Schools districts with too many snow days will not have to extend the school year under a bill signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder. The legislation Sponsored by House Republican Phil Potvin of Cadillac allows school districts that have exceeded their allotted six days of school closure to extend the length of remaining school days instead of adding days to the year in order to meet the required minimum 1,098 hours of instruction.

Chippewa Hills School District Superintendent Shirley Howard announced she would be retiring after 40-years with the district. The announcement was made during Monday's School Board meeting. Howard held many positions during her tenure with the district including teacher, principal, curriculum director and superintendent which she has been serving since 2007. Her retirement will be effective on June 30th. Bob Grover, principal of Chippewa Hills Intermediate School, will act as interim superintendent while the district looks for a new head for the school district.

A former Pine River Sports booster president who was arrested for stealing money from the school's booster club was arraigned. 51-year old Elaine Marie Rockwell of Luther was arraigned Tuesday in Osceola Co. District Court on three felony counts of larceny from a building. Michigan State Police say the school first contacted them back in March after concerns that Rockwell may be stealing money from the Buck's Pride Athletic organization. She faces up to five years in prison and/or $5,000 in fines. Rockwell is due back in court on August 23.

Three schools in the Mecosta/ Osceola Intermediate School District have been named reward schools for either high student achievement or making tremendous progress in student achievement, according to the State Education Department school report card. The three reward schools according to statewide percentile are: Chippewa Hills High School at 83rd percentile, Morley-Stanwood High School at 74th percentile and Big Rapids High School at 70th percentile. To see where your school ranked click here: http://bit.ly/PoZen0

Deputies in Montcalm County discovered thousands of dollars worth of damage in the Vestaburg School Complex early Sunday Morning. Police say the suspects broke in through a sky light, then broke into several classrooms. The suspects used spray paint to write obscenities on desks, windows, doors and walls. They also poured cleaning chemicals on the floors and emptied fire extinguishers, which tripped a fire alarm. According to Superintendent Jeff Beals, nothing appeared to be missing from the school and the motive of the crime was destruction of property.

The Morley-Stanwood Community Schools Board of Education had to make some tough decisions in regards to its budget. The district having to make more than a million dollars in budget cuts decided to close Stanwood Elementary. The move is expected to save the district $170,0000. Officials say Kindergarten through sixth grade students will be housed in the current middle school building and seventh through 12th graders will be housed in the high school building. In related news, the board also accepted the retirement of nine teachers as well as laid off four parapro's.

The State Senate has passed legislation that would eliminate personal property tax in Michigan, which means it now goes to the State House. Superintendent for the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District Curt Finch tells how this would effect our local schools, "Anybody that has a school bond for construction, that tax increase won't be guaranteed by the state anymore, so that $60 million gets passed down to your local homeowners. $55 million will be cut from the ISDs for special education and vocational millages.

In a special election yesterday, voters said “No” to a regional Enhancement millage to help fund transportation and building upgrades for the Mecosta/Osceola Intermediate School District but did approve an operating millage for the Big Rapids School District and Morley-Stanwood Community Schools to help fund operating expenses. Just under 5,000 voters in Mecosta and Osceola Counties hit the polls for yesterdays election.

Charges will not be filed against two former Muskegon Heights School officials suspected of stealing from the district. Michigan State Police say there is not enough evidence to charge Sweetie Lars or Cheri Christensen with embezzlement. The women were accused last year of doing business with vendors owned by their husbands. The investigation is one of the reasons state officials may appoint an emergency manager to the district. (MRN) Image by (Salvatore Vuono)