Schools

Sturgis High School senior Cleanna Crabill was chosen as one of 16,000 academically talented students nationwide as a semifinalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program. In order to qualify as a semifinalist, Crabill participated in the 2013 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screen for program entrants. Her scores have placed her in the nationwide …

A campaign by Three Rivers Community Schools to promote a sinking-fund millage request in May kicked off this week. Superintendent Jean Logan said the district is seeking 1.95 mills over an eight-year period. If approved, the request would generate $1.25 million a year for building and site improvements, safety and security, and technology infrastructure. She said the sinking-fund request is …

Details about the St. Joseph County College Access Network were provided recently during a meeting of the St. Joseph County School Board Association. Tracy Harker and Claudia Pahls reported that the College Access Network, which stems from Sturgis Public Schools’ SUCCESS program and strives to help students find their way to college, is now a countywide program thanks to the …

An initiative that awards college tuition to Kalamazoo high school graduates is celebrating its 10th anniversary and nearly 4,000 scholarships. The Kalamazoo Promise has offered full-tuition scholarships since 2005 to students who spend kindergarten through 12th grade in the city’s public school district. High school graduates are able to attend any community college, public university and a select group of …

The fate of a contract for shared superintendent services with Centreville Public Schools was decided Tuesday, when members of the Mendon Community Schools Board of Education extended the agreement through the 2015-16 academic year. Whether Rob Kuhlman will continue to serve in that capacity, however, won’t be decided until March. Board members with Centreville Public Schools last fall approved a …

State Rep. Aaron Miller, a high school teacher by trade, plans a busy month of March to help promote March Is Reading Month. Miller plans on reading to students in five different St. Joseph County school districts at various points during the month. His itinerary includes March 2 at Eastwood School in Sturgis; March 6 at Colon Elementary; March 9 …

Glen Oaks Community College’s Board of Trustees agreed last week to support the existing slate of officers for another year. David Allen will remain chairperson and Nancy Percival will remain vice-chairperson. Bruce Gosling continues as treasurer and James Moshier will remain secretary. The board also voted unanimously to extend the contract of Glen Oaks president David Devier for one more …

This winter’s icy grip has some in the Michigan Legislature arguing once again that the state should allow schools more than six days for closures before they must make up the time. Schools are required by state law to provide at least 175 days of instruction each school year. Schools can be closed for up to six days, or the …

Glen Oaks Community College’s Board of Trustees has agreed to a contract with Follett Higher Education Group Inc. to privatize bookstore services. James O’Connor, vice president of sales and operations, said Follett operates 945 campus stores internationally, has 1,500 e-commerce sites and plans to invest more than $ 250 million in the business over the next 36 months. Follett offers …

Students at Blandford Middle School were hard at work last week taking care of 125 baby chickens for their egg business. The high-achieving Grand Rapids Public Schools’ theme school offers 60 sixth-graders a unique hands-on learning experience, according to The Grand Rapids Press. The classroom is as much the surrounding ponds and woods as it is the school building. Cheri …