MARQUETTE — The Michigan National Guard will continue its efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the state after President Donald Trump extended federal deployment, known as Title 32 authority, until Aug. 21.

The extension comes after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to the president on May 27 urging him to extend Title 32 authority.

“The Michigan National Guard has been instrumental in our efforts to flatten the curve and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and will continue to play a vital role as we slowly and safely reopen our economy,” Whitmer said in a news release. “We need to keep working to expand testing and this extension will ensure we can continue to ramp up testing throughout the state. Moving too fast without the tests we need could put Michigan at risk of a second wave of infections.”

The Michigan National Guard has played a critical role in flattening the COVID-19 curve in Michigan by distributing personal protective equipment, food and medical supplies; providing warehousing support; disinfecting public spaces; and assisting the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services with testing, officials said in the release.

Title 32 authority, which allows National Guard members to receive federal pay and benefits, was set to expire on June 24 due to a deadline set by the Trump administration.

In addition to allowing Michigan to fully use the National Guard for recovery and reopening efforts, the extension of Title 32 authority means that many of the Michigan National Guard members will qualify for federal retirement and education benefits made available under the GI Bill.

Without an extension, some guard members would not have been eligible to receive these benefits.

“The Michigan National Guard looks forward to continuing its work with Gov. Whitmer in our state’s response to COVID-19,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, in a news release. “This approval allows Michigan National Guard members to continue to serve our communities and protect Michigan families.”

Education advisory council formed

Whitmer announced a group of 25 leaders in health care and education will serve on the COVID-19 Return to Learn Advisory Council. The group of experts includes educators, parents and students who will work closely with the governor as she considers the health and safety of students and educators.

One of the educators selected to serve on the council was Travis Smith, principal of Cherry Creek Elementary School in Harvey. He holds a doctorate in education with a specialty in educational leadership from Central Michigan University. Smith was appointed to represent school leaders for a term that runs from June 3 to Dec. 31.

“This group brings together experts in health care and education, including students, educators and parents, to think about how to ensure the more than 1.5 million K-12 students across Michigan get the education they need and deserve,” Whitmer said in a news release. “On behalf of our kids, their families and the more than 100,000 educators in our state, we must all work together to get this right. I know this group is prepared to carefully examine the data and consult with experts when helping me determine what is best for our kids.”

On May 15, Whitmer signed Executive Order No. 2020-88, creating the COVID-19 Return to School Advisory Council.

The council was created to identify the critical issues that must be addressed, provide valuable input to inform the process of returning to school and to ensure a smooth and safe transition back to school.

The council will act in an advisory capacity to the governor and the COVID-19 Task Force on Education, and will develop and submit recommendations to the COVID-19 Task Force on Education regarding the safe, equitable and efficient K-12 return to school in the fall.

The Return to Learn Advisory Council will recommend actions to remove statutory and administrative barriers to delivering education before Phase 6 of the MI Safe Start Plan and help develop and improve systems for academic support for students who experienced learning loss during the spring and summer.

The council must report regularly to the COVID-19 Task Force on Education on its activities and make recommendations on an ongoing basis.

Ishpeming students to parade

The Ishpeming High School Class of 2020 will hold a student parade from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday. Graduates will line up around the high school on Fourth and Pearl streets, and then travel north on Fourth and turn left on Pearl before ending on Second Street.

The IHS scholarship awards ceremony will be streamed tonight at 7. A link will be posted at ishpemingschools.org.

Negaunee lunches continue

With Friday being the last official day of school for Negaunee Public Schools, the school district wants its students and families to know that the lunch program will continue.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided to students free through the month. Meals can be picked up from Negaunee Middle School, Negaunee Township Hall and the Richmond Township Library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The summer lunch program will begin on July 6. Meals will be provided from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays from the band shell in the city of Negaunee. Meals provided on Mondays will be breakfast and lunch for Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays while meals provided on Thursdays will be breakfast and lunch for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Meals for children age 18 and under will be free.

Contact Calvin Atwell at 906-475-7803, ext. 110, or calvin.attwell@negauneeschools.org for more details.

Marquette lunches continue

Marquette Area Public Schools will continue to have meal drop-offs on Tuesdays this month, with meal distribution to take place in July and August.

One will be held on Tuesday, with more planned for June 16, 23 and 30.

Drop-off times and sites are: 11 a.m. to noon in front of the canopy entrance at Marquette Senior High School, 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the Graveraet Elementary School parking lot, 11:30 a.m. to noon at the parking lot in front of Cherry Creek Elementary School, 10:40 to 11 a.m. at the parking lot in front of Superior Hills Elementary School and 11:15 to 11:35 a.m. at the Whetstone parking lot across from the office.

The district requests social distancing be practiced.