Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Since 1854 — News from Montcalm County and Ionia County, Michigan
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.
An out-of-state juvenile with connections to Ionia was questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday afternoon after making threats of violence on social media against the middle school, which resulted in the cancelation of two weekend dances.
Superintendent Ben Gurk said the administration canceled the Ionia Middle School winter dance scheduled for last Friday night as the district and officers from the Ionia Department of Public Safety investigated “a specific threat” received Friday afternoon.
Grief support is being made available at Ionia High School this week as students and staff face the sudden loss of a ninth-grade student.
Owen Smith, 14, died unexpectedly Sunday morning, Ionia Public Schools Superintendent Ben Gurk said in a letter sent to staff and families on Sunday.
