Of Parental Rights: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel Releases 2 Year Report On U.S. Conference Of Catholic Bishops Trafficking Tiny Humans

The Celestial Goddess of the Woodshed honors the standing armies of the Generals Attorney and Inspector of Michigan, and those who have yet to be unmasked.

• Christopher Allen – Office of the Solicitor General 
• Danielle Bennetts – Sexual Assault Team, Assistant Attorney General
• Josh Booth – Ethics Officer, Chief Legal Opinions 
• Michelle Brya - Division Chief, Licensing and Regulation Division 
• Paul Carbini – Victim Advocate 
• Tom Fabus – Chief of Investigations (AG) 
• Christina Grossi – Deputy Attorney General 
• Danielle Hagaman-Clark – Acting Division Chief Criminal Trial Appellate Division 
• Robyn Liddell – Acting First Assistant Criminal Trial Appellate Division 
• Sgt. William Luebs – Dt/Sgt. Michigan State Police 
• Eric Restuccia – Office of the Solicitor General 
• Ann Sherman – Office of the Solicitor General 
• Rebekah Snyder – Victim Advocate 
• Scott Shea – Special Agent (AG)

This is only the first layer, parsimoniously slivered, as a sample specimen, of what goes on in the residuals of the peculiar institution.

I wonder how the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is doing, or rather, how the appointment of our latest Supreme Court Justice is going, considering the fact that there is a case to shutter in Pennsylvania the day after the election.

This is about Parental Rights.

#maytheheavensfall

#sealsmatter

11 Men See Charges as AG's Clergy Abuse Investigation Hits 2-year Mark

LANSING – Millions of documents have been reviewed and 11 men have been or are being prosecuted by Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office since authorities executed search warrants two years ago on all seven of Michigan’s Catholic dioceses as part of the state's investigation into clergy abuse. 

Forty-two Michigan State Police troopers, five officers from different law enforcement agencies and 15 special agents from the Attorney General’s office executed search warrants on Oct. 3, 2018, at Michigan’s seven dioceses. In that effort, they seized 220 boxes of paper documents and more than 3.5 million digital documents. 

Due to a slowdown in court operations as a result of COVID-19, no charged cases have been resolved through plea deals or trial since late 2019. However, the review of documents has continued along with other steps to further the investigation. To date, the department has: 

• Completed the paper document review of the Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Marquette dioceses. Of the 220 boxes of paper documents seized, about 78 boxes remain;
• Completed the electronic document review of the Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Marquette dioceses;
• Hired and trained a full-time victim advocate to support the hundreds of victims identified in the course of the investigation;
• Continued to refer the completed criminal investigations back to the respective dioceses; and
• Followed up with victims who have not been interviewed with a trauma-informed interviewer – including those whose cases are barred by the Statute of Limitations, where the accused priest has died or any other reason that makes criminal prosecution impossible. 

Through the department’s review of paper documents alone, 454 accused priests and 811 reported victims have been identified. That number may change as investigatory efforts continue. 

As of Sept. 28, the Attorney General’s Clergy Abuse Investigative Team had reviewed more than 2.24 million of the digital documents seized. 

Attorney General Nessel recorded a video message to outline the progress her office has made

. 

“I am deeply proud of the work our Clergy Abuse Investigative Team has done – and we are dedicated to continuing this incredibly important work,” Nessel said. “We are committed to ensuring that every case of sexual abuse and assault is thoroughly reviewed and that whenever we are able to pursue justice for a victim, we do so aggressively and relentlessly. We must all commit to breaking down the walls of silence that so often surround sexual assault and abuse. In the end, we hope this investigation provides a voice to those who have suffered in silence for so long and shines a light on those offenders who have escaped punishment for their crimes by hiding in shadows.” 

In addition to the paper and digital documents seized from the dioceses, information is also received through the Attorney General’s clergy abuse tip line: 1-844-324-3374. That has generated 750 tips related to abuse, leading to 112 police investigations, 180 victim interviews and 285 police reports. 

The Michigan Department of Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation has resulted in 11 cases being prosecuted so far: 

• Vincent DeLorenzo, who was a priest at Holy Redeemer Church in Burton, Michigan was arrested in Marion County, Florida in May 2019 and charged with three felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and three felony counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. A pre-trial hearing in Genesee County is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Nov. 12, 2020. Click here for background. 
• Jacob Vellian, a former priest at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Benton Harbor, was charged in May 2019 with two counts of rape. His extradition from India is in progress. Click here for background.  
• Timothy Crowley, who was a priest at St. Thomas Rectory in Ann Arbor, was charged in May 2019 with four felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and four felony counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was arrested in Tempe, Arizona.  Crowley’s case was dismissed after a preliminary examination but the Attorney General’s office filed an appeal in December and it remains pending in Ann Arbor Circuit Court before the Hon. Archie Brown. Click here for background. 
• Gary Jacobs, a priest at parishes in Ewen and Iron Mountain in the Upper Peninsula, faces a total of 10 criminal sexual conduct charges in five cases. He was arrested in January in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has been bound over for trial and a Walker Hearing is scheduled for Nov. 6, 2020. Click here for background.
• Roy Joseph, a priest in Marquette, was charged in Marquette County with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. His extradition from India is in progress. Click here for background.
• Neil Kalina, who was a priest at St. Kiernan Catholic Church in Shelby Township, was charged in May 2019 with two felony counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and arrested in Littlerock, California. His trial starts Nov. 19, 2020. Click here for background.
• Joseph “Jack” Baker, a pastor at St. Mary Parish in Wayne and an associate pastor at Sacred Heart in Dearborn and at St. Hugo of the Hills Parish in Bloomfield Hills, was charged with one count of first degree criminal sexual conduct. He awaits a trial date in Wayne County Circuit Court and his next court date is October 19, 2020. Click here for background.
• Joseph Comperchio, a teacher at St. John Elementary in Jackson County, was charged in September with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He waived extradition and was returned to Michigan on Oct. 1, 2020.  His next court date is October 26, 2020. Click here for background.
• Gary Berthiaume, a former priest at Our Lady of Sorrows in Farmington, was charged with one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, a 15-year felony. He was arrested in late September in Illinois, waived extradition and was returned to Michigan on Friday. He was arraigned Monday in Farmington District Court and given a $50,000 cash/surety bond. His next court date is Oct. 28 in the 47th District Court in Farmington.  Click here for background.
• Patrick Casey, who was a priest at St. Theodore of Canterbury Parish in Westland, was charged with one felony count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in May 2019.  He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault after a jury trial in Wayne County Circuit Court in October 2019 and served 45 days in the Wayne County Jail.  Click here for background.
• Brian Stanley, who was a priest at St. Margaret’s Church in Coldwater, was charged with false imprisonment, pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2019 and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, probation and sex offender registration. Click here for background.  

For more information on the Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation or to submit information, visit the department’s website. Information may also be provided by calling the investigation hotline at 844-324-3374 (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or send information by email. 

Michigan Attorney General Clergy Abuse Investigation 705417 7 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

Absolutely gorgeous visual graphics.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Prelude To Detroit: Andy Arena Is Back!

Hiya Andy!

Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up.

We have much stuff to do.

So sayeth me.

Former Detroit FBI head fears there may be more plots like Whitmer kidnapping

FOX 2 - Former Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Andy Arena, admits that after Thursday's stunning arrest of 13 men who authorities said were plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the next few weeks are going to be rocky.

"I'm nervous over the next three or four weeks (about)  what we're going to see," he said.

Former Detroit FBI head says weeks leading to election will be rocky

Andy Arena spoke about the agitated political atmosphere saying he was not surprised at the plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer.

The 13 men from two different militias are accused of plotting to kidnap the governor from her home in Michigan. The FBI was aware of the plot for months and the governor was moved to protect her family, attorney Dana Nessel disclosed to "CBS This Morning" on Friday.

Arena is concerned there may be more.

"There's just so much agitation out there right now, all over the political spectrum that I'm not shocked that we're seeing stuff like this," he said. "I think from a law enforcement standpoint, you really can't fixate on one side or the other. 

"I think you've got to look at anarchists, you've got to look at white supremacists,  you've got to look at these outside fringe militia groups and you've got to look outside. You've got to look at ISIS and radical groups like that. It would be a perfect time to hit us."

Many extremist groups are using the internet to recruit and radicalize, but it's sometimes difficult to know when it crosses the line from free speech to something far more serious.

"When you're talking about a threat to the governor, that's a threat to all of us and you have to take is seriously," Arena said. "You've got to make sure that this does not happen."

He's been in a similar situation before. It involved the Hutaree Militia out of Adrian, which was accused of surveilling law enforcement and attempting to build explosive devices. Federal authorities had recordings and undercover agents and informants but in 2012, a federal judge dismissed the most serious charges against them, ruling it was free speech and not domestic terrorism.

"When this gets to the court, they're going to (ask the) question 'Is this just a bunch of knuckleheads sitting around, tough talk, or do these people have the wherewithal to actually do this?'" 

Arena says the FBI can't just spy on these extremist groups so people need to say something if they suspect it's gone beyond First Amendment free speech to criminal activity.

"As U.S. citizens we don't want our government spying on us," he said. "But if you see something that may be enough for the FBI to take a look at it, who knows what it's going to lead to."

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Tales Of The New Crown: Will Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Allow The Military To Protect Her From Being Kidnapped Again?

I need her alive.

Gretchen needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, military protection.

How about the U.S. Marshalls since she does not want the National Guard?

Meet the Michigan Militia because it looks like we are going back to Whitewater.

#maytheheavensfall

Feds say they thwarted militia plot to kidnap Whitmer

The FBI says it thwarted what it described as a plot to violently overthrow the government and kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and federal prosecutors are expected to discuss the alleged conspiracy later Thursday.

The alleged plot involved reaching out to members of a Michigan militia, according to a federal affidavit filed Thursday.

"Several members talked about murdering 'tyrants' or 'taking' a sitting governor," an FBI agent wrote in the affidavit. "The group decided they needed to increase their numbers and encouraged each other to talk to their neighbors and spread their message."

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

The affidavit was filed hours after a team of FBI agents raided a Hartland Township home Wednesday and comes amid an ongoing investigation into the death of a Metro Detroit man killed during a shootout with FBI agents.

The conspiracy described by the FBI involved at least six people, including Ty Garbin, 24, whose home was raided by agents in Hartland Township late Wednesday.

The affidavit filed in federal court details probable cause to charge the six men with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer. Those identified by name include:

Adam Fox

Barry Croft

Garbin

Kaleb Franks

Daniel Harris

Brandon Caserta

Ages and hometowns for all six men were not immediately available.

The investigation dates to early 2020 when the FBI learned through social media that individuals were discussing the violent overthrow of several state governments and law enforcement.

In June, Croft, Fox and 13 others from multiple states held a meeting in Dublin, Ohio, near Columbus, according to the government.

Those present included an FBI confidential source who recorded the meetings. The source has been paid $8,600.

“The group talked about creating a society that followed the U.S. Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient,” the FBI agent wrote. “They discussed different ways of achieving this goal from peaceful endeavors to violent actions. At one point, several members talked about state governments they believed were violating the U.S. Constitution, including the government of Michigan and Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

“As part of that recruitment effort, Fox reached out to a Michigan-based militia group,” the agent added.

The militia group is not identified in the court filing.

The FBI was already tracking the militia in March after a local police department learned members were trying to obtain addresses of local law-enforcement officers, the FBI agent wrote.

“At the time, the FBI interviewed a member of the militia group who was concerned about the group’s plans to target and kill police officers, and that person agreed to become a (confidential source),” the agent wrote

In late June, Fox posted on Facebook a video in which he complained about the state’s judicial system and COVID-19 restrictions on gyms operating in Michigan.

“Fox referred to Governor Whitmer as ‘this tyrant b----,’ and stated, ‘I don’t know, boys, we gotta do something,” according to the court affidavit. “You guys link with me on our other location system, give me some ideas of what we can do.”

Whitmer's office did not immediately comment Thursday morning.

Michigan Attorney Dana Nessel is set to join with state police, FBI officials and the U.S. attorneys from Detroit and Grand Rapids at 1 p.m. Thursday to announce "details of a major operation" and criminal charges. 

The criminal case comes after months of restrictions on travel and business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The lockdown has been a lightning rod for anti-government extremists in this country, and Gov. Whitmer has been on the forefront of their targeting,” said Seamus Hughes, deputy director of George Washington University’s Program on Extremism.

In recent weeks, the state-owned Michigan governor's residence received security upgrades, including the construction of a new perimeter fence.

The "perimeter security and other safety upgrades" were planned out last year, Whitmer spokeswoman Tiffany Brown said in early September. They were scheduled to start in the early spring but were delayed until recently because of the pandemic, she said.

The cost for the "maintenance" projects at the Lansing residence, which was recommended by the Michigan State Police and the state Department of Technology, Management and Budget, was about $1.1 million, Brown said.

"As a matter of practice, we’re constantly reviewing security protocols and adjusting as needed," said Shanon Banner, spokeswoman for the Michigan State Police, in early September. "We don’t comment on specific threats against the governor nor do we provide information about security measures."

No mention of "The Poors" (always said with clinched teeth) nor violent crimes against children.

Please note.

If there has been one plot found, what makes her think there are not other cells, ready and willing to attack citizens?

I am waiting for her to ask for federal assistance.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Prelude To Detroit: The Fools Jacob Wohl & Jack Burkman Interfered With The 2020 Election During The 2020 Election Interference Investigation - Light Up That Network

Well, it is quite obvious they have never read my blog.

It must be one of those google search suppression issues.

Dana is not happy and this is something I am quite secure in stating.

Oh, and neither is Matt, to say the least!

Now, you do know there are going to be sophisticated queries into their financial encouragement, right?

May the gods forbid there exist a russian* origin of the funding source.

That would be quite awkward, legally, I mean.

I shall assume all of the cyber associates of Jacob and Jack will be examined for a possible transposable model, of such actions, but, hey, what do I know?

I know we have just lit up another network.

*intentionally spelled in lower case to bifurcate the difference of a government and some gluttonous individuals of nefarious avarice.

#maaytheheavensfall

Michigan AG charges conservative activists for robocalls trying to dissuade urban voters from voting by mail

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Two notorious conservative activists have been charged with multiple felonies in Michigan for a series of false robocalls that aimed to dissuade urban residents in Detroit and other cities from voting by mail.

Jacob Wohl, 22, and Jack Burkman, 54, each were charged Thursday with four felony counts in Detroit, including intimidating voters in violation of election law, conspiracy, and using a computer to commit crimes.

The calls falsely warned residents in majority-Black Detroit and urban areas in at least four other states that voting by mail in the Nov. 3 election could subject people to arrest, debt collection and forced vaccination. In August, the men denied involvement. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says the pair created and funded them.

According to Nessel, 12,000 calls went out to phone numbers in the 313 area code. Nessel investigated and communicated with attorneys general offices in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, all of which reported similar calls to urban areas with significant minority populations.

It's believed 85,000 calls were made nationally, Nessel, though an exact breakdown for each city or state is not available.

“Any effort to interfere with, intimidate or intentionally mislead Michigan voters will be met with swift and severe consequences,” Nessel said. “This effort specifically targeted minority voters in an attempt to deter them from voting in the November election. We’re all well aware of the frustrations caused by the millions of nuisance robocalls flooding our cell phones and landlines each day, but this particular message poses grave consequences for our democracy and the principles upon which it was built. Michigan voters are entitled to a full, free and fair election in November and my office will not hesitate to pursue those who jeopardize that.” 

The recorded robocall message warns people about being “finessed into giving your private information to the man” and urges them to “beware of vote by mail.” 

You can listen to the call for yourself here.

The caller, who claimed to be associated with an organization founded by Burkman and Wohl, told people that voting by mail, in particular, will allow personal information to become part of a "special database used by police to track down old warrants and by credit card companies to collect outstanding debts."

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Michigan Illegitimate Governor Gretchen Whitmer Recall Petitions & More

Gretchen Whitmer has multiple challenges to her authority pending in the legal system...

She has challenges with her campaign finance.

https://beverlytran.blogspot.com/search?q=gretchen+whitmer+dana+nessel

She has issues with the certification of her election.

https://beverlytran.blogspot.com/search?q=gretchen+whitmer+matt+schneider

She definitely has a serious trafficking tiny humans situation in the courts.

https://beverlytran.blogspot.com/search?q=bcbs

You can even challenge the validity in the execution of oath of office.

I have yet to mention MDP or DNC tales but I will say #perkinscoiesucks.

https://beverlytran.blogspot.com/p/detroit-land-bank-authority-leaks.html

#maytheheavensfall

Michigan Board of Canvassers Whitmer EO Notice 91020 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Eric Smith Believes Matt Schneider Is Stupid Because He Solicited More Co-conspirators To Lie To One Of The Federal Grand Juries In Detroit

Seriously!?!

Really???

Dude, what part of this do you not understand?

It is not nice to lie to the feds.

You probably pissed Matt off because I am very disappointed in you, considering that you are a licensed attorney. <=====HINT

I wonder what Joe Biden had to say about this....

Oh, wait, I forgot, he is doing the same damn thing...

This is about Medicaid Fraud in Child Welfare.

This is about the industry of trafficking tiny humans.

This is about gerrymandering.

This is about to get very dark, and very deep.

https://beverlytran.blogspot.com/search?q=Macomb+County

#maytheheavensfall

Feds unveil charges against ex-Macomb prosecutor Smith

Eric Smith

Detroit — Former Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith was charged Wednesday with obstructing a federal investigation into whether he stole campaign funds, capping a steep fall for one of the region's top law enforcement officials.

Smith has agreed to plead guilty to one count of obstruction of justice, a 20-year felony, after a prolonged period of turmoil that included a raid at his home, his resignation six months ago and questions about whether he illegally spent campaign money.

Smith tried to get a friend and two unidentified assistant county prosecutors to lie to a federal grand jury and FBI investigators who concluded he orchestrated two fraud schemes to steal $75,000 from his political campaign fund, prosecutors said Wednesday. Smith used the money for personal expenses from 2012 to this year, authorities allege.

Macomb County prosecutor Eric Smith
The 53-year-old Democrat from Macomb Township is the highest-ranking public official ensnared in a years-long federal crackdown on corruption in Macomb County. Since 2016, federal prosecutors have secured the convictions of 22 contractors and public officials, including former Clinton Township Trustee Dean Reynolds, trash mogul Chuck Rizzo and towing titan Gasper Fiore. Former county Public Works Commissioner Anthony Marrocco is awaiting trial on corruption charges.

The case against Smith focuses on lies and campaign cash. Smith controlled the campaign fund, telling donors the money would be used for his re-election, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said.

"Sometimes that was true," Schneider said, "but sometimes that was a lie. It was a fraud. That is because Mr. Smith stole money from his campaign account and used it for his own personal whims."

Smith will plead guilty to one count of obstruction of justice, his lawyers Martin Crandall and John Dakmak said in a statement Wednesday.

“Never did I trade justice for money or any other benefit,” Smith said in a statement Wednesday. “Let me be absolutely clear: The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office was never for sale under my watch. I acted irresponsibly and recklessly, and I will be held accountable for my actions. However, I never compromised when it came to protecting the citizens of Macomb County and prosecuting criminals.”

The criminal charge was announced six months after The Detroit News exclusively reported that Smith had resigned while pursuing a deal to plead guilty to forthcoming federal corruption charges.

Smith's lawyers were negotiating with federal prosecutors to resolve a corruption investigation that coincided with a separate state probe that in March led to the Michigan Attorney General's Office filing racketeering charges against the county's top law enforcement officer. Smith and three others were accused of participating in a scheme to embezzle $600,000 in county forfeiture funds.

Smith had approximately $55,000 in checks written from his campaign account that was purportedly for renting a campaign office, the U.S. Attorney said Wednesday.

"But that was a sham," Schneider said.

An unidentified associate cashed the checks and gave Smith the money "for Smith's own enjoyment," Schneider said.

In 2016, Smith gave a $20,000 check to an unidentified assistant prosecutor. That person gave $15,000 to Smith "for his own personal expenses" and kept the rest, Schneider said.

Smith also tried to cover up the crimes, the U.S. Attorney said.

In September 2019, Smith learned a grand jury was investigating the use of his campaign account and that FBI agents were planning to interview his associates, Schneider said.

"Smith tried to convince his associate to falsely tell the FBI that the $55,000 kicked back to Smith was simply a loan that Smith would repay."

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Michigan Is Ramping Up Termination Of Parental Rights - Corporate Style

For a history of the nonprofits that will be dissolved, or have already been dissolved and they just do not care, you can search, here.

If you can terminate parental rights of an individual, where, corporations are individuals, too, well, in the spirit of a fuchsia laced transposable model, you can terminate the parental rights to keep and bear the arms of the State of Michigan.

Always remember, children and land are fungible under chattel law and it all started in Detroit.

LARA has many layers in its many tales.

Dana gets it.

You go, gurl!

Michigan Attorney General moves to dissolve 10 nonprofits posing as popular charities

Ten Michigan organizations with similar-sounding names to large nonprofits like the American Cancer Society and United Way are fraudulent and should be dissolved, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Friday.

The department recently submitted a complaint to dissolve 10 organizations created in 2018 by Ian Richard Hosang in Ingham County Circuit Court. The Attorney General’s office claims none of Hosang’s organizations are legitimate charities, as they don’t solicit contributions, distribute charity or provide educational services.

With names like the American Cancer Foundation of Grand Rapids, American Cancer Society of Michigan, United Way of Detroit and American Red Cross of Michigan, prospective donors might be misled into thinking they were donating to a well-known charity organization, Nessel said.

“Anyone who chooses to donate – no matter how large or small the contribution – should not have to sift through fraudulent entities before finding a reputable one to support,” she said.

The department reports Hosang and other individuals connected to the entities in question, Claudia Stephen and Lincoln Palsey, are not Michigan residents. None of the entities are registered with the Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Division.

Hosang has also registered organizations with similar names to the United Way, American Red Cross and American Cancer Society in California, Wisconsin, Ohio, Georgia, New York, Florida and Maryland, according to the Attorney General’s office.

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs initially referred two of his Michigan organizations, ACS of Michigan and ACS of Detroit, to the Attorney General’s office in January after learning the entities were not connected to the national organization.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

The Tale Of Jocelyn Benson: DHS Co-conspiracy Testimony On Voting Rights

The last time I checked, the 2018 Special Election has yet to be certified.

Then, there is that situation with the 2016 General Election certification.

So......

Riddle me this:

If 72% of the election cycle vote count cannot be replicated in a recount, something Jill Stein experienced in Michigan, then, what was the vote tally?

See, the tally and the vote are two, separate and exclusive datasets.

Then, we are dealing with Janice Winfrey.

So, how can one certify the 2020 Primary Election, when no one knows how many people voted?

But, then again, Jocelyn Benson likes to make up stuff all the time.

For some strange reason, I could not find the video.

Perhaps, it was sealed.

About to testify at a virtual hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security titled “Protecting America's Democracy: Ensuring Every Vote Counts." Tune in to the livestream now at https://t.co/CZjoFME4Rz pic.twitter.com/AlPGVYN9jJ

— Jocelyn Benson (@JocelynBenson) August 28, 2020

First, this happened...

Michigan board requires Benson to oversee Detroit's fall election

Lansing — The Michigan Board of State Canvassers is requiring Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to exercise her oversight powers this November in Detroit after widespread problems counting ballots in the city's primary and ahead of a pivotal presidential election.

But Benson, a Democrat from Detroit, said in a Monday interview that her efforts wouldn't focus on just the state's largest city. The Secretary of State's office is going to do a "deep dive" in the coming days to identify additional ways to support multiple cities across Michigan as they prepare for a surge of absentee voting this fall, she said.

"I am confident that we’re going to have record turnout this fall and the results of our elections are going to be accurate,” Benson said.

Maurice Brown, 54, of Detroit, votes in precinct \232 at Greater Emmanuel Institutional church this morning during primary voting in Detroit, Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

About 72% of the absentee voting precincts in Detroit's primary election had ballot totals that didn't match the number of ballots reported in poll books. This situation would likely mean  — under state law — those precincts couldn't be recounted in a close race, which is driving concerns among officials for the general election when the eyes of the nation could be on Michigan.

President Donald Trump won the state by 10,704 votes in 2016, his smallest margin of victory nationwide. Former First Lady Michelle Obama said at last week's Democratic convention that it averaged to two votes per precinct in Michigan.

"I don’t really care what the issue is," said Julie Matuzak, a Democratic member of the Board of State Canvassers. "I care that this not happen in November.”

On Monday morning, the board of two Democrats and two Republicans unanimously certified statewide election results for the Aug. 4 primary but included language in the certification that seeks to ensure that Benson gets further involved in supervising what happens with the general election in the state's largest city.

The board approved a requirement that Benson exercise "supervisory control" over the November election in Detroit. State law already provides the secretary of state supervisory control over local election officials, and it's unclear what specific changes in the administration of the election will occur.

"I don't think we're in the position to add the detail right now," said Norm Shinkle, a Republican member of the Board of State Canvassers.

Matuzak, who previously called the situation in the primary "appalling," said she wanted regular reports on what's happening in Detroit ahead of the general election. And Shinkle said he wanted to see a list of requirements from the Secretary of State's Office for the state, Detroit Clerk Janice Winfrey and election workers in the city to meet "if Detroit's going to run their own election."

"Otherwise, the secretary of state walks in and runs it," Shinkle said.

Winfrey has connected problems in the primary to election workers who were on the job for more than 20 hours and to a record surge of absentee ballots that they couldn't begin counting until Election Day.

In the Monday interview, Benson reiterated her calls for the Republican-controlled state Legislature to allow election workers to begin processing absentee ballots — getting them ready to be counted — before Election Day to help deal with an onslaught of mail-in voting amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

While it's not the entire issue in Detroit, it's a "significant piece of the challenge that occurred," she said.

"This is in many ways a reflection of the potential for human error that overworked and stressed election workers can succumb to when you have the time crunch we've been warning about for nearly a year and a half," Benson said.

Some Republican lawmakers have opposed the proposed change because of concerns that it could lead to ballots being counted before voting is over, potentially giving one side an advantage.

Jonathan Brater, the state's elections director, said it isn't logistically possible for the state to run the election in Detroit but added that there are things that need to be done "much better" in the city.

For the primary, poll books weren't updated as absentee ballots came in, some absentee ballots were allocated to the wrong precincts and ballots were placed in incorrect containers, Brater said.

"We are going to be taking a more active role, both in the recruitment and the training of election inspectors," he added.

About 72% of the 503 absentee voting precincts in Detroit's primary elections had absentee ballot totals that didn't match the number of ballots reported in poll books.

Overall — for absentee voting and Election Day precincts — 46% of Detroit's precincts had ballot totals that were out of balance for the Aug. 4 primary without provided explanations from election workers, meaning they likely couldn't be recounted under state law. The problems spurred frustration and questions from election officials at both the county and state level.

Asked if it would be a failure if Detroit repeated the 46% mismatch rate in November, Benson said her goal is to ensure there is "complete security of the process."

"I am focused on having successful elections in November," she added. "And to me, success would be defined by an accurate count of all of the ballots that are cast."

The Wayne County Board of Canvassers approved a resolution last week, asking the Secretary of State's Office to investigate the "training and processes" used in Detroit's primary election. The resolution asked the office to provide a monitor to "supervise the training and administration" of absentee voter counting boards in Detroit for the general election.

The Wayne County Board of Canvassers approved this resolution asking the Michigan Secretary of State's office to investigate "the training and processes" used by Detroit for the 2020 primary election.
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a record 1.6 million people in Michigan voted by mail for the Aug. 4 primary, which itself set a new record for overall turnout of 2.5 million voters.

Winfrey noted the vast majority of the absentee voting precincts in the city with totals that didn't balance were less than three ballots off, plus or minus.

Detroit had problems with precinct count mismatches in the November 2016 election. Election officials couldn’t reconcile vote totals for 59% of precincts in the city during a countywide canvass of vote results with most of the issues involving too many votes.

Monday morning's meeting of the Board of State Canvassers was a continuation of a meeting that happened on Friday, when technological problems interrupted and forced officials to schedule a new meeting.

During the Friday meeting, all four members of the board voiced frustration with the results of Detroit's primary. Republican state board member Aaron Van Langevelde said the situation was "very troubling" and "unacceptable."

"A repeat performance is going to seriously undermine the public's confidence in the general election," he said.

Then, this happened....

#maytheheavensfall

Secretary of State Benson testifies to protect democracy ahead of election

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson testified before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security on Aug. 28.

Her testimony focused on how to protect America’s democracy and ensure that every vote counts this November, according to Benson.

During the testimony, Benson discussed the statewide primary on Aug. 4 that shattered the previous record for total absentee ballots cast.

“Between a global pandemic and what seems near constant and escalating rhetoric and misinformation, 2020 has brought historic pressures on our elections systems,” said Secretary Benson. “In Michigan our statewide primary has served as a blueprint for running safe, secure, accessible elections during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also highlighting critical needs that, if addressed, can put every state on a path towards successful November elections.”

Benson also spoke for the need for partnership and additional support from state and federal officials to replicate what she says was a successful August election in November.

She also called on the federal government to fully fund the postal service and provide another round of funding to states to shore up election preparations.

“Democracy is a team sport, and if we work together we can succeed in holding elections this fall that are secure, on schedule, and an accurate reflection of the will of the people.” said Secretary Benson. “It’s possible, it’s doable, and our voters should demand no less from their government.”

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Rob Wolchek Uncovers An International Trafficking Tiny Humans Trust Fund Operation - Michigan, Pennsylvania, Mexico

https://aaflc.org/

What the hell is this?

The last time I checked when a child had to be rescued you call it kidnapping, a federal crime, so who are these privatized rescuers and who is hiring them that that need to fund an interstate operation?

These people are transporting, oops, I mean rescuing, children across international boarders and they are privatized, with no documented working relationship with law enforcement, unless you go on civil lawsuits of Khaled.

This is so deep.

"I cannot wait to be rescued from my next Daddy"

American Association For Lost Children (AAFLC) is an awesome and unique charity that physically finds and rescues missing children, operating on tax-deductible donations.

https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2018/760/224/2018-760224866-10467361-9.pdf?_ga=2.198024875.589620099.1594678991-2005330069.1549490055

They pay themselves.

All the money reported is paid as trustees.

This is creepy.

https://web.archive.org/web/20190405143133/https://aaflc.org/news-articles/

Mark Miller

Mark R. Miller, son of Russell and Irene Miller from Latrobe, Pennsylvania graduated from Saint Vincent College in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. In 1982 he moved to Texas and gained work experience in a variety of different fields of business. He was successful in many challenges in the world of business beginning in the mobile home industry. He also worked briefly as a stockbroker and then became an entrepreneur, but his heart was elsewhere. He came across a missing child’s flyer at a grocery store and was driven to find out more information about this situation. After doing research, he found that missing children’s groups served as resource centers. They did not physically search for missing children; something needed to be done to fill that void. He decided to help missing children and make a difference; and that’s how he began touching the lives of so many by searching for and rescuing missing children.

In 1987, he founded a missing children’s charity called the American Association for Lost Children or AAFLC, which would literally search for missing children by doing hands-on investigations at no cost to the parents, operating on tax-deductable donations. This was a major revolutionary idea.

Although the idea was revolutionary, the process of starting a charity without former experience was very, very difficult. One of the hardest things to do was to let the public know that the organization actually existed and to get them to believe in the dream of AAFLC. Hardly anyone knew about the organization, without a track record. This meant that in the beginning, Mark had to use his life savings to fund the charity. The process of getting the name out to the public and before the parents of missing children was a long and slow process. It didn’t happen overnight.

As Mark’s personal funds were diminishing, AAFLC literally begged for donations on the streets, had numerous car washes and sold M&Ms at grocery stores and intersections. Over a time period of three years, AAFLC sold an estimated 55,000 boxes of M&Ms.

Struggling to pay monthly office rent, gas, telephone, utilities, and struggling to raise funds to finance the investigation of cases, such as rent-a-car fees, airfare, hotel expense, gas, and food AAFLC encountered serious financial difficulty, and could not even afford to pay Mark a small salary. During these difficult times, Mark had to surrender his car since he did not have money to make payments. For more than two years he slept on the floor where the AAFLC was housed. He believed that as we found more missing children, someone would recognize the organization’s needs, and come to our rescue.

Finally, with perseverance, people saw the determination and faith as more missing children were rescued by AAFLC. With additional media coverage, the number of volunteers increased. When people realized the unselfishness of AAFLC’s mission, they were more than willing to help. With your continuous help and support, AAFLC will be able to find and rescue more missing children. Thank you so much and God bless you.

Why is the Pennsylvania Attorney General allowing this trafficking tiny human enterprise operate in its state?

Oh, wait, I forgot we are dealing with Pennsylvania.

Dana Nessel needs to get Khaled and Mysa to tell their tales....

#maytheheavensfall

These clothing collection bins take the shirt off your back but don't give to charity

"What (are) you talking about man?"

Some clothing donation bins for charity only give to themselves
Rob Wolchek investigates a clothing donation company that according to stickers on their bins, gives to charity. One problem. They don't.

Rob Wolchek is talking about Khaled's company, a business that collects clothes that generous people donate at bins around metro Detroit.

Khaled: "Please man. The news every time is bad. Looking for something bad."

Wolchek: "I think you're doing something bad."

Some of the donation boxes say the clothes are going to help a non-profit group that helps lost children.

"It's actually fraud because the public thinks the money is helping our charity and not one penny is going to our charity," said Mark Miller, the president of American Association for Lost Children.

But Wolchek caught them emptying bin after bin for days.

Wolchek: "I think you are taking clothes from people who think they're donating to charity and instead the clothes are being donated to you  ..."

Khaled: "No, no, no."

Wolchek: "They're going to you."

And this is not the first time Khaled and his wife Mysa's company has been accused of being charity cheats.

Wolchek: "Didn't you getting in trouble with the attorney general kind of teach you a lesson?"

Khaled: "Stop, stop, stop."

Mark Miller has run a small charity from his Pennsylvania office for 30 years, the American Association for Lost Children.

"We're a one of a kind charity," he said. "We find and rescue lost children at no cost to the parents. It operates strictly on donations."

In 2017, Mark signed a contract with a Michigan company called Golden Recyclers. He says Mysa Eskander, the director and co-owner of Golden Recyclers, contacted his organization offering to help him raise money by putting up clothing collection bins using their charity's name. 

She said it would generate $450 to $500 a month for the foundation.

But once the bins went out, the complaints rolled in. Mark said he started getting calls almost daily from mad management companies saying the bins were put up in their shopping centers were without authorization. Mark stared calling Golden Recyclers every week.

"(I said) 'Please don't place your bins without getting permission, because we keep getting calls and it's a bad reflection on the charity,'" Miller said.

But the complaints kept coming. It was a nightmare for a measly $500 a month. When the contract expired on February 1, 2019, Miller's decision was a no brainer.

"(I said) 'We're not renewing this agreement with you. We're done. It's just too much of a hassle,'" Miller said.

Mysa promised the bins would be taken down. But even though Mark and his assistant are in Pennsylvania, they knew the bins were still up because the complaints about the bins were still coming in.

Christina Windon is Mark's assistant.

"She won't answer my text messages or my calls right now," Christina said. "She hasn't for a long time now."


But Wolchek answered her call, and agreed to check out these bins. And oh yes, they are still up and people are still donating clothes to them. Clothes the charity now, is not making a penny on.

We found the bins all over, from Livingston County to Wayne County to Oakland County.

The trucks that pick up  the clothes leave the Golden Recyclers warehouse every morning and we watched as day after day they went from box to box and emptied the donations into the back of their trucks.

Some of the trucks and vans even had the American Association for Lost Children logos on them.

Like one we saw, whose driver didn't let a flat tire keep him from his desire to get those clothes and get them back to the warehouse. 

"It's a bad reflection on us the whole way around," Miller said.

There the trucks unload bags into the warehouse where they are packaged up and according to Khaled's website, "We export goods to a diverse customer base throughout the world. Africa, Asia, North America and South America."

In other words, they sell the clothes. How much do they make? A few years ago, they earned gross receipts of $223,000 over a six-month period.

Wolchek know this because in 2017, the Michigan Attorney General sued Golden Recyclers, Mysa Eskander, and Khaled Haymour.

Then-AG Bill Schuette says Golden Recyclers had a contract with a charity, and distributed bins with that charity's name on them. But they also distributed a completely different group of clothing bins, with the name "Mercy" on them, even though that name was not associated with that charity.

The lawsuit said Golden Recyclers tried to make it look like the stuff donated to the Mercy bins was going toward a charity when, "In fact, all proceeds of the Mercy bins benefitted Golden Recyclers."

The attorney general's office fined Golden $35,000 and did not renew their fundraising license with the state.

Wolchek sent an undercover camera operator outside the Golden Recyclers warehouse to find out whom they are collecting the clothes for.

"We represent American Association of Lost Children," says a worker unloading a box.

And when Wolchek calls the number on the boxes in fine print for Golden Recycling, he got this message: "Hello. You have reached Golden Recyclers and American Association for Lost Children."


Time for Wolchek to bust the bin boss.

Wolchek: "I'm trying to find out what charities you guys represent here?"

Khaled: "Nothing right now."

Wolchek: "You don't represent any charities?"

Khaled: "No."

Khaled admits his contract with American Association for Lost Children expired in February of 2019, but that he's got stickers to cover the name on the collection boxes.

Wolchek: "I've been following some of your drivers around. They empty the bins. They don't make any effort to peel the stickers or place another sticker on there."

Khaled: "No."

Wolchek: "You don't think that is ripping off a charity?"

Khaled: "No. I can bring out the sticker right now."

Khaled comes back with a sticker Rob has never seen on any box that says he's a for profit company now, with a new name "Green Recycling of Michigan."

"See that, not 501," he said. "It's clear right now. It's clear."

Wolchek: "Okay. Let me try calling this number. Who's going to answer it?"

Khaled: "It's not."

Wolchek "Now I can't see it. I want to call the number."

Khaled walks away saying "You have the number."

Wolchek: "Is it going to ring in your pocket? I'm calling the number right now Khaled. Where's it going to ring? Oh, there is no answer at this number. Listen."

Khaled goes in and out of the office several times. A worker told me Maysa was in there but we never see her.

Wolchek: "You already got in trouble with the attorney general's office once, right, Golden Recyclers, that's you, and Mysa."

Khaled: "Yeah."

Wolchek: "Where's Mysa?"

Khaled: "It's none of your business where Mysa is. She's not here."

Wolchek: "Well Maysa has talked to the charity. She's gotten a bunch of calls and texts from the charity asking you to take their name off your bins."

Khaled: "Get him to stop. Stop."

But Rob is not going to stop, until he stops using the AAFLC logo on his bins.

Wolchek: "You're profiting off it right?"

Khaled: "Yeah. I'm a profit."

Wolchek: "So aren't you kind of stealing money from charity then?"

Khaled: "No no no. I told you we stop work with them. We put the new stickers on the boxes. It takes some time."

Wolchek: "It doesn't take a year and a half to take all the stickers off."

Khaled: "We have a lot of boxes, we change it. You cannot make it in the winter. In the wintertime, you cannot put the sticker (on) you know.  And right now we have four or five months with the corona, with the coronavirus, everything is shut down."

Wolchek: "Khaled, you're lying to me. It's the summertime now. It's July, you can put the stickers on."

Khaled: "How you want to sell it when all the country is closed because of the corona.  What are you talking about man?"

Wolchek "I'm talking about...."

Khaled: "When you talk with me be real. Be real."

Wolchek: "I'm being real; you should be going out today taking those bins down."

Khaled: "Be real. Be real."

Wolchek: "It is real. It's summer right now. You could be sticking the stickers on right now."

Khaled: "If you go out on the street you see a lot of boxes without, without lost children."

Wolchek: "Okay you tell me where?"

Khaled does not tell me.

But get this, Rob looks up Khaled's company's new name on the stickers he promises he's putting up over AAFLC stickers and finds the website for his newly named for profit only company - and there's Khaled's photos.

And there is the American Association for Lost Children charity name - and photos. It also claims they are collecting clothes for the charity. And it says they are sending checks to them.

Khaled: "I don't need to be on the news please."

Wolchek: "Well you're going to go on the news."

"Khaled, only a chump would cheat a charity.  You're in the Hhhhhall of Shame!

Mysa Eskander did call, and says that Golden Recycling is working on removing the American Association for Lost Children name of the charity from all the bins.

But, she says, it has taken a year and a half because they do not know where all the bins are. And when asked about using the charity name when they don't have permission, Maysa said, "We never intended to mislead, it was just an oversight."

The charity got another complaint just last week that one of the bins was put in a parking lot in Southfield without permission.


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Tales Of The New Crown: How The Schools Plan On Making Money Off Re-opening Schools - Corporate Parental Rights

Tennessee has a child welfare being task force with religious and nonprofit leaders making policy.

Do you see this???

Q: Why are religious and other nonprofits, who are not elected by the people, who take oaths to foreign nations, telling the U.S. how to educate our children? 

A: Because they already have a plan.

My biggest question is how come no one has an issue with unelected persons just arbitrarily making policy?

No one is talking about this.

The charter schools are desperate for that money, so are the states. 

That is why the schools are not reopening. 

The entire K12 system is a fraud scheme to make us dumber, if that is even possible. 

If the charters do not get their fall money, they are going to loose those buildings and default on those Social Impact Bond programs.

Many of these private schools like to contract with themselves, as LLCs, of course, but I just call it double billing.

I have a Maltese K-nig-hit who is really good at that double billing in private school administration.

Nessel joins four states to sue DeVos on COVID-19 aid rule on private schools

They are pushing re-segregation language which is an indicator that they are not opening because they are pushing propaganda. 

Will the Detroit schools have water and heat this winter?

I am still waiting for someone to explain to me their absolutely brilliant plan on keeping an autistic child in a face mask.

Better yet, I want to know how young children are expected to learn when they cannot see the facial expressions or the mouth in speaking.

No one brought up oxygen levels and learning, but I guess you do not need proper levels of air when you are being dumbed down, but, I believe that is the plan because they have a warehouse of foreign Social Impact Bond programs to address the mental health and learning disabilities for wearing a mask.

I am waiting for the latest and greatest pharmaceutical to help the children thrive from decreased oxygen level studies.

No one spoke upon the teacher emergency preparedness plan.

Michigan schools expect a booming demand for substitute teachers

How are the kids supposed to eat with masks?

I should not have raised the question of food in schools.

It gives me the Saddy Face.

We need to invest in younger teachers and allow these battle weary instructors to finally sit back and be honored, but we do not like encouraging higher education, due to the financial toll barriers called fake ass student debt.

At least the students of Detroit will have water, that is if there is not another surge of water shutoffs.

Whitmer's school plan: Students and teachers in masks, no visitors, spaced desks, cleaning

Lansing — School life in Michigan — from athletics to riding the bus to wearing masks in classrooms  — will depend on how much or little the COVID-19 virus is raging through regions of the state come the first day of school. 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released guidelines Tuesday for how Michigan's K-12 schools should reopen in the fall and said her administration would provide $256 million to help districts implement their local plans.

Depending on the phases of the Michigan Safe Start Plan, the governor's reopening playbook, students and teachers must wear masks most of the time except for eating.

Desks must be spaced six feet apart in classrooms and all arranged facing the same direction toward the front of the classroom. Teachers should maintain six feet of spacing between themselves and students as much as possible.

Visitors — even family members — won't be allowed in schools except in emergencies as decided by administrators....the legal term is in parentis loco, where the schools are the defacto parent, or rather, in the situation of private schools, Corporate Parental Rights, where a foreign entity have the power over the child, not the original parent of legal custody and guardianship.

Cleaning requirements say frequently touched surfaces — including light switches, doors, benches and bathrooms — must undergo cleaning at least every four hours with either an Environmental Protection Agency-approved disinfectant or diluted bleach solution.

Athletics would be allowed but with restrictions. Large indoor spectator events would remain suspended. Large outdoor spectator or stadium events would be limited to 100 people, and people not part of the same household must maintain six feet of distance.

Whitmer's order suggests athletics and extracurricular activities will not be offered in the fall in regions that are in Phase 3 or less of the governor's reopening plan. The executive order said private and public schools must develop reopening plans that "suspend athletics, after-school activities, inter-school activities (e.g., debate competitions) and busing."

Whitmer's latest executive order also requires school districts to adopt a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan to lay out how they will protect students and educators across the various phases of her reopening plan. 

“Our students, parents and educators have made incredible sacrifices during our battle with COVID-19,” the governor said.

“Thanks to our aggressive action against this virus, the teachers who have found creative ways to reach their students, and the heroes on the front lines, I am optimistic that we will return to in-person learning in the fall."

The extra  $256 million for schools appears to stem from a $2.2 billion budget deal reached Monday between the Legislature and the governor. Much of that budget deal includes federal COVID-19 Relief Funds to help schools respond to coronavirus challenges.

Three scenarios outlined

The plan, which was released by Whitmer and her COVID-19 Task Force on Education Return to School Advisory Council, envisions three scenarios for school opening in fall: 

• Schools open for in-person instruction with minimal required safety protocols in Phase 6. Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula are in Phase 5 of her economic reopening plan, allowing for the opening of bars, restaurants and limited capacity in movie theaters and museums. The rest of the state has been in Phase 4, which has allowed limited-capacity dine-in eating and the reopening of bars.

• Schools open for in-person instruction with moderate required safety protocols in Phase 5.

• Schools open for in-person instruction with more stringent required safety protocols in Phase 4.

Public and private schools will not be allowed to reopen for in-person instruction if in phases 1-3, the plan says. In that case, students would be instructed remotely or online. 

During Phase 4, all students grades 6-12 and staff must wear homemade or disposable level-one grade surgical masks. Any student who cannot medically tolerate a facial covering must not wear one....what about psychologically not being able to tolerate a facial covering?

In grades K-5, students must wear a mask unless they remain with their classes throughout the school day and do not come into close contact with students in another class.

All students must wear masks in hallways and common areas in the building except for during meals. Staff also must wear face coverings at all times except for meals. Any staff member who cannot medically tolerate a facial covering doesn't need to wear one.

Masks are expected to be worn by all students, staff and bus drivers during school transportation.

Homemade facial coverings must be washed daily, and disposable facial coverings must be disposed of at the end of each day. 

When considering ways to best mitigate the spread of coronavirus, the task force focused on face masks as the most practical mandate.

There are recommendations regarding six-foot distancing, but the task force understood the constraints on class sizes and public spaces, said Tonya Allen, chairwoman for the Return to Learn Advisory Council and CEO of the Skillman Foundation in Detroit. 

“The mask is the most important way we can prevent the transition of the disease,” she said.

Spacing recommendations

Schools located in regions that are under Phase 4 of Whitmer's economic reopening plan are recommended but not required to space desks six feet apart in classrooms.

“Class sizes should be kept to the level afforded by necessary spacing requirements,” the plan says.

Other recommendations include having teachers keep six feet of space between themselves and students as much as possible and keeping students as far apart as feasible in rooms where large tables are used. Schools also should post signs to indicate proper social distancing.

Busing is allowed under Phase 4 with no guidelines on the number of passengers but everyone must use hand sanitizer before boarding.

The bus driver, staff and students in grades prekindergarten-Grade 12, if medically feasible, must wear facial coverings while on the bus.

Vehicles must be cleaned and disinfected before and after every transit route. Children must not be present when a vehicle is being cleaned. 

Libraries, computer labs, arts and other hands-on classrooms must undergo cleaning after every class period with either an EPA-approved disinfectant or diluted bleach solution in this phase. 

Student desks must be wiped down with an EPA-approved disinfectant or diluted bleach solution after every class period.

'On edge of my seat'

West Bloomfield School Superintendent Gerald Hill said Tuesday the plan provides districts with good guidance "we have been needing for a while."

The governor's plan provides enough details over multiple phases that districts should be able to move forward and back when necessary, Hill said. The funding promised by Whitmer to pay for each district's COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan was welcomed, he said.

"I am happy to hear there is money attached to this," Hill said, "but the devil is in the details and how flexible it will be in terms of spending, the formula for districts and how we get it."

The school plan calls for “required” and “strongly recommended” safety protocols to keep school communities safe based on the status of the coronavirus. The plan also provides recommendations for mental and social-emotional health, instruction and operations depending on which phase of Whitmer's economic reopening plan each region is in.

Parent Lisa Rajt said Tuesday she thinks it will be a challenge for her son, an incoming seventh-grader in Ferndale Schools who is on the austism spectrum, to wear a mask at school. He struggles with sensory issues and becoming overheated, she said.

Rajt noticed the plan said if the state moves to Phase 5, masks in schools will not be required.

"For me, the takeaway from this plan is every person in the state needs to do everything possible so we are in Phase 5 when school starts," she said.

All the cleaning requirements in classrooms, buses and other parts of the schools are likely to be overwhelming for districts, Rajt said.

"People who work in schools are modern everyday heroes. In my district, they always rise to the challenge," she said.

The idea of moving from Phase 4 back to Phase 3 if the number of infections increases concerns Rajt.

"I am going to be on the edge of my seat until the first day of school," she said.

State guidance a good start

Randy Liepa, superintendent of Wayne RESA, and Ken Gutman, superintendent of Walled Lake Consolidated Schools, both say the state's guidance is a good start but uncertainty about future school funding makes it challenging for districts to plan for the new school year, even with the additional money promised by Whitmer.

Districts expect a cut of about $700 per student in state revenue for the 2020-21 year and have asked Congress to intervene.

"It’s the guidance we need. That is what school districts have really been looking for," Liepa said of Whitmer's plan. "At the end of the day, our staff wants to see kids back into school. Although there is no $700 cut this year, we may have it next year ($700-a-pupil reduction), and we still need a stimulus plan."

The governor's plan says districts and schools should plan to review the most current public health data released by the state every week. School officials are expected to hold weekly discussions with local public health officers to understand local public health trends, the number of positive COVID-19 cases, the proportion of positive cases, hospital capacity, testing capacity, whether a case is attributed to a cluster or specific event, and hospital staffing capacity.

"These requirements and recommendations are not always easy, but they are necessary. We must all continue to put safety first, leverage science, data and public health evidence to inform the decisions we make to serve each and every student in Michigan well," the plan says.

Without a plan approved by the local school board, schools across the state will not be able to meet for face-to-face instruction. 

Education leaders urged schools to cooperate with the executive order; activate local leadership for local decision making; find ways to capitalize on state financial resources and policy flexibility; support educators; and engage communities to help reinforce the way forward.

"While many school districts will doubtlessly go beyond the minimum guidelines listed here today, they are an important starting point for all of us," said Michigan Education Association President Paula Herbert.

Local health departments will be working with schools to tailor the executive order to local schools, said Nicki Britten, health officer for the Berrien County Health Department.

"The road map represents the best path forward for schools, given the reality that we face," she said.

The announcement came as a University of Michigan survey found one-third of Michigan parents might not send their children to public school this fall due to COVID-19 concerns.

The online survey, which assessed parental plans for in-person school in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois, found health-related concerns were among the most common reasons cited by parents who did not plan to send their child.

The online survey, published Friday by UM's Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, queried 1,193 parents of school-aged children in the three states June 12-22.

In Michigan, 66.7% of those surveyed said they likely planned to send their children to school this fall, 12.4% said they likely would not send them and 20% said they were unsure of their plans.

Huntington Woods parent Joyce Krom said Tuesday the guidelines make her feel comfortable to send her daughter to high school in Phases 4 through 6. Krom did wonder how class sizes would be handled if desks had to be moved six feet away.

"At Berkley High School, there are often 30-plus students in a classroom," Krom said. "There is no way to maintain safe distancing at those numbers so additional staff will be required. They will also need to hire more maintenance staff to meet the cleaning protocols. I just don't see how districts will be able to afford those."

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