Schools

Only one of four local varsity football teams survived the weekend’s opening round of the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs. Friday’s lone winner from St. Joseph County was Mendon, which won a road contest over St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic, 39-12. The Hornets, now 8-2, will square off this upcoming weekend at Climax-Scotts, a 10-0 team and ranked No. …

An economic-impact study conducted for Glen Oaks Community College indicates the college, its students and regional alumni added more than $119 million in income to the local economy in the school’s 2015-16 fiscal year. The figure is approximately equal to 4 percent of the area’s Gross Regional Product. Idaho-based Economics Modeling Specialists International conducted the study. Its report concluded the …

In honor of Dan and Beulah Fryling, their family has established a fund to help at-risk kids in the Mendon Community Schools district. Mendon teachers can apply for grants to fund programs for students who have difficulty learning. The fund will be administered through the Mendon Schools Foundation. The Frylings, who met while students at Mendon High School, were fixtures …

Officials from White Pigeon Community Schools are seeking input from the community regarding the state of the district’s facilities and needs. The session, taking place at 6:30 tonight at the high school library, is being staged in advance of the district’s attempted renewal of a sinking-fund millage renewal in May. Superintendent Jon Keyer said input from the public is critical …

The latest development regarding what is being alleged as unfair termination of three administrators in April 2015 centers on a recent rendering by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Three separate complaints were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last year and the district, in a media statement issued Tuesday, said all three cases have been dismissed; one in January …

A former Constantine girls’ basketball coach has been charged with embezzling more than $11,000 from a non-profit organization. Joseph Stacey was arrested Oct. 4 and arraigned. He was freed on a $15,000 personal recognizance bond. Stacey allegedly embezzled $11,060 between May 2012 and November 2015. According to an affidavit of probable cause, Stacey opened a checking account in May 2012 …

Nicole Airgood, principal at Eastwood Elementary School in Sturgis, is among 58 elementary and middle school principals named as 2016 National Distinguished Principals by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. The recipients were honored last week at a banquet at Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The program recognizes public- and private-school principals who make superior contributions to their …

The Wildcat girls golf team took home the first place trophy for the Black division at the Sturgis Invitational held Tuesday at Island Hills Golf Club. Pictured with the trophy from left to right are Sara Haydon, Maddie Reus, Sydney Ruth, Cara Smith, Erin Taylor and Heidi Hines. Here are the team scores: Three Rivers 404 Harper Creek 412 Coldwater …

Tuesday marks the first day of school for eight of St. Joseph County’s nine public school districts. White Pigeon Community Schools started a week ago thanks to a three-year state waiver allowing it to begin a week early. Meanwhile, Constantine Public Schools has a new superintendent, as former Riverside principal Steve Wilson replaces the now-retired Chuck Frisbie as superintendent. The …

Glen Oaks Community College is reporting an increase in student enrollment based on its first-week numbers last week. School officials said enrollment is up 16 percent compared to the start of the 2015-16 academic year 12 months ago. Glen Oaks is one of five Michigan Community Colleges reporting enrollment increases, while most of Michigan’s community colleges are reporting continued declines …