Schools

The Three Rivers City Commission last week recommended paving-related expenses for two micro-surfacing projects. Nearly $32,000 was approved for work to be performed on South Douglas Avenue, from West Michigan Avenue to Millard Street, and Sixth Avenue from Wood to Jefferson streets. The $14,900 Douglas Avenue job was a budgeted project; funds from the city’s 2014 fiscal year will be …

Glen Oaks Community College officials have announced a reverse-transfer agreement with Ferris State University. Glen Oaks students who transfer to Ferris prior to receiving their associate’s degree may be eligible to obtain their two-year degree from Glen Oaks by transferring their Ferris credits back to GOCC, as part of the agreement announced last week. Glen Oaks President Gary Wheeler said …

A broken water seal in the F Wing at Glen Oaks Community College resulted in a two-hour delayed start of classes Thursday. The early morning incident, at the north end of campus near the auto garage, triggered the overhead sprinkler system to activate, college officials said. Glen Oaks President Gary Wheeler said the incident occurred in an out-of-the-way area where …

Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education have selected Jay Newman as the district’s interim superintendent. The veteran educator and Colon resident was chosen Tuesday from a field of four candidates. Newman, 63, will fill in while the board looks for a successor to Lloyd Kirby, who decided over the summer to retire. Newman, who will be paid …

Centreville Public Schools this week kicked off its campaign to promote the district’s November request for 2.95-mills over a 15-year period. The $12.8 million request, if approved, would allow the district to re-roof and upgrade its elementary and jr./sr. high buildings, update its technology infrastructure and purchase seven new buses over a 12-year period. A committee calling itself “Our Kids …

Centreville Elementary School will have 10 new iPads this academic year, thanks to a donation from the Monsanto Fund. The third of three donations made to St. Joseph County-based recipients took place prior to Monday’s Centreville Board of Education meeting. Angie Shotwell and Michael Ochsner, representing Monsanto’s Constantine plant, presented a ceremonial check to Superintendent Rob Kuhlman and board president …

Lloyd Kirby has announced he is retiring as superintendent of Colon Community Schools. Kirby, who has led the 650-student district for 19 years, said he and board of education president Ernie Baker talked about the matter last week and, according to Kirby, he and Baker agreed it was time for a change. A replacement for Kirby took up the balance …

A retired Parchment School District administrator with professional ties to Three Rivers has been offered the job of superintendent and principal at Nottawa School. Nottawa Community School Board of Education members voted 4-to-1 Tuesday to offer the $41,000-a-year post to Ruth Rowe. Rowe, whose work history includes curriculum-related duties at Three Rivers Community Schools, would replace Marcia Griffin. The 69-year-old …

Glen Oaks Community College is offering classes that will teach students how to develop applications for mobile phones. The newly created Mobile Phone Applications Development certificate program begins this fall at the Centreville-area school. Patricia Morgenstern, associate dean of extended learning and workforce development, said the program will teach students how to build, test and market their Android and iPhone …

Voters in the Constantine Public Schools district will have two ballot measures before them later this year. A request to renew 18 mills for general operations and a bond resolution for major improvements at Constantine Middle School will be decided in November, following action during the district’s board of education meeting this week. Superintendent Chuck Frisbie said he stressed to …