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Sen. Wayne Kuipers recently scheduled hearings throughout the state to gather input from parents, teachers, school leaders, job providers and others concerning the increased state high school graduation requirements. However, Midland is the farthest location north for a hearing. The people who live north of Midland deserve the same respect, support and opportunities to express their opinions as citizens that live in the rest of our state. Schools in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula have unique problems including declining enrollment, transportation costs and heating costs. To be totally ignored is a gross insult to our teachers, schoolchildren, parents, and citizens that live in northern Michigan and the U.P. I urge Sen. Kuipers to reconsider the hearing schedule and include the northern portion of our state in this important discussion.