Schools

As a young biologist at the University of Michigan, Chen Xiaowei had plenty to like about life in the U.S. He was paid well as a researcher and enjoyed raising his family in Ann Arbor, a town he remembers as beautiful, friendly and highly educated. But an offer from a Chinese university for him to return home to Beijing was …

The president of Western Michigan University is retiring next year after 10 years in the job. John Dunn says he will serve through June 2017 and then become president emeritus for a year. He announced his retirement Monday to give university trustees plenty of time to find a successor. Kenneth Miller, chairman of WMU’s governing board, says the Kalamazoo school …

Officials at a Battle Creek high school say students won’t be allowed to have or use cellphones or cellphone-sized electronic devices during class. Lakeview High School Principal Jeff Bohl tells the Battle Creek Enquirer that teachers previously could set cellphone policies for classrooms, but that flexibility posed issues for some students and caused distractions in class. Bohl says educators found “some …

Centreville Public Schools is looking for a new junior high/high school principal, as Dennis Kirby announced his resignation to take a job outside the district. The 46-year-old Kirby, a Centreville High School alumnus, accepted the job of assistant middle school principal in Vicksburg. Centreville superintendent Rob Kuhlman said a committee of district staff and administrators will assemble to secure a …

Constantine Public Schools has added a new board of education member. Sam Maddox was chosen last week to complete the term of Scott Manning, who stepped down after a work-related relocation resulted in his residency outside the school district. The term expires in November.

Glen Oaks Community College has announced that Chuck Frisbie has accepted the position as the college’s part-time director of institutional innovation. In the newly created position, Frisbie will work with all units of the college to help with special and developing initiatives in areas such as grants, partnerships, program development, K-12 engagement and others, according to David Devier, Glen Oaks …

Sturgis Bank and Trust Company has donated $45,000 to Glen Oaks Community College to be used toward the cost of a new high-tech digital entrance sign for the college. College president David Devier said the existing sign has been in place since the early 1990s, and that the school has been working with a vendor to create an entrance sign …

An iconic building in Mendon was razed last week, as crews from Grand Rapids-based X-treme Demolition knocked down the Heritage Schoolhouse. The former Mendon High School was taken down after preservation efforts – which included a number of fundraising efforts – were thwarted by increasingly high costs to rehabilitate the multi-story building. In the end, the district’s board of education …

The cost for hot lunch in Sturgis Public Schools is going up. Business manager Ray Sterling said the district is required to raise lunch prices due to the Federal Paid Lunch Equity Program. The district next year plans to raise prices the minimum amount required, which is 5 cents per lunch. That makes the price at the high school, middle …

  Four new directors have joined the Glen Oaks Community College Foundation Board. Members of the quartet will begin their terms with the new academic year in July 2016, according to college president David Devier. The new members are: Terry Conklin, superintendent of Burr Oak Schools; Murray Malinoski, a Three Rivers-area dentist; Anita Sholl, staff accountant at Burr Oak Tool; …