Schools

The 2015-16 operating budget for Sturgis Public Schools was approved by district officials last week. The school district, which is St. Joseph County’s biggest at nearly 3,300 students, is in strong financial standing, according to Superintendent Tom Langdon. Projections from the board show a 15 percent fund equity, which allows Sturgis schools to make payroll without borrowing money to cover …

Constantine High School Principal Christine Barnes has accepted an offer from Colon Community Schools to serve as its superintendent. The job was presented following interviews with three candidates last week. Board president Eric Wagner said Barnes brings to the 600-student district an impressive work ethic. In addition, Wagner said, she used to live in Colon, still attends church in the …

Three school board members subject to a recall have through Monday next week to appeal a decision Friday that will allow the process to continue. Three Rivers Board of Education members Waneta Truckey, Carl Barth and board president Mike Bosma did not indicate after Friday’s clarity/factual hearing what course of action they plan to follow. The three-member St. Joseph County …

Members of the St. Joseph County Election Commission agreed Friday that the language in petitions to recall a trio of Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education members is clear. As a result, the recall process against board members Waneta Truckey, Carl Barth and board president Mike Bosma will be allowed to continue. The decision was made by the three-member …

Colon Community Schools addressed a pair of business matters during its June meeting. The board granted tenure to Great Start Readiness Program teacher Sara Lindsey, and high school life skills and English teacher Kim Klocke. Also, the board adopted the district’s 2015-16 school year calendar. The first day will be Sept. 8 – the latest possible start date. Christmas break …

Researchers say an anonymously funded free college tuition program for high school graduates of the Kalamazoo Public Schools has helped increase college graduation rates. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports a new study finds students eligible for the Kalamazoo Promise are a third more likely to graduate college within six years of finishing high school versus their peers before the program was …

Sturgis Public Schools has announced Nicole Airgood will fill the principal position at Eastwood Elementary, succeeding Bob Matkin, who is retiring. Airgood has been the principal at Wall School since 2009 and prior to that was principal for four years at White Pigeon’s Central Elementary.

Organizers of an annual run and walk in memory of a fallen White Pigeon soldier have released details about the 2015 event. The 1Lt. Jonathan Edds Memorial Classic 5K and 1K run and walk takes place July 11 as a part of White Pigeon Days. The sixth annual event is a fundraiser to support the Edds Foundation, which awards cash …

State Rep. Aaron Miller last week praised Gov. Rick Snyder for signing a fiscally responsible budget that increases funding for classrooms and continues to build a solid public-safety foundation. Miller, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police, said the 2015-2016 budget pays down debt while prioritizing spending for transportation, education and law enforcement. Miller said the budget, after …

A 20-year veteran has been chosen to fill a vacancy on the Three Rives Community Schools Board of Education. During a special meeting last week, board members selected Susan Schmidtendorff to fill the remaining term created by Dave Kutz’s vacancy. Kutz recently resigned his seat, citing conflicts with work. Six people in all applied for the spot, though Dan Tomlinson …