Newly created team league

The four remaining schools from the St. Joseph Valley League athletic conference are expected to join a newly created, 10-team league.

The Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference was announced this week during the Bronson Community Schools Board of Education meeting. The new league, which will include SJV members Centreville, Bronson, White Pigeon and Mendon, will debut in the 2014-15 academic year.

Other members will be New Buffalo and Lake Michigan Catholic from the Red Arrow Conference, and Cassopolis, Buchanan, Bridgman and Niles Brandywine from the Lakeland Conference.

The state of the SJV became jeopardized after Colon, Constantine and Schoolcraft left it in 2008.

Athletic directors from the 10 schools have agreed to split the new conference into east and west divisions.

Custodial jobs outsourced

Nine custodial jobs with Sturgis Public Schools will be outsourced to a Holland-based company, following action by the district’s board of education Monday.

The nine employees will have an opportunity to join Enviro-Clean, which will cost the district about $500,000 next year. The current contract with district-employed custodians is in excess of $700,000, district officials said.

The new contract, which takes effect July 1, calls for Enviro-Clean employees to earn between $10- and $15-an-hour, with the option of self-only insurance.

Two custodians and about two dozen teachers attended in support of the current janitorial staff members. Teachers who addressed the board said current janitorial staff members are an integral part of the district and are trusted employees who are more in tune with each building’s needs.

District officials indicated they will likely review potential outsourcing of transportation services next year.

Scholarships awarded

Nearly two dozen Sturgis High School graduates-to-be were recipients of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation Scholarship Reception for 2013.

The recent program featured scholarship recipients and representatives from the families who helped make the awards possible.

Close to $110,000 was awarded to students in educational and camp scholarship awards.

Since 1999, more than 650 students have received in excess of $460,000 in scholarships through the foundation.

Sturgis school was in lockdown

Sturgis High School went into lockdown Thursday as a precautionary measure after a student reported overhearing a possible act of violence.

Superintendent Tom Langdon said the action was employed based on what the student reported to school officials. It prompted what Langdon called a Phase One security measure, considered a low-level threat.

Based on a student’s report to the principal that he or she heard of possible violence, administrators enacted the Phase 1 plan.

Administrators and members of the Sturgis Police Department investigated and determined the threat was unfounded.

Boys receive accolades

Two area high school boys basketball players received state accolades for their performance on the hardwood.

Sturgis junior Chance Stewart, who has already verbally committed to a football scholarship at the University of Wisconsin, was named to the Associated Press Class B, all-state honorable mention team. Stewart averaged 18.5 points a game in leading the Trojans to a 14-9 season record.

Meanwhile, White Pigeon senior Matt Crowl received honorable mention to the Class C, all-state team.

Crowl averaged 12 points a game and was a three-year starter on the Chiefs’ varsity squad.

Sturgis schools approve contract

Members of the Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education Monday approved a three-year contract with the Sturgis Educational Association.

The contract includes half a percent salary increase for the first year, and “wage openers” for the second and third years, according to Vicki Watson, director of finance.

In a related matter, assistant superintendent Julie Evans said the calendar has been laid out for either the existing trimesters or semesters if that change is approved in the future. The contract also has stronger layoff and recall language as dictated by the state.

The hourly rate for teachers beyond their salary will be $25 per hour, up from $22.50. As of February, the general fund year-to-date revenue is more than $13.5 million and expenses are at $17.7 million.

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