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All parents want to know their child’s school is a safe place to learn and grow. The Senate recently finalized a sweeping plan to strengthen safety in our schools. The plan will:

• Create the Office of School Safety within the State Police to offer staff training and update school safety practices;
• Develop training standards for anti-violence situations;
• Ensure schools work with law enforcement to conduct regular safety assessments;
• Create the School Safety Commission to establish school safety metrics and require schools to assign a liaison to work with the commission;
• Require schools to consult with law enforcement on new builds or school upgrades;
• Require schools to report attempted acts of violence;
• Allow school boards to discuss safety plans in closed door meetings;
• Permanently extend the OK2SAY tip program; and
• Make sure schools provide emergency contact information to the State Police.

Senate Bills 882, 982-983 and 990-991 and House Bills 5828-5829 and 5850-5852 now head to the governor to be signed..

The “hunt of a lifetime” offers three lucky winners the opportunity to obtain licenses for spring and fall turkey, antlerless deer, bear, elk and first pick at a managed waterfowl hunt area, along with a prize package valued at more than $4,000. Applications for the 2019 drawing are $5 each and available at license agent locations and online at www.mdnr-elicense.com until Dec. 31.  The 2018 Pure Michigan Hunt generated more than $176,000 to help fund wildlife habitat restoration and improvements in Michigan. Find more information at www.michigan.gov/pmh.

The staff at WGRT wishes you a very Merry Christmas.  We hope you enjoy our Christmas Day programming.  It is our wish that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas celebration, and that the New Year brings you health and happiness.  Thank you for listening!

Best Wishes From The Office and On-air Staff at WGRT 102.3

In an executive order signed Tuesday night, President Trump announced that all federal employees will get the day off.  In the past, federal workers have been given Monday off whenever Christmas Day falls on a Tuesday.  In 2014, President Obama excused federal employees from work on Dec. 26, which fell on a Friday.  The executive order states that some employees may be required to report to work “for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.”  Agency heads also have been allowed the discretion to determine whether certain offices need to remain open on the holiday.

 This fall, supporters of the Imagination Library voted for their favorite charity in such numbers as to earn it a $25,000 grant. The library provides free books to county children ages 0 to 5. It is supported by St. Clair County RESA, the United Way, and grants and donations. Pictured are, back row from left: Jim Vinckier, State Farm agent in Marysville; Emily Vinckier, State Farm agent in Kimball; Riley Alley, Great Start Collaborative coordinator; Thom Connolly, representing State Farm Corporate; Jeff Genaw, State Farm agent in Port Huron Township; and Becky Gorinac, RESA director of Early Childhood Services. Bottom row, with Jennifer Gunderson, Great Start parent liaison are, from left: Maysa Northrop, Rowan Walling, Crosby Herbert, Will Dimick and Ethan Paynter.

St. Clair County Community College President Deborah Snyder, Ph.D., recently was appointed to the Michigan Virtual Board of Directors for a three-year term.  Michigan Virtual, formally known as Michigan Virtual University, partners with more than 500 districts in the state of Michigan to provide online courses and supplemental programs for Michigan students and professional development for educators. It is the parent organization of the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute.  Dr. Snyder has extensive experience and expertise in higher education and online learning. Among other positions, she served as president and chief academic officer of Cogswell College in California, senior vice provost of academic programs at Strayer University in Washington, D.C., professor and chairwoman for the management and marketing department at Capella University, director of extended learning at University of Michigan-Flint, and dean of online learning and professor of marketing at Walsh College, where she was instrumental in creating the school’s online courses.  Additionally, Dr. Snyder has authored three books and two entries in encyclopedias of educational technology. Her latest book, “Old School, New School, No-School,” examines the recalibration of higher education and guides college administrators, faculty, counselors and parents who seek to prepare students for the accelerating changes taking place in the world around them.  “Dr. Snyder is known as a pioneer in online education,” said Michigan Virtual President and CEO Jamey Fitzpatrick. “We are grateful to have her support, knowledge and expertise, and are thrilled to welcome her to our Board.”  Dr. Snyder was awarded the 2018 Blue Water Woman’s Educator of the Year Award. She has a Ph.D. in organizational communication, a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wayne State University. She also attended SC4.