Schools

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 …

The Three Rivers football team picked up its first win of the season on Thursday night, 36-14 in Allegan. Three Rivers had a huge second quarter in the game, scoring 27 points. Tyson New led the Wildcats with 154 yards on the ground from 27 carries, he also scored two touchdowns. Quarterback Alex Minger threw for 112 yards through the …

Michigan students improved in slightly more than half of the grades and subjects tested on newer, more rigorous standardized assessments, but their proficiency declined in other areas. M-STEP results released Tuesday show that fewer than half of the students were proficient in 17 of 18 subject-grade tests. State officials say there’s work to be done, but they’re pleased testing times …

Students in the Glen Oaks Community College’s machine-tool program will now be able to work and learn on a new piece of equipment, thanks to Vaupell Midwest Molding of Constantine. Vaupell has donated an electrical-discharge machine to be housed in the newly renovated Machine Shop at the college. The donation means Vaupell is able to assist in helping educate Glen …

Some school-age children whose families were homeless have begun moving into temporary housing with funding from a property tax approved by Kalamazoo County voters. Kalamazoo residents in November approved a tax that is expected to raise about $800,000 a year for six years to provide temporary financial housing assistance and other support services. About $700,000 has been collected from winter …

Michigan is waiving more public schools from a decade-old law requirement to open after Labor Day — a nod to increasingly popular year-round schooling, the addition of more mandated class days and other factors. In 2006, the first year in which August start dates were legally off limits, the state Department of Education issued nine waivers. More than 10 times …

Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees last week voted to move forward with an application for a $ 6.5 million loan through the USDA for a proposed student-housing project. Approval followed a public hearing during which no one addressed the board about the matter. Glen Oaks President David Devier said Glen Oaks is the first community college in Michigan …

The Paul H. Casault Senior Center Memorial Fund recently awarded its first grant: a skilled-trades scholarship for Glen Oaks Community College student Jasmine McClish. The Paul H. Casault Senior Center Memorial Fund was established with a gift from the sale proceeds of the Paul H. Casault Senior Center building. The purpose of the fund is to support the Manufacturing and …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Jean Logan is inviting the public to a community pep rally taking place later this week. Logan said the Three Rivers Athletic Department is hosting the season’s first rally at 5 p.m. Friday at Armstrong Field. Parents, fans and community members will be introduced to the 2016-17 fall sports teams during the program. Hot dogs, …