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PAGE 6 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN May 20, 2021

PLYMOUTH
PLYMOUTH

Transfer of teachers prompts protest march

Teachers from the Wayne Westland assemble in front of some of our school
Community Schools and members of the buildings. It is our understanding that
Michigan Education Association joined in they are not in agreement with the grade-
a protest march May 14 outside both level teaching assignments for a limited
Edison and Elliot schools. number of elementary teachers for the
Union activists are claiming unfair 2021-22 school year.
labor practices by the district administra- “Importantly, none of the affected staff
tion and the protesters claim that teach- have been terminated, demoted, or other-
ers are being “strong armed” at Edison wise impacted, other than receiving a
and Elliot into switching grade levels new grade assignment for the upcoming
with little to no preparation and no union school year. There is no financial harm to
conversations. any teacher who has been reassigned to a
State Reps. Kevin Coleman and Jewell different grade level. All staff will remain
Jones both briefly joined the protest in their same buildings and will be
demonstration during the afternoon. assigned to teach a grade they are certi-
Coleman said the turnout among teachers fied to teach through the Michigan
was strong and that horns were honking Department of Education,” the statement
in support from area residents and added, continued.
“They made a statement that the adminis- “Staffing and grade assignment deci-
tration needs to work with the teachers sions are made in the best interest of our
and not against them.” students using a wide variety of factors, State legislators Jewell Jones and Kevin Coleman join the teachers' protest march.
In a prepared statement, the district including teacher certification, student
responded to the protest, stating, “We are enrollment numbers, and student every year. As always, the district's chief success and growth. The district remains
aware that members of the teachers' achievement data. The reassigning of priority is cultivating a learning environ- focused on that mission,” the district
union have engaged in their right to teaching staff is something that happens ment that facilitates and fosters student statement concluded.
Repairs to Newburgh Road are approved by city council

Area motorists will have a much The project will include the milling of The remaining funding will be paid by Enterprise Drive, servicing the Cherry Hill
smoother trip down Newburgh Road this existing asphalt pavement, repairing con- MDOT. Industrial Park ; John Hix and Florence,
fall. crete base, resurfacing with 2 inches of new The project is slated to begin in June north of Cherry Hill; Superior Parkway
Members of the Westland City Council asphalt including curb repairs and and should take approximately three from Cherry Hill to Huron Parkway ; Yale
unanimously approved a contract with the Americans with Disabilities Act compliant months to complete, according to officials. Street from Hunter to Warren; Carlson from
Michigan Department of Transportation ramps and all other necessary related Additional major roads projects slated Palmer to Canyon; Grand Traverse
(MDOT) May 3 for improvements to the work. for this construction season include: Wayne Resurfacing (phase 1) from Glenwood to
road which will include the area from The total cost of the project is $1,477,175 from Ford to Warren (Wayne County proj- Belding ; Palmer sidewalk from Hambelton
Cherry Hill Road to approximately 400 feet with an estimated $268,108 to be paid by ect) ; Venoy Bridge to Grand Traverse to Christine and pavement markings
north of Ford Road. Westland. (Wayne County project); Manufacturers and throughout the city, officials said.

Life savers

Members of the Westland Public Safety Department
responded to an unusual, but frantic, call for rescue last
week when a resident noticed that a mother duck had lost
her entire brood to the holes in a sewer grate. Trying to wad-
dle across, the grate had swallowed the tiny ducklings who
were frantically quacking for help. Officers arrived on the
scene and took meticulous care to bring all 12 of the newly-
hatched ducklings to ground level for a reunion with their
ever-patient and grateful mother.

Memorial

Day parade

is planned

There will be a Memorial Day
parade in Westland to celebrate
and remember veterans of all
armed services.
According to Vic Barra who is
organizing the event, the parade
is a tribute to "the men and
women who have made the ulti-
mate sacrifice for our freedom,
while we continue to honor the
many veterans who have coura-
geously served our country. We
gather to support and applaud
their service to our nation and
community," he said.
The parade will start at 1 p.m.
May 30 beginning at John Glenn
High School in Westland; travel
west on Marquette Road to
Carlson; head north on Carlson
to the Westland William P Faust
Public Library. The march will
end at the Veteran's Memorial
Garden in Westland.
A small ceremony will take
place at the Veteran's Memorial
Garden at the end of the parade
to pay homage to those fallen
men and women that sacrificed
their lives in our names, Barra
said.
Any organization interested
in participating in the parade
should fill out the online partici-
pation request form on the City
of Westland website. For infor-
mation, or to register by phone,
call Barra at (734) 793-9309.