Sunday, May 28, 2023
Since 1854 — News from Montcalm County and Ionia County, Michigan
The Belding Area Schools Board of Education bid farewell Monday evening to its two outgoing board members, with each of whom celebrated by their fellow trustees.
Trustees Debra Bach, 63, and Kate Feuerstein, 48, both of Otisco Township, attended their final meeting as members of the school board as neither chose to run for another six-year term this past November.
The Ionia Public Schools Board of Education adopted new social emotional resilience curriculum and revealed the results of its recent survey Monday evening at their latest regular monthly meeting.
With about six minutes of discussion, the board voted to approve and adopt new social emotional resilience curriculum for all grade levels. The curriculum contains lessons related to topics including anger management, social media literacy and conflict resolution and is intended to improve academic performance and classroom behavior.
In a 10-minute meeting Monday evening, the members of the Central Montcalm Board of Education heard from the superintendent of the revival of a school publication.
“The Central Issue,” a district newsletter that existed as a means of communication, but ceased over 10 years ago, said Superintendent Marty James.
Citing dropping enrollment, health and safety, and being able to play closer to home were all reasons determining the change in the football program at Carson City-Crystal Area Schools.
Following a 6-0 vote at the CC-C Board of Education meeting Monday evening, starting in the 2023 fall season, the current 11-man football teams will change to an 8-man ball game.
Every Monday at Belding High School, students and staff come together for five to 10 minutes to place a focus on mental health and social-emotional needs.
According to Principal Michael Ostrander, those few minutes for every “Black Knight” in the building has led to a greater impact than anyone might have anticipated.
The Ionia Public Schools Board of Education did some hiring, approved security improvements and received a financial audit during Monday’s meeting.
The board voted to approve installing more Aviglion security cameras and vape detection systems in all buildings throughout the district. The additional units will cover areas not currently surveilled remotely.
The Carson City-Crystal Area Schools Board of Education planned a meeting Monday evening, but the lack of a quorum prevented them from doing so.
With an audience already gathered, the board president opted to carry on with presentations.
The Belding Area Schools Board of Education will welcome two new board members and will welcome back one candidate.
Current Board President Terry Boni was re-elected, and candidates Keven Krieger and Jennifer Lein were newly elected on Tuesday.
A Greenville resident’s appeals of redactions and fees resulting from several Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests of Greenville Public Schools have been granted and denied through three separate decisions by the Board of Education.
Earlier this month, the school board discussed three appeals from on Behrends after the school district responded to one of his FOIA requests by providing copies of emails he requested, but with redactions.
The Central Montcalm Public School Board of Education met on Monday evening to approve six policy updates and look at seven others.
The board approved, in a 6-0 vote with Trustee Jim Lingeman absent, to accept an update on staff dress and grooming, support staff dress and grooming, dress and grooming, grant funds, cost principles, spending federal funds and procurement of federal funds and grants.
