Put that Phone Down: Wireless Device Changes for the 2026-2027 School Year
Your district may have already imposed a cell phone ban on students but if not, one is coming for the 2026-2027 school year. On February 10, 2026, Governor Whitmer signed Public Act 2 of 2026, which restricts students’ use of wireless communications devices, including cell phones, during instructional time. School districts must have a wireless communications device policy that meets the new law’s requirements in place by the beginning of the 2026-2027…
Membership Matters Survey | Your Voice Matters
As we move toward the final stretch of the school year, I’ve found myself reflecting on the relationships, experiences and moments that make MASSP feel like more than just a professional association. For many of us, MASSP has been a place where we found our people. Maybe it was through a conference conversation, a mentor who encouraged us to join, a session that shifted our thinking, or simply knowing there were other…
June 2026 Board Quick Tips | Time for Communication, Reflection & Preparation
Take time in the coming weeks to celebrate your school community's achievements and reflect on the year's successes and challenges. Remember that after the last school bell rings, there's still a bit of work to do. Families are looking for clear communication at the end of the school year and throughout the summer. School websites and social media platforms can be some of the most powerful tools schools have to keep families…
Use AI to Build Your Entire PD Roadmap for Next Year
My name is William Grube. I’ll be speaking about AI at EdCon on June 22. As you work through the “Identify PD Goals for Next Year” section of the MASSP June Principal’s Checklist, this article gives you a process you can use with AI to build a year-long PD scope and sequence. Principals know what needs to improve next year. The problem is turning scattered ideas, staff feedback, district goals, walkthrough trends,…
MASSP Region 1: Innovation in the 906 – Rooted in Community, Driven by Purpose
Innovation in education is often synonymous with new technology, devices or digital platforms. While those tools certainly play a role, across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – Region 1 of MASSP – we are seeing a different and more meaningful definition take shape. Innovation here is not simply about what we use, but why we use it. It is about meeting the needs of our students in ways that are relevant, authentic and deeply…
This Week in Politics in (Technically) 5 Sentences (not Fewer)
Districts impacted by late-season snowstorms, flooding, and even one community water main break will receive additional forgiven days under HB 5797, which cleared the Senate this week and is headed to Governor Whitmer for her signature…the bill will provide four additional forgiven days and hours for districts located wholly or partially within a lengthy list of mostly northern Michigan counties forced to cancel school March 12-13 and March 16-17 and an additional…
M&Ms the Dynamic Duo: Leading through Legacy, Loss and Purpose
It all started with a phone call from my Executive Director, Ms. Lamis Srour, asking me to call her back when I was alone in a room. My heart immediately started racing. My mind quickly wandered. Did I do something wrong? Why does she need to speak to me privately? I dropped everything, walked into my office, and let her know I was ready to call. When I got her on the…
Stewards of Time: Why Michigan Principals are Prioritizing Hallway Visibility
For Michigan’s secondary school leaders, recent years have brought a sobering reality to the foreground. According to 2023–24 MDE data, while statewide attendance has seen a slight uptick to 90.8%, chronic absenteeism remains a significant hurdle. For high school principals, these numbers aren't just statistics; they represent empty desks and crowded hallways. We often treat "attendance" and "behavior" as two separate silos. But if you look at the daily reality of a…
Member Spotlight | Furkas Puts Students and Staff at the Center of Her Leadership
After more than two decades as a classroom social studies and English teacher, Jennifer Furkas made the move to administration, eventually becoming the Riverview Community High School Principal. “I still am really not sure how I became an administrator,” she said. “I think God just opens doors that you really kind of least expect and puts you in places that he wants you to be in. And yeah, so here I am.…
This Week in Politics in 5 Sentences (or Fewer)
Michigan’s May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC) painted an increasingly complicated picture for Michigan schools heading into final budget negotiations, with the School Aid Fund projected to carry roughly a $2.1 billion balance into FY 2026-27 even as the General Fund faces an estimated $1 billion shortfall, including roughly $850 million in ongoing structural imbalance. At the same time, both School Aid and General Fund revenues are projected to grow more slowly…