legislature has been asked to address the teacher shortages in public school districts. State Superintendent of Public instruction, Dr. Michael Rice, sent a letter to the legislature with some suggestions as to how to address the teacher vacancies in many struggling school districts.

The letter asks for at least $300 million to be spent over the next five years to address the crisis. That money is intended to be used to reimburse tuition and other expenses for current college students, including district support staff who make a commitment to pursue teaching.

Rice suggests loan forgiveness for recent college grads and current teachers who are paying on loans. He also pointed out a weakness in regional teacher preparation in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula which rely on a single program to produce a substantial number of teacher candidates.

Rice said, “If we expect a major commitment from a wave of young people as our next generation of educators in our great state, the least we can do is make sure that they don’t go into debt to perform this all-important public service.” 

The Michigan Department of Education has several other initiatives in place as well to attract and maintain educators in the state.

 Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Closings for Thursday, February 3, 2022

We have received the following notices of closings and delays in our listening area:

 

St. Clair County:

Algonac Community Schools

Blue Water Choices

Blue Water Community Action (Offices and Head Start Programs)

Capac Community Schools

Cardinal Mooney Catholic High

Council on Aging – Services and centers (including meals and transportation)

East China School District

East Shore Leadership Academy 

Landmark Academy 

Marysville Public Schools 

New Life Christian Academy

Port Huron Schools

St. Clair County Community College – main campus and off-campus locations

St. Mary / McCormick Catholic Academy 

St. Clair TEC 

St. Edwards on the Lake 

Woodland Development Center

Yale Schools

*** NOTE: Port Huron Area School Administration Office will be OPEN

Sanilac County:

Brown City Schools 

Croswell-Lexington Schools 

 

Unemployment Insurance Agency Reform Bills Pass House, Head to Senate

Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency has been in turmoil since the economy was brought to a halt during the start of the pandemic. Lawmakers have brought forth a series of bills to reform the troubled agency.

State Representative Andrew Beeler, a Port Huron Republican, said, “A functional government should carry out its responsibilities in a thorough and timely manner. Those characteristics hardly describe our unemployment agency, which paid over $8 billion in fraud, approved benefits erroneously and slowed down many legitimate claims. The legislation passed by the House will repair the agency after disastrous delays, confusing communications and bungled benefits.”

The state House passed two legislative packages last week. The bills are now headed to the Senate.

The bills call for a clear, expedited timeline in which the UIA can review and decide on claims and more transparency. There would be a new unemployment insurance advocate.

The bills also ensure that nearly 700,000 unemployment recipients who received the money in error but applied honestly, would not have to return the money.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Hometown “Rising Star” Jazmyn Thomas Returns to Port Huron as New Administrator

The City of Port Huron has announced the appointment of Jazmyn Thomas as the new Community Development Program Administrator. Thomas will be in charge of community development strategies and the disbursements of federal Community Block Grant funding.

Thomas got started in her career working as an intern for the City of Port Huron in 2012. Thomas is a Michigan State University graduate with a degree in Social Relations and Policy. She graduated with honors with her master’s degree in Public Administration from Oakland University.

After building her career working as a Grant Management Specialist for Macomb County, Thomas is back with the City of Port Huron, where she serves on the Community Foundation’s Equity and Inclusion Committee, the Port Huron Police Department’s Community Resource Champions Committee, and the St. Clair County Diversity Initiative.

Port Huron City Manager James Freed called Ms. Thomas a “rising star in public policy” and said,  “No one understands the needs of our community better than someone who grew up in our neighborhoods. Ms. Thomas was raised here and that’s why we are excited she will help shape our city’s future.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Closings & Delays February 2-3, 2022

We have received the following notices of closings and delays in our listening area:

 

St. Clair County:

Algonac Community Schools – closed February 2

Blue Water Community Action (Offices & All HeadStart Programs) – closed February 2

Capac Community Schools – closed February 2

Cardinal Mooney Catholic High – closed February 2

Council on Aging – Services and centers (including meals and transportation) – closed February 2

East China School District – closed February 2

East Shore Leadership Academy – closed February 2 & 3

Landmark Academy – closed February 2 & 3

Marysville Public Schools – closed February 2 & 3

New Life Christian Academy – closed February 2

Port Huron City Offices – closed February 2

Port Huron Area School District – closed February 2

St. Clair County Community College (Main and Off-Campus Locations) – closed February 2

St. Clair County Community Mental Health will be closed on February 2, 2022.  All programs are closed. Employees do not need to report to work.

St. Clair County Government Offices – closed February 2

St. Mary / McCormick Catholic Academy – closed February 2

St. Clair TEC – closed February 2

St. Edwards on the Lake – closed February 2

Woodland Development Center – closed February 2

Yale Schools – closed February 2

*** NOTE: Port Huron Area School Administration Office will be OPEN Wednesday, February 2nd at 9 am

Sanilac County:

 

Brown City Schools – closed February 2

Croswell-Lexington Schools – closed February 2

Free Masks Available at Health Department and Libraries

Submitted by the St. Clair County Health Department

The St. Clair County Health Department (SCCHD) in partnership with the St. Clair County Library System has free adult KN95 masks available for the public (while supplies last) at all St. Clair County Library branch locations and the St. Clair County Health Department, main office. Pick up times are during regular business hours. Limit three masks per person.

As COVID-19 continues on with the presence of the highly contagious Omicron variant, getting vaccinated and boosted, as well as wearing a well-fitting mask over your mouth and nose in indoor public settings or crowds is crucial to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Free KN95 masks have been made available throughout Michigan as part of the state’s Mask Up, Mask Right campaign. Find additional distribution sites at Michigan.gov/MaskUpMichigan or call (888) 535-6136.

Email COVID-19 questions to covid19@stclaircounty.org or call (810) 966-4163. For more COVID-19 information visit the health department website www.scchealth.co and social media @scchdmi.