Schools

Michigan public schools can use non-teaching staff as substitute teachers the rest of the academic year under a law designed to address a shortage during the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Monday that she signed the bill last week, calling it a “temporary stopgap” in a letter to lawmakers. It lets secretaries, paraprofessionals and other school employees without a teaching certificate work as …

A ban on Pride flags in classrooms at Three Rivers Community Schools has been lifted until further notice. The decision to allow the display of such flags was made during Monday’s four-hour Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education meeting. Following a closed session lasting more than two hours, board members agreed to allow flags to be hung in classrooms, …

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder and terrorism for a shooting that killed four fellow students and injured others at a Michigan high school. Authorities on Wednesday revealed that his parents were summoned just a few hours before the bloodshed. No motive was offered by Oakland County authorities, a day after violence at Oxford High School. But sheriff’s …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration said Tuesday it wants lawmakers to quickly allocate $300 million in federal pandemic rescue funding to support COVID-19 testing at schools amid a fourth surge of infections in Michigan. The money was included in the relief law approved by Congress and President Joe Biden in March. It is set to expire next summer and is part …

The generosity of several area entities has resulted in the renovation of the welding technology lab at Glen Oaks Community College. Work is nearing completion on the $350,000 project, with $87,500 coming through donations to fund the cost of 20 new welding booths, complete with vacuum systems. President David Devier acknowledged Platinum-level sponsors TH Plastics Inc., Morgan Olson and Mike Elliott, …

Three Rivers Community Schools officials have released a statement regarding Pride flags in classrooms. Released Wednesday afternoon and posted on the district’s website, the message recapped the situation that led to middle school health teacher Russell Ball walking off the job Monday and ultimately resigning. District officials said they were notified by what they call “an external party,” Nov. 18. …

The Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education recently approved the purchase of vaping sensors to be installed in all bathrooms and locker rooms at Sturgis Middle School and Sturgis High School. The board selected Summit Fire Protection of Paw Paw to install the 46 Halo Smart Sensors, which are required to cover all bathrooms and locker rooms in the two buildings. In addition …

A Three Rivers teacher left his job in the middle of the school day Monday rather than adhere to a district-ordered mandate to remove a pride flag from his classroom. Russell Ball posted a video to social media minutes after resigning and leaving Three Rivers Middle School. Ball, age 43, taught physical education and health. Ball said an internal email …

Officials from Constantine Public Schools will have to return to the drawing board if they hope to pursue another millage-increase request. District voters Tuesday turned down a request for an additional two-tenths of a mill in order to complete a number of ambitious plans. Unofficial numbers from St. Joseph County show 266 voters OK’d the plan, while 356 opposed the …

The state issued updated guidance Wednesday to help Michigan schools and local health departments navigate whether asymptomatic students who have been exposed to a coronavirus-infected student should quarantine at home or stay in school. A change: Unvaccinated but masked students who were less than 3 feet from a COVID-positive student for at least 15 minutes can remain in school but …