Schools

State police said 56 Michigan public school districts – including Sturgis Public Schools – will get a share of $4 million in funding to boost school safety. The money announced last week will be used to purchase equipment and technology to improve the safety and security of school buildings, students and staff. Grant recipients have until Sept. 15 to spend …

In light of Mendon Community Schools voting Monday to not renew the contract of Superintendent Rob Kuhlman for the 2015-16 academic year, Centreville Public Schools will have some decisions to make. Mark Trowbridge, president of the Centreville Board of Education, said the district’s position will be a topic of conversation at its 6:30 p.m. board meeting Monday. The neighboring districts …

The Michigan High School Athletic Association will begin a pilot program this fall using a new test to check for concussions in athletes. Executive Director Jack Roberts told WOOD-TV that anyone suspected of “getting their bell rung” will be asked to look at cards, or an iPad and read some numbers. The time to answer will be compared to a “test …

A charge of felony embezzlement has been leveled against Three Rivers High School teacher Sara Freeman following her initial court appearance Monday. District Court Judge Jeff Middleton handled the preliminaries of the case, which involves the alleged embezzlement of more than $20,000. Freeman, 33, is a language arts teacher at the school. But in her additional capacity as yearbook advisor, …

A former teacher in Three Rivers and Constantine has entered a plea of no contest related to two charges of criminal sexual conduct. David Wing, 59, who also served as an administrator with Marcellus Community Schools, made his plea Monday in St. Joseph County Circuit Court before Judge Paul Stutesman. Wing’s no-contest pleas were in connection to one count of …

Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education are mulling a number of options in an effort to trim as much as $500,000 from the district’s $5.7 million budget. The board, which met Monday 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 …

Four western Michigan high school students have been arrested after a handgun was discharged in a boys’ restroom.  Kalamazoo police say in a release that a 10th-grader brought the small caliber, semi-automatic pistol Tuesday morning to Loy Norrix High School and inadvertently fired it.  Two other 10th grade students — a boy and girl — kept the gun in their …

By a 4-3 margin, members of the Mendon Community Schools Board of Education voted Monday to not renew the contract of Superintendent Rob Kuhlman. Board members Keith Heitkamp, Lynn Cool, Chris Ames and Regina Schinker opted against renewing Kuhlman’s contract; the measure was supported by Roger Cupp, Linda Thompson and board president Jim Fassett. Mendon school officials a month ago …

The Three Rivers Police Department is working with officials from Three Rivers Community Schools regarding a situation involving the distribution an explicit photo of a student. Police said the inappropriate digital photo of a minor was consensually sent, but then distributed beyond the account of the recipient. As many as 12 people will likely be questioned, police said. A summary …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Jean Logan issued a media release Wednesday, assuring that the school’s yearbook program will result in a publication in which the students who have worked on this year will be proud. Logan’s comments came a day after it was reported that yearbook advisor Sara Freeman was being investigated and will be charged for embezzlement. Freeman, …