Schools

State Rep. Matt Lori said the equity gap that exists between larger and smaller school districts was narrowed this week, with House approval of Bill 5314, which establishes the School-Aid Fund for the coming fiscal year. Besides adding $50 in per-pupil funding for all students, the bill also designates another $125 per pupil for smaller schools, closing the equity gap …

Anderson’s has named Mendon-area resident Samantha Griffith its 2014 National Cover Teen. The 18-year-old Griffith was selected after a nationwide contest this past winter. Troy Ethen, president of Anderson’s, said the annual Cover Teen competition recognizes teens who are leaders in their communities and an inspiration to others. Griffith has been a member of Mendon’s student council, National Honor Society, …

Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates will have the option to attend 15 private colleges in the state with their tuition paid for through the Kalamazoo Promise next year. The scholarship program has guaranteed full tuition payment for all public universities and community colleges in Michigan for the past eight years. The Kalamazoo Promise is teaming up with the Michigan College Alliance …

Nearly 200-thousand Michigan residents will benefit from the recently expanded “Pay As You Earn” repayment plan for federal student loans, according to a report released by the White House. President Barack Obama signed an executive memorandum on Monday expanding eligibility for the program to borrowers with loans made prior to 2011. A report from the White House Council of Economic …

With heavy hearts, members of the Mendon Community Schools Board of Education Tuesday laid off three teachers. A fourth teacher has voluntarily agreed to switch her employment status from full-time to part-time. The move came despite testimonials from more than 30 people who lamented the situation and loss of quality staff members. Barring a significant change in student enrollment or …

Three Rivers Community Schools didn’t have to look far to find a new high school principal. The board of education this week selected Carrie Balk, a seven-year employee with the district. Balk, 35, previously taught language arts and social studies at Hamilton High School before joining the Three Rivers High School staff to teach social studies. She has served as …

Seven Centreville Public Schools teachers will be issued layoff notices, following action taken Monday by the district’s board of education. After nearly three hours and comments from about three dozen people, the seven-member board cut high school health, agriculture education and junior high language arts positions, and at the elementary level, art, first and second grades, and two fourth-grade positions. …

The six-member White Pigeon High School golf team claimed the Division 4 state championship. Staged in Bedford Valley, the Division 4 finals saw White Pigeon shoot a two-day score of 654. The Chiefs topped Charlevoix and Lincoln Alcona, which finished tied for second at 663. The championship team is comprised of Riley and Jordan Olsen, Cory Snook, Jack Tippman, Andrew …

There is a major change set to be announced to the Kalamazoo Promise this week. The program is nearly a decade old and pays for the tuition at state universities or community colleges for Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates who stay in Michigan. It does not pay for private colleges, and that could be changing as the announcement is scheduled to …

A White Pigeon High School graduate will be one of 51 contestants vying for the title of Miss USA during a pageant televised live Sunday on NBC. Mekayla Diehl, a 2007 White Pigeon High School graduate, is representing Indiana in the pageant. A Bristol resident, Diehl was crowned Miss Indiana during a program seven months ago in Indianapolis. The 25-year-old …