ionia schools

Bids for Fred Thwaites trail improvement come in too high

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Ionia manager tells legislative update audience the city will scale back design

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.

Ionia schools staff have emergency response training

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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.

Bomb threat closes Boyce Elementary on 1st day of school

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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.

Ionia High School principal resigns

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School had cleared him of allegations, but student’s parents request PPO

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 did not violate board policy, investigation finds

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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.

Ionia elementary school teacher dies suddenly on Friday

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.

Sharing the moment

Ionia’s Zoe, Rodney Hensley, family all share unforgettable moments in powerlifting postseason

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.

IHS students, staff told to shelter in place after possible threat Monday

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.