HANCOCK (FEBRUARY 27, 2024) - Educational leaders from around the Copper Country met with legislators on Monday morning at the Copper Country Intermediate School District as part of a Q+A session session facilitated by the Copper Country Association of School Boards. The session included key educational administrators, local school board members, and a notable assembly of legislative figures, including State Senator Ed McBroom, State Representative Greg Markkanen, State Representative Jenn Hill, and a representative from U.S. Representative Jack Bergman’s office.
The session provided a platform for constructive conversations on a variety of educational challenges and opportunities facing local districts, particularly those in rural settings in the U.P.. Discussions highlighted topics such as the need for increased and sustainable funding for schools, strategic investments in transportation, support for the cultivation of the next generation of educators, and the paramount issue of school safety.
State Senator Ed McBroom highlighted the value of direct communication with the local educational leaders, stating, "Everyone here are the boots on the ground. We're listening to the board members, to the administrators, and seeing how state policy directly impacts their success or inability to obtain success. This meeting helps me be able to go to my colleagues and say, 'here's what I'm hearing at the local level from the folks.' So this meeting is always really a great touchstone to find out what's working, what's not working, what needs to be done."
Echoing the sentiment, State Representative Greg Markkanen emphasized the value of firsthand feedback from educators throughout the Copper Country in the western Upper Peninsula. "It's really important to get feedback from educators across the copper country in the western U.P. And, you know, firsthand feedback in person is always just really important for us to bring back to Lansing to help support the U.P., the western U.P., and the Copper Country as a whole," Markkanen remarked.
The session served as an important opportunity for discussion between local educational stakeholders and state and federal legislators. It confirmed a commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by rural schools in the Upper Peninsula. This collaborative effort marks the continuous advancement of the educational landscape in the Copper Country, with a focus on practical solutions and sustained improvements.