Schools

Two support-staff members were the first victims of Colon Community Schools’ employee-reduction plan. The next wave, which could include as many as five teachers, is expected to hit when the board conducts a special meeting in early June. During Monday’s regularly scheduled board meeting, district officials agreed to layoff high school secretary Marianne Verner and elementary teacher assistant Stacy Sult. …

Bus service for students in Colon Community Schools in the fall will be provided by a Lansing-based company, as the district’s board of education voted Monday to outsource its transportation department. The agreement with Dean Transportation is expected to save Colon about $158,000 annually, according to district officials. As part of its agreement, Dean Transportation will purchase all 14 of …

A shared superintendent with Bronson Community Schools is an option members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education have agreed to investigate. The seven-member board Monday decided to consider a partnership with its neighboring district and its first-year leader, Teresa Belote (buh-LOAT). The measure was endorsed as Colon Community Schools is searching for a new school chief after Vic …

Glen Oaks Community College President David Devier received a positive evaluation Wednesday from members of the college’s board of trustees. According to a school media release, board members met in closed session to review a recently completed performance evaluation of Devier. Utilizing a five-point system, Devier received an overall grade of 4.18. He was evaluated in six broad categories of …

Glen Oaks Community College presented a number of faculty awards during its 47th graduation ceremony last week. The Distinguished Alumni Award was given to Terry Conklin of Burr Oak. Conklin attended Glen Oaks, part-time, for several years, working his way through while playing baseball, golf and track. Conklin completed his bachelor’s degree at Grand Valley State University then began his …

A Three Rivers Middle School faculty member was named the district’s 2015 Educator of the Year. During last week’s annual Senior Honors Night, Alicia Turner was announced as the recipient of the annual honor. Turner, a 10-year employee of the Three Rivers district, teaches middle school math. She previously was a fifth-grade teacher at Park Elementary. Committee members charged with …

Pam Carrel, Glen Oaks Community College instructor of nursing, has been selected as the recipient of the 2015-16 E. J. Shaheen Teaching Excellence Award. Announcement of the award was made by school President David Devier during the 47th Glen Oaks graduation ceremony Friday. When Carrel enrolled at Glen Oaks Community College in 1978 she was set on becoming a marching …

Calling the timing of Tuesday’s request “very, very poor,” Three Rivers Community Schools’ Board of Education President Mike Bosma said it came as no surprise to him that the district’s request Tuesday for approval of a 1.95 mill sinking-fund request was defeated. Tuesday’s vote came less than a week after the board agreed to not renew the contracts of three …

A 3-mill, five-year sinking fund-millage request sought Tuesday by Burr Oak Community Schools failed by a 20-vote margin. Out of 202 votes cast, 111 rejected the proposal while 91 voted in favor. The relatively close result could prompt district officials to consider asking for a similar request later, according to Superintendent Terry Conklin. If approved, the request would have generated …

A lifelong educator vastly familiar with Colon Community Schools will finish the academic year as its superintendent. Following a 25-minute special board meeting Friday, members of Colon Community Schools’ Board of Education agreed to offer Jay Newman a contract to serve as the district’s chief through June 30. The decision was made in light of first-year superintendent Vic Bugni announcing …