Schools

A 3-mill, five-year sinking fund-millage request sought Tuesday by Burr Oak Community Schools failed by a 20-vote margin. Out of 202 votes cast, 111 rejected the proposal while 91 voted in favor. The relatively close result could prompt district officials to consider asking for a similar request later, according to Superintendent Terry Conklin. If approved, the request would have generated …

A lifelong educator vastly familiar with Colon Community Schools will finish the academic year as its superintendent. Following a 25-minute special board meeting Friday, members of Colon Community Schools’ Board of Education agreed to offer Jay Newman a contract to serve as the district’s chief through June 30. The decision was made in light of first-year superintendent Vic Bugni announcing …

The Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education has voted to not offer a contract next school year to a trio of administrators: middle school principal Brad Coon, middle school dean of educational services Kevin Hamilton and athletic director Pete Anderson. The decision was made during a special board meeting Wednesday and sparked an immediate backlash Thursday, as more than …

The seven-member White Pigeon Community Schools Board of Education agreed Wednesday to keep its superintendent’s position intact for the 2015-16 academic year as it is currently. That means high school principal Jon Keyer will continue to serve as superintendent in tandem with curriculum director Carrie Erlandson as associate superintendent. They were appointed to the two-person position for the 2014-15 school …

Dowagiac police are investigating a couple of incidents this week in which school buses with students in them had windows shot out. Officers on Thursday were called by the Marcellus school district on a report that a bus on its way to drop off a student in Dowagiac had a window blown apart by a pellet gun. The driver then spotted …

It’s going to cost Michigan State University students more to live on the East Lansing campus next year. The MSU Board of Trustees Friday approved a $320 increase in room and board rates. MSU officials say the 3.5 percent increase will offset higher operating expenses and to help pay off debt from the top-to-bottom renovations of many residence and dining halls undertaken …

A few spaces remain for employers to participate in a job fair, which takes place 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 23 at Glen Oaks Community College. The event, typically the largest job fair in St. Joseph County, is made possible through a partnership between Michigan Works, St. Joseph County Department of Human Services and Glen Oaks Community College. Details …

Faced with trimming $500,000 from a $6 million budget, members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education expressed their frustrations during a special work session Monday. The target of their dismay was a state legislature that they said continues to force school districts to do more with less. Board member Eric Bower said he is frustrated at the state …

Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education this evening will continue deliberating their plan to trim as much as $500,000 from the district’s $5.7 million budget. The board, which met a month ago before a standing-room-only audience in excess of 80 people, is considering options that include the privatization of its transportation services, the elimination of up to …

The Sturgis Area Community Foundation has awarded six mini-grants to Sturgis Public Schools. Various teachers who were recipients of the grants indicated to the district’s board of education the use of their grant money. Teacher Mackenzie Adams said her $250 grant will go toward Thursday morning athletic trainer taping workshops at Sturgis High School. Pandora Day at Eastwood Elementary received …