Education Beat: UM – Flint Critical Issues Conference Friday and Saturday highlights teaching and learning in the era of COVID
May18

Education Beat: UM – Flint Critical Issues Conference Friday and Saturday highlights teaching and learning in the era of COVID

By Harold C. Ford The University of Michigan-Flint (UM-F) is hosting a critical issues conference starting at 6 p.m. Friday May 19 and continuing  from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 20. at its downtown Flint campus. The conference will focus on the state of affairs in education during the time of a pandemic.   Conference overview FRIDAY Friday’s events begin with dinner at 6 p.m. in the UCEN Michigan Rooms followed by a keynote...

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“We have chaos in the chamber” – Council Vice-President Ladel Lewis struggles to keep order in Monday’s boisterous meeting
May10

“We have chaos in the chamber” – Council Vice-President Ladel Lewis struggles to keep order in Monday’s boisterous meeting

By Tom Travis The City Council meeting spiraled into a chaotic abyss on Monday night. The special affairs committee began at 4:30 p.m. and ended at 9:30 p.m. after five hours of mostly arguing and bickering amongst the council. Additionally, there was a group of vocal members of the public that spoke during public speaking and shouted out at other times during the meeting. The council is temporarily meeting in the Genesee County...

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Education Beat :   Two days, two memos, two views of Flint school district:  Superintendent elevates “positive stories”; teachers’ union cites “grave concerns”
May07

Education Beat : Two days, two memos, two views of Flint school district: Superintendent elevates “positive stories”; teachers’ union cites “grave concerns”

By Harold C. Ford Within two days, two memos with two different views were issued by the superintendent and teachers’ union leaders at Flint Community Schools (FCS).   FCS Superintendent Jones On May 5, FCS Superintendent Kevelin Jones issued a statement that attempted to elevate the “positive stories happening in our district every single day.” An excerpt from that memo: “We know there is an influx of negativity surrounding the...

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Immigration Advanced as a Strategy for Stabilizing, Growing Flint
May04

Immigration Advanced as a Strategy for Stabilizing, Growing Flint

By Harold C. Ford “This is the ultimate win-win.” –John Austin, Michigan Economic Center, March 29, 2023 The International Center of Greater Flint (ICGF) recently assembled about 40 people representing nearly 20 organizations at the Flint Public Library March 29 to promote immigration as an approach to growing the population and economy of the greater Flint community.   Phyllis Sykes and Adil Mohammed, co-founders of ICGF were...

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Education Beat  Flint Community Schools: Assistant Superintendent Keiona Murphy Resigns; Terae King Removed as Flint Board Vice-President; Charges of Racism Block  Bid to Make MacIntyre Treasurer
Apr26

Education Beat Flint Community Schools: Assistant Superintendent Keiona Murphy Resigns; Terae King Removed as Flint Board Vice-President; Charges of Racism Block Bid to Make MacIntyre Treasurer

By Harold C. Ford “We have met the enemy and he is us.” –Cartoonist Walt Kelly’s Earth Day 1970 parody of a similar statement by Master Commandant Oliver Perry in the War of 1812 The resignation of Keiona Murphy, assistant superintendent for Flint Community Schools (FCS), was announced by Superintendent Kevelin Jones in a statement made available to the public April 25. Later the same day, four members of the Flint Board of Education...

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UM – Flint tenured faculty begin unionization efforts, propelled by governance, pay, work life, university climate concerns
Apr25

UM – Flint tenured faculty begin unionization efforts, propelled by governance, pay, work life, university climate concerns

By Jan Worth-Nelson The tenured and tenure-track faculty at the University of Michigan – Flint (UMF)  have begun efforts to unionize. A group of about 16 organizers have been meeting, circulating information and membership cards, and consulting with eligible colleagues.  The union would be called UMF AFT-AAUP Local 5671 [American Federation of Teachers — American Association of University Professors,  affiliating with a...

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