When Brian Swinehart took over as the new athletic director for the Walled Lake Consolidated School District, one of the first things he did in the fall was implement an athletic advisory council comprised of parents, students, coaches, and administrators to give feedback on athletics and the department overall. “It serves as a sounding board on topics we have, such as the Code of Conduct, adding sports, and budget cuts,” said Swinehart, who recently gave [...]

The Walled Lake Consolidated School District Board of Education listened to a facility study update at a Thursday, April 14 board meeting and learned that many district buildings could fall below 70-percent utilization within the next five years. The report included additional information from Plante Moran, the firm conducting the study on the district’s 14 elementary schools and five support buildings. According to Walled Lake Schools Director of Community Relations Judy Evola, the district is [...]

The Huron Valley Schools Heroes of Tomorrow (HOT) Robotics Team earned a state championship last weekend and will be heading to the World Robotics Championship in St. Louis, Mo. beginning Wednesday, April 27. “Our team was the most effective group playing the game designed by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology),” said team mentor and Milford High School Teacher Lori Gleason. “I’ve learned in my experience that one person can’t win it [...]

The Walled Lake Consolidated School District will be hosting a multitude of budget meetings over the next couple of months for members of the community, parents, and staff. The need to hold these meetings comes after Gov. Rick Snyder proposed funding cuts of $470 per pupil to public schools for the 2011-12 academic year. While the district initially expected to have to make reductions of $20 million, the number has now been raised to $24 [...]

A Milford High School junior recently aced the ACT with a perfect score of 36. Deanna Brandell, 16, received news in March that she can count herself among the elite students in the nation. Only a handful of students each year, and less than one-tenth of one percent of all who take the ACT exam, manage to score a perfect 36. Typically students taking the ACT exam score around the 20-21 range. Most colleges require [...]

The West Bloomfield Schools Board of Education on Monday, April 11 approved a new course proposal for Advanced Placement (AP) Studio Art at West Bloomfield High School. The course is expected to be part of the curriculum for the 2011-12 school year. According to the course proposal, students will be required to submit a portfolio for an examination during the fourth marking period in the beginning of May, rather than taking a written exam. The [...]

With its first school year almost under its belt, the Waterford Cyber Academy is getting ready to welcome applications for the 2011-12 school year. The Cyber Academy is offering open enrollment for students in grades 9-12 in the Waterford School District and Schools of Choice students who live in Oakland County and other qualifying school districts. Applications for Schools of Choice students will be accepted from May 1 to May 15, while Aug. 1 is [...]

The West Bloomfield Board of Education at a special meeting on Thursday, March 31 implemented a 10-percent salary cut for the district’s teachers by a 5-2 vote. Last Thursday’s action was the tipping point in what has been a long struggle between the district and the West Bloomfield Education Association (WBEA) to come to an agreement on a new contract. The district’s teachers are currently working without a contract after their previous contract expired on [...]

Huron Valley School administration rolled out a transition plan at the Board of Education meeting on Thursday, March 31 for those students and families impacted by the imminent closure of Highland Middle School. Transition teams will be comprised of parents, staff and students. The goal is to balance enrollment with 743 students at Muir Middle School, 777 at Oak Valley Middle School, and 775 at White Lake Middle School. Academic and social interventions are being [...]

The Walled Lake Consolidated School District is hoping to receive some input from the public in the form of a facility survey. The Walled Lake Consolidated School District is conducting a facility study to “best ensure that we are utilizing our buildings’ space in the most cost-effective, efficient ways and that our facilities balance with our enrollment and curricular needs” according to Director of Community Relations Judy Evola. Preliminary data gathered during a facility study [...]