Schools

The St. Joseph County Intermediate School District board last week approved two new positions. The first is a support specialist to work in the human resources and business office. The other is a braillist to translate and transcribe activities to support the vision team and programs for visually impaired students are both needed. The board also approved revised budgets for …

A man in charge of transportation at a southwestern Michigan school district has died while shoveling snow. Portage district officials say Mike Westbrook died Saturday from a heart attack. Superintendent Mark Bielang told families that Westbrook’s “work impacted every student who rides a bus.” He says Westbrook was “masterful” at bus logistics in the Kalamazoo-area district. More than 5,000 Portage …

Glen Oaks students wanting to dress their professional best now have an option through the college’s Career Closet. Operated by Glen Oaks employees, the Career Closet provides currently enrolled students with free professional attire appropriate for career fairs, interviews, classroom presentations and the workplace. The project was funded in part through a $500 grant from Meemic Foundation, coordinated through the …

Glen Oaks Community College will have to consider its options after a half-mill increase request was defeated Tuesday by a margin of 51 to 49 percent. College officials said security improvements, energy-efficiency upgrades, renovations of classrooms and laboratories, and other capital-improvement projects were planned for the seven-year life of the proposed millage. The half mill would have generated about $970,000 …

Voters in the Nottawa Community School District agreed to support a sinking-fund mill in the amount of one-and-a-half mills. The request, approved by a margin of 255 in favor to 174 opposed, is for a 10-year period and in its first year will generate more than $90,000. Superintendent Jerome Wolff said the funds will be used for improvements in school …

The Three Rivers Community Schools had three seats to fill. Elected to the board were Linda Baker, Erin Nowak, and Kevin Hamilton. Sturgis voters elected Kerri Millett and Gwen Donmyer to the school board. In Constantine, Wendy Rodewald and Marinda Stamp were elected to the school board. Centreville school district voters elected TJ Reed, Margaret Miller, Jeffery Troyer, and Jackie …

The Glen Oaks Community College Foundation is accepting scholarship applications from new and returning Glen Oaks students for the 2019-20 academic year. Through philanthropic efforts of the Foundation, charitable cash gifts have provided many students the opportunity of an education that will in turn help change their lives. The Glen Oaks Community College Foundation reported that for the 2018-19 academic …

Three Rivers Middle School Principal Andy Mains retained his title as pie-eating champion, as a result of a competition Saturday at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair. In addition to Three Rivers, the fifth annual county school districts pie-eating event featured representatives from Constantine, Sturgis, White Pigeon, Burr Oak, Nottawa and the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District. Mains downed …

The White Pigeon School Board last week had a discussion about requesting a one-mill, five-year renewal of its 2014 bond. The board has not yet voted on whether to put it on the ballot in 2019. The 2014 bond was used for buses, technology, technological infrastructure and equipment. Should this initiative move forward, money would most likely go toward these …

Public schools in Michigan can ban visitors from carrying guns, even if the owner has a permit to possess a concealed pistol, the state Supreme Court said Friday. Under state law, local governments must defer to the Legislature on gun policy. But in a 4-3 decision, the Supreme Court said the law mentions cities, villages, townships and counties — not …