Schools

White Pigeon Community Schools will have more than $1.6 million additionally to spend each year over the next five years, as the district’s voters approved a request for a 1-mill increase Tuesday. The measure prevailed with 359 yes votes to 336 opposed. Superintendent Ron Drzewicki said the community support helps keep the 750-student district on a positive road. He said …

A request to restore special-education funding to St. Joseph County’s nine school districts was approved Tuesday. The request to reinstate nearly three-tenths of a mill to a full 2.75 mills passed, 1,261 to 1,158. With the Headlee Rollback in effect, school districts were not receiving the full number of mills established in the 1960s for special-education support. The full 2.75 …

Facility upgrades and major repairs are on tap in Marcellus Community Schools, where voters on Tuesday approved a $12.9 million bond request. The district received the support it needed, with 543 votes in favor to 497 against. Approval of the request means remodeling of the cafeteria and media center at its elementary school and middle school/high school, as well as …

White Pigeon Township resident Vickie Schroen is $5,000 richer after she was the winner in Saturday’s Cow-Poo-Looza III at Central Elementary. The $20 ticket she bought just hours before the start of the event proved to be the entry that coordinated with the square on which a cow defecated. The action took place about 10 minutes after the cow, named …

Centreville-area resident was presented the E. J. Shaheen award at Glen Oaks Community College’s graduation Friday. Michelle McNamara was the 2014 recipient of the award. It is presented annually to a member of the faculty who is nominated by students, alumni, fellow faculty, staff and members of the community for innovation and quality instruction. McNamara’s association with Glen Oaks Community …

A Constantine High School sophomore was the winner of the “Seed Corn Capitol of the World” logo contest. Sponsored by the Constantine Brainstormers, the contest drew 37 entries, including the winning drawing submitted by Carissa Matthews. The winner was chosen by popular vote, which took place earlier this month during the Constantine community Easter egg hunt. The winning logo will …

Two St. Joseph County school board members earned awards from the Michigan Association of School Boards. Pete Bennett of Three Rivers Community Schools and Sally Boeschenstein of the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District were recognized for their efforts to improve leadership skills, and demonstrate their commitment to student achievement and their own continuous improvement. Awards are earned for classes …

A Saginaw-area native has been offered the job of superintendent of Colon Community Schools. Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education Monday selected Victor Bugni to succeed Lloyd Kirby, who retired last summer. After a lengthy discussion and 6-1 vote, Bugni was chosen over Mesick Consolidated Schools Superintendent Mike Corey. Board member Wendell Grunner cast the dissenting vote, …

Michigan is giving school districts more flexibility in making up for snow days this academic year. Districts that had scheduled more than the required 174 days of school can now hold just that number if they still meet the required 1,098 hours per school year. Schools that exceeded the six cancelled days allowed under state law may not need makeup …

A 15-year-old student has been charged with arson following an incident last week at Sturgis High School. According to Sturgis police, a paper-towel dispenser was intentionally set on fire in a bathroom shortly before 1:30 p.m. Friday. Fire crews arrived to find a moderate amount of smoke but no fire. With the aid of school-security video, district officials and law-enforcement …