Schools

Starting next month, Colon Community Schools will be issuing to most of its students Google Chromebook notebooks. More than 600 of the notebooks were purchased with money left over from the $15.1 million millage request approved by district residents a few years ago. Interim Superintendent Jay Newman said the Samsung-made personal computers will be distributed starting in January from the …

Officials say a southwestern Michigan high school gymnasium that lost part of its roof in a windstorm is expected to be unusable for about two more months.  Workers have been trying to repair damage to Mattawan High School in Van Buren County. The Nov. 17 storm blew off part of the roof, sending water into the gym and cafeteria. Superintendent …

Ann Bird has been appointed to head the Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education. Bird will serve as board president, filling the void left by Tom Robertson. Robertson resigned last month after accepting a job as juvenile court director, a position Robertson said could create a conflict of interest. With Bird sworn in as president, Ray Sterling was appointed vice …

Sturgis Public Schools officials this week decided to keep its transportation services in-house rather than contract bus-driving services. During Monday’s board of education meeting, members acted on a recommendation of a committee to retain its own staff and employees. The measure was a relief to several bus drivers who attended the meeting, according to Superintendent Tom Langdon. Committee members studied …

Glen Oaks Community College is continuing public forums for its presidential candidates today and Thursday. The second of three sessions takes place today, when Phil Gasparro will be involved in a question-answer forum 10 to 11 a.m., and again 1:30-2:30 p.m. Gasparro is an administrator with Student Success Initiatives at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland. On Thursday, Douglas Brauer will …

Seven area high school girls were named to the all-state volleyball squad. Members of the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association named Brooke Howard of Mendon to its Class C first-team. Her teammate, Alexis Russell, was named to the second team, while fellow Lady Hornet Jordan VanOss made the third team. In Class B, first team honors went to Rachel Anderson …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Roger Rathburn has announced he plans to run for state representative next year. The 51-year-old Rathburn, who is retiring in June following a 13-year tenure as superintendent in Three Rivers, will seek the 59th District State House seat currently held by Matt Lori. Lori, who will begin his sixth and final year as state rep …

The Christmas season officially kicked off Friday in Three Rivers, as a crowd gathered for the annual tree-lighting ceremony. Staged in the downtown mural mall, the ceremony included music from the Three Rivers High School Aristocrats. It also marked the first of a three-day celebration in downtown Three Rivers, where the Riviera Theatre hosted events Saturday and Sunday. Cookie decorating …

Centreville Public Schools has scheduled six dates during which the start of school will be delayed. The two-hour delays will be Dec. 2, Jan. 13, Feb. 3, March 3, March 31, and May 5. The district’s faculty will be involved in professional-development training on those dates.

The Centreville Future Farmers of America organization has announced the start of its annual poinsettia sale. The annual community-service project for Centreville High School’s FFA students has required them to care for the plants and learn about various aspects of greenhouse farming, including watering, fertilizing, pruning, marketing and sales. The group is partnering with the St. Joseph County Council for …