Student Artwork to be Showcased at Clinton-Macomb Public Library

Chippewa Valley art students will be on display at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library next month.

Macomb County Board Honors Macomb Township Green Schools

An award ceremony took place Tuesday at Macomb Intermediate School District in Clinton Township.

The Macomb County Board of Commissioners honored local schools for green initiatives Tuesday during an awards ceremony at Macomb Intermediate School District. Several Macomb Township schools were among those recognized, including those in Chippewa Valley, L'Anse Creuse, Utica and New Haven districts. There were 127 schools across the county that have achieved Official Michigan Green School status. “The Board is very proud to partner with the MISD on this successful hands-on program,” Board Chairman David Flynn said in prepared statement. “Green Schools not only teaches students how to be responsible stewards of the natural resources in their community, but it also has the potential to lower energy costs for the schools involved.”     St. …

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Chippewa Valley Foundation Readies for Third Taste-Fest and Auction

'A Taste for Education' will be held 6 p.m. March 21 at Zuccaro Banquets and Catering in Chesterfield. Tickets are $40.

Now in its third year, the Chippewa Valley Educational Foundation’s Taste-Fest and Auction has become a district tradition, the proceeds of which support thousands of dollars in classroom grants every year. The 2013 event will feature tasting stations for more than a dozen Macomb area restaurants and caterers, including: Catering 2 You, J. Baldwin’s, Luciano’s, Max & Erma’s, VP Catering by Mirage, Vince & Joe’s, Jet’s Pizza, Filipo Marc Winery, Randazzo Fresh Market, Nino Salvaggio’s, P.F. Chang’s, Gigi’s Cupcakes, Achatz Handmade Pie Co., Aspen, Salsarita’s of Macomb, Kristina’s Catering, Zuccaro Banquets & Catering, Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que, The Meeting Grounds Restaurant, Wintergarten, Recreation Bowl, Leong’s 21 and All About Catering. …

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Impact of Sequester Cuts on Macomb County Schools Unclear

Automatic federal spending cuts will happen March 1 if Congress does not reach an agreement before that time.

Federal funding for Michigan’s public schools—including Macomb County districts—could be cut even further should Congress fail to halt $85 billion in "sequestration" spending cuts scheduled to take hold March 1, according to a statement released this week by the White House. In Michigan, the cuts would result in a loss of $22 million in funding for schools this year, which the White House estimates would “put around 300 teacher and aid jobs at risk.” It would also cut $20.3 million in funding for special education programs. However, school officials for districts across Macomb County say they are unsure of exactly how the sequester will impact their budgeting and programs. "It is our understanding at this point in time that any reductions …

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Your Guide to Kindergarten Programs and Enrollment in Macomb Township

In Michigan, children must be at least 5 years old on or before Nov. 1, 2013 to enroll in kindergarten for the 2013-14 school year.

Public and private schools in Macomb Township and across Macomb County have started enrolling kindergarten students for the 2013-14 academic year. Under Michigan's new kindergarten start dates, a child can be enrolled in a program for the 2013-14 year if they are at least 5 years old on or before Nov. 1, 2013. To make the selection of a program and the ultimate enrollment process easier, Patch has compiled a list of need-to-know information from schools in the area. Want more Macomb Township school and local news? Sign up for Patch's free e-newsletter for daily updates. A parent or legal guardian must register a student. Most schools required the following items to be provided at the time of enrollment: Chippewa Valley Schools L'Anse …

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Utica Superintendent Boasts Highest Compensation Package in Michigan

A new database compiled by the The Mackinac Center for Public Policy shows Utica Community Schools' superintendent earning $300,789 in salary and benefits, with Chippewa Valley and L'Anse Creuse superintendents averaging $250,000.

Editor's Note: The Mackinac Center for Public Policy acknowledged that some numbers in the superintendent database released last week may be incorrect. For instance, the center's figures show Utica Community Schools' superintendent as being the highest compensated in the state with a package of $300,789. But the Kalamazoo Gazette said that distinction might actually go to its superintendent, who has a total package worth $344,667 in 2012. MLive reported that the center's director said he’s received several phone calls from superintendents saying certain information is not correct. The superintendent of Utica Community Schools may not have the top salary in the state, but that six-figure number combined with contract benefits makes this …

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Chippewa Valley On Track to Realize Obama Plan to Redesign U.S. High Schools

President Barack Obama's proposal to redesign America's high schools to better train students for real-world jobs is a model already alive and well in Chippewa Valley Schools' career technical education program.

It was a Brooklyn high school that received recognition for its innovative technical education during the State of the Union Tuesday, but Clinton Township residents can find a model for the president’s proposed redesign of America’s high schools much closer to home. Chippewa Valley Schools is just one of several Macomb County districts that have, in recent years, moved to partner with institutions of higher education and integrate on-the-job training into their career technical education programs.   “Right now, countries like Germany focus on graduating their high school students with the equivalent of a technical degree from one of our community colleges, so those German kids, they're ready for a job when they graduate high school,” said …

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Macomb Schools' MEAP Results Show Greatest Gains in Math, Struggles in Science

Chippewa Valley, L'Anse Creuse and Utica outpaced statewide MEAP averages in most subjects in 2012. However, New Haven was generally unable to match state averages beyond its results in third grade math and reading.

For the most part, students in Chippewa Valley, L'Anse Creuse and Utica districts continued to perform on par or above their peers across the state in all subject areas, according to the recently-released results of the 2012 Michigan Educational Assessment Program, or MEAP test. New Haven students struggled to match state averages in all areas except third-grade math and reading. During the MEAP exam, taken during fall 2012, public school students in grades 3-9 were tested in math, reading, writing, social studies and/or science depending on the grade level. Across Michigan, students showed improvement in reading, math and writing in 2012, with the improvement seen in all grades and most demographic groups. Utica saw its greatest gains in …

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Get Ready for Chippewa Valley District Idol

The event, featuring students from Dakota, Chippewa Valley and the International Academy, will take place Monday, Feb. 4.

Macomb Man Jailed on Child Porn Charges, Economic Forecast Bright, CVS Budget Back in Black and More

Macomb Township Patch recaps the news from this past week.

Miss the latest local headlines in town? Catch up on them with our one-stop reading recap:

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