Schools

An art professor at Glen Oaks Community College has been selected as the recipient of the annual E.J. Shaheen Chair for Teaching Excellence Award. Michael Northrop, who joined the Centreville-area college in 2000 and became a full-time faculty member in 2005, was announced the 28th winner of the award. Northrop teaches art history, object drawing, two-dimensional design and several other …

Infrastructure improvements undertaken last year by Three Rivers Community Schools have netted the district an award. During this week’s board of education meeting, district officials were presented an Energy Efficiency Leader award from indoor comfort-systems provider Trane. John Atsma, area manager for Trane, presented the award, noting the $1.6 million in energy-efficiency improvements will eventually pay for itself. The company …

Glen Oaks Community College officials have made attendance at orientation for new students a requirement. Mandatory at any one of the six sessions begins with students new to the school effective with the start of the fall 2012 semester. Sessions last four hours and are offered on various days of the week and at various times of day starting with …

Members of the Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education have given the green light to a $345,000 upgrade at Sturgis High School’s football stadium. Board members on Monday approved Paw Paw-based Hall Builders to oversee the installation of new, metal bleachers. District officials debated between two grades of aluminum and opted for a higher-quality metal, which costs more but will …

Tuition for St. Joseph County students attending Glen Oaks Community College will increase $5 per credit hour starting in the fall. Approved by the school’s board of trustees, the rate hike will bump the college’s tuition rate to $89 per credit hour. Meanwhile, students in the college’s service area will pay $136 a credit hour, with an additional $6 per …

Voters in White Pigeon Community Schools may now obtain an absentee ballot for the May 8 millage renewal sought by White Pigeon Community Schools. The 780-student district is seeking renewal of a 3-mill sinking fund for five years. If approved, the $5 million generated as a result will allow the district to continue building, infrastructure and technology upgrades. The original …

A two-year contract extension is expected to be offered to Rob Kuhlman, superintendent of Mendon Community Schools and Centreville Public Schools. Dave Peterson, president of the Centreville Board of Education, said a six-person joint committee last week gave Kuhlman a glowing annual evaluation. As a result, the committee agreed to offer Kuhlman a contract extension that would keep him in …

Three Rivers Community Schools has announced that Fred Matusik, principal at Park Elementary School, is retiring at the end of the school year. Matusik, who oversaw Huss Academy alternative high school for 10 years, has been principal at Park School for six years. His wife, Judi, is a behavior specialist at Andrews Elementary and she also plans to retire in …

The Three Rivers Public Library Board on Tuesday tabled action on a motion to allow Weenie Kings hot-dog stand to use its parking lot to operate his lunchtime business. A vote to let Mike King return to the site where he sold more than 60,000 hot dogs over a five-year period failed by virtue of a 2-2 deadlock, with two …

Deputies from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a breaking and entering at 7 a.m. Friday last week at Marcellus Elementary School. It was discovered that the school, an outside greenhouse and the concession stand had been vandalized and items taken, including electronics and a small amount of money. Marcellus School officials stated that repairs from …