Schools

Today is the first day of school in St. Joseph County and public school districts across the state. Locally, students in Colon Community Schools will see fully refurbished elementary and jr./sr. high buildings after a $15 million, district-wide building and technology upgrade was completed over the summer. In Three Rivers, new principals at Park and Norton elementary schools are in …

Nearly 100 people toured newly remodeled and upgraded Colon Jr./Sr. High and Colon Elementary schools during a public open house Tuesday. Preceded by a ceremonial ribbon cutting, the tours mark the near completion of a 15-month, $15 million improvement of the district’s three buildings and upgrades of its technology to the latest available. Work at Leonidas School and an open …

St. Joseph County’s July unemployment rate saw a notable increase from the previous month. Monthly figures released from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget Analysis show St. Joseph County had a July unemployment rate of 9.7 percent, a 1.1-percent increase from June. The agency indicated summer layoffs in education contributed to the increase. Despite the increase from June, …

White Pigeon Community Schools Superintendent Ron Drzewicki  said the district is asking its residents to participate in a 15-minute, online survey. He said the district has partnered with the Michigan Association of School Boards to gain perceptions, input and feedback to foster the district’s strategic-planning and goal-setting process. Drzewicki said responses will remain anonymous and confidential. The survey will be …

Constantine Middle School was the recipient of a $4,500 grant from the Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company. During a presentation Saturday, Josh Onken, site operations manager for the Constantine plant, made the donation. District officials said the grant will be used to purchase new library books and create a program to encourage reading. Onken said the …

The Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education recently settled contracts with three work groups. Superintendent Tom Langdon said unions representing food-service workers, teachers, and employees in the custodian, maintenance and transportation field all agreed to a contract through the 2012-13 school year. Teachers will not be awarded a pay increase, though salary-step increases will remain in place. Employees in the …

Over 60 people came out July 21 to the second annual Stroller Roll to support the local early childhood fund. Many adults brought their children in strollers while others came out to run competitively. The funds raised will support the Early Childhood Implementation Fund held at the Sturgis Area Community Foundation. These dollars support preschool scholarships for at risk three …

St. Joseph County Clerk Pattie Bender is advising the public that petitions for candidates to area school boards of education, Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees and village councils are due by 4 p.m. Aug. 14. All positions will be elected in the Nov. 6 general election. Bender said candidates wishing to run for school board in Burr Oak, …

Organizers of the 29th White Pigeon Days community festival called the weekend’s three-day event a popular and well-attended celebration. North Kalamazoo and East Chicago streets were lined with more than 1,000 people during Friday night’s parade, while a crowd estimated at 2,000-plus viewed Saturday evening’s fireworks program. The pyrotechnics took place shortly after the second annual White Pigeon-Centreville alumni football …

Members of the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education have expressed an interest in looking at consolidating business-office duties with other districts in the county. The concept is not unprecedented, as Mendon and Centreville school districts currently operate under a joint business office. Three Rivers Superintendent Roger Rathburn said potential retirements within the district in the next few years …