Thursday, June 1, 2023
Since 1854 — News from Montcalm County and Ionia County, Michigan
Ionia Public Schools, in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests from the Daily News, has provided the results of their investigation into a student being injured in a traffic accident near a school bus stop.
The Daily News published a story on Feb. 23 detailing concerns from mother Amanda Ferris about her daughter being injured in an incident involving a car near an Ionia Public Schools bus stop.
Several area leaders shared updates about their organizations’ recent activities during an informal, informative legislative update meeting inside of a small boardroom in the Ionia Michigan Works office on Monday.
The 32-minute gathering was facilitated by Steve Hodgkins and Kat Hansen of the Ionia Area Chamber of Commerce and, despite excessive rain and slush on area roadways, it was attended by about 17 people.
The Ionia Public Schools Board of Education heard concerns from a parent regarding her daughter being struck by a car while waiting at a bus stop recently.
During public comment at Monday evening’s meeting, local parent Amanda Ferris said her 13-year-old daughter Taylor Ferris was struck by a car on Jan. 30 while waiting at a school bus stop about 30 feet from their home.
Approximately 40 Ionia Public Schools staff members, including administrators, principals, directors, secretaries, assistants and office staff, had a special emergency response training session on Aug. 10.
The session was led by Jason Russell, president and founder of Secure Education Consultants, the firm used by the school district for security consulting over the past six months.
An overnight bomb threat on the first day of school resulted in some disappointed little students on Monday.
Boyce Elementary School in Ionia received the threat at approximately 3:45 a.m. School administration and a Michigan State Police K-9 unit searched the school, but found nothing.
Two days after an internal investigation cleared the Ionia High School principal of allegations of misconduct related to his monitoring and supervision of students in the high school parking lot, the principal has resigned.
Principal Jonathan Duley submitted his resignation Thursday night effective immediately. A school investigation had cleared him earlier this week, but a personal protection order (PPO) request from a female student’s parents is pending in Ionia County court.
Ionia High School Principal Jon Duley has been cleared of allegations of misconduct related to his monitoring and supervision of students in the high school parking lot.
The district’s administration became aware of a social media post on a non-school community page alleging the misconduct, Superintendent Ben Gurk said in a memo released Tuesday.
A Twin Rivers Elementary School fifth-grade teacher has died.
Chris Zech died unexpectedly Friday morning of natural causes, according to Ionia Public Schools Superintendent Ben Gurk has said.
Almost every eye was fixated on one podium at Lake Orion High School.
Competitors, coaches, parents, siblings in the building wanted to witness the moment. A FaceTime call in Kuwait connected this one moment for a family that has worked their tails off for this moment.
Students and staff at Ionia High School were directed to shelter in place around 10 a.m. on Monday morning after the allegation of a possible threat against the school.
The high school commenced shelter in place protocols and began investigating with law enforcement immediately, said Ionia Public Schools Superintendent Ben Gurk.
