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macombgov.org SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 • Vol. 36, No. 19 • candgnews.com
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Proponents say ECCA will expand education choices for families BY MARIA ALLARD
allard@candgnews.com
Photos by Dean Vaglia
Bagpipers and drummers lead the first mile of Neighbors United’s 2024 #walkfortheRED down 21 Mile Road on Sept. 5. The walk covers 140 miles across the state of Michigan.
STEPPING WITH PURPOSE Local firefighter walks to fight cancer
Joe Warne, Neighbors United president and a Macomb Township firefighter, listens to a speaker at the #walkfortheRED kickoff event at Macomb Township’s Station 2 on Sept. 5. Warne began the statewide walk after learning cancer is the leading cause of firefighter deaths.
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — A walk down the street is a trip. Walking across the state is a statement. For six years, Joe Warne of Macomb Township has made this very statement, walking from Macomb Township to the Grand Rapids area. This walk, the #walkfortheRED, serves as the fundraising tentpole for Warne’s nonprofit, Neighbors United. The organization raises See WALK on page 12A
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WARREN — As the new school year started, a press conference was held Aug. 28 at Regina High School where attendees discussed a federal bill that supporters say would give parents more choices for their children’s education. Bill No. 531, titled the Educational Choice for Children Act or ECCA, was introduced last year and is currently under review in the Committee on Ways and Means. Proponents of the bill include the Invest in Education Coalition, U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, and Beth DeShone, executive director of the Great Lakes Education Project. All attended the press conference. Invest in Education Coalition advocates at the federal level for legislation so K-12 parents can choose the best school or education service for their children. “The design of this bill is basically to ensure that families who face obstacles and barriers at the state level will be able to access the resources they need to broaden the array of educational options available to them,” said Greg Brock, a senior advisor with the Invest in Education Coalition. Bill No. 531, if passed, will fund K-12 scholarships through private donations that cover essential elements including tuition, tutoring and special needs services for public, private, charter and homeschooled children. “This Educational Choice for Children Act is such an exciting opportunity to change the dynamic here in Michigan and provide families with supplemental support for their children’s education,” DeShone said. “This legislation would allow families to pay for things like tuition, tutoring and many other educational enrichments they desperately need to set their children on the best path for a successful future.”