Morley Stanwood Community Schools will hold a Community Forum Thursday evening at 6:30pm in the middle school to discuss and answer questions about the enhancement millage on the ballot May 8th. There will also be a discussion on why it is important at this time to restructure and consolidate buildings in the district.

With student population declining since 2004 at Morley Stanwood Community Schools, the school board held a workshop before its regular board meeting Monday night. Board members discussed the possibility of consolidating one or two schools, namely the elementaries Morley and Stanwood, which would have a cost savings of around $329,000. Another point of discussion between school board members includes the possibility of adding more students per class. Board members stressed that all ideas of consolidation are not set in stone and will continue to be discussed over the next two months.

Plans to consolidate fire and police services in Kent County between Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming are moving forward, but slowly. Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell called on One Kent to slow down and work with the city and surrounding municipalities as they study the issue. The consolidation plan will be studied by a consultant group at a price of $265,000. The City Attorney for Grand Rapids says there are problems with the One Kent plan, specifically rural areas not having enough representation. (MRN)

The Chippewa Hills School District has decided not to close Remus Elementary. The school board instead voted to relocate the fifth grade students and move the MOSAIC students to the elementary and close the alternative school. School board president Nancy Yarrick says it was a tough decision that had to be made. The decision will save the district $366,000.