The Huron Valley Schools Board of Education recently approved a resolution certifying that the district has complied with the “best practices” requirements under Michigan law, in a move that positions the district to receive an addition $100 per-pupil incentive payment from the state, totaling approximately $1 million. “From a budgeting standpoint, we view the incentive payments as a way to off-set a portion of the significant reductions in state aid that we’ve absorbed over the [...]

Walled Lake Consolidated School District Superintendent Ken Gutman is expected to give his redistricting recommendation to the Board of Education tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 2, in light of the impending closure of Maple and Twin Beach elementary schools. With 700 students between those two schools to accommodate among the remaining elementaries in the fall, redistricting was an inevitable part of the school closing process. The school board has been presented three possible plans — which are [...]

The West Bloomfield Township Planning Commission voted unanimously last week to approve a site plan amendment for an expansion of the West Bloomfield Henry Ford Hospital on West Maple Road. The renovation will add 9,600 square feet to the existing facility to allow for the construction of additional operating rooms and prep/recovery areas, with the aim of providing better services for patients. The addition will also allow for interior renovations, as well. The facility doesn’t [...]

West Bloomfield High School will host the Orchard Lake Student Film Festival on Friday, Feb. 3 beginning at 8:30 a.m. and lasting until 1:30 p.m., with an additional screening of films in the high school auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The festival will include film submissions from high school students across metro Detroit in two categories — public service announcements and news reports, and short film entries. There will also be two sets of workshops, with [...]

Waterford Mott High School students will be performing their winter theater production, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” on Thursday, Feb. 16; Friday, Feb. 17; and Saturday, Feb. 18, with all performances starting at 7 p.m. The show, which won two Tony Awards, is a musical comedy that follows a group of children vying for a spelling bee championship and the trials and tribulations that come with growing up. The role of realtor Rona [...]

The Huron Valley Schools Board of Education is in the early stages of repurposing several buildings in the district, given the recent closings of Baker Elementary School and Highland Middle School. “One of the board’s goals is to provide options for what we should do with Baker and Highland Middle School,” said Superintendent Jackie Johnston. “By March 31, administration will bring back to the board some of those options.” Initial discussions commenced at the school [...]

The West Bloomfield School District was forced to cancel school on Monday, Jan. 30 after a number of its school buses were disabled and vandalized the night before. The vandalism occurred between 9:30 and 10:05 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29 at the district’s bus garage lot in Orchard Lake Village. According to Orchard Lake Police Chief Joe George, the suspects jumped a fence at the rear of the facility and worked their way through the [...]

When Maleena Hill was born in November, her parents, Jeff and Natalie, showered her with kisses, teddy bears, and their love. They reveled in the miracle of being blessed with a second child, and life was good. All too soon, their lives were upended. At first, Maleena began spiking a fever and was given to fits of fussiness. After a brief trip to the emergency room, she was given a clean bill of health and [...]

The Walled Lake Consolidated School District has named its 2011-12 teachers of the year. At the elementary school level, Hickory Woods third-grade teacher Janet Proven has been named Elementary School Teacher of the Year. “As I reflect on why I teach, I realize that I am a teacher because I know that what I do in my classroom today will matter in the lives of my students for years to come,” Proven wrote in her [...]

Individuals from the Huron Valley Schools community will be showcasing their talents to see who will be crowned winners of the 4th annual Got Talent? competition, to be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21 at White Lake Middle School. All pre-registered acts will receive priority consideration from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., while walk-ons will be allowed after 11 a.m. The event is a collaboration of Huron Valley Recreation and [...]