On Monday, city council unanimously passed a no-idling policy for its fleet in an effort to preserve the environment and possibly put some money back into the city’s budget.

The policy states that drivers of vehicles owned, rented or leased by the city shall turn off vehicle engines when it is anticipated they will be stopped for more than 60 seconds, except when in traffic.

Exceptions to the rule include extreme weather conditions, when lift equipment is being used or other equipment is necessary to accommodate individuals with disabilities and when emergency situations arise.

“The (Energy and Sustainability) Committee feels it’s the first step in trying to improve the city of Albion’s air quality as well as to help save gallons of gas,” said Councilman Andrew French. “Now cost savings — it’s up in the air with gasoline and diesel fuel prices increasing continuously — we may not see a savings of dollars, but from an environmental point of view, gallons are just as great.”

In 2010, the city used more than 43,600 gallons of gas in its vehicles, totaling more than $101,000. That is nearly double the cost from 2000 when the city used more than 52,000 gallons of fuel at the cost of roughly $55,000.

French said council will assess the number of gallons of fuel the city uses during the next six months to determine tangible energy reductions.

Chief of Public Safety Eric Miller and Director of Public Services Kevin Markovich helped draft the policy, but enforcement of it will be a personal responsibility of city employees.

“It’s pretty much self policing, you’ve got to be the person to realize you’re just sitting there idling,” Mayor Joe Domingo said. “It’s not like somebody’s going to be there writing you a ticket for idling your vehicle.”
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As published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on June 21, 2011

JCC President Dan Phelan said this week that school officials will cut the flight program’s budget by reducing staff.

The flight school spent $35,000 more on operations than it took in for the 2010-11 school year, according to Thomas Vainner, vice president of administrative operations at JCC.

“We’ll evaluate based on the number of students that are enrolled and ultimately the number of hours they are flying,” Phelan said.

The flight school has 30 to 40 students, down from 138 in 2003-04 and 92 in 2007-08.

Phelan said he believes there’s “an efficiency that can be realized” by cutting maintenance expenses. As enrollment has declined, there are fewer flight hours on the school-owned aircraft.

Mike Bartholomew, a full-time aviation mechanic at the school, said he has always been proud of the college’s commitment to aviation excellence, but senses JCC’s devotion is waning.

“This commitment must be wearing thin when flight center positions are (possibly) being eliminated,” he said. “One can only hope this current board and administration will not be remembered for the inevitable closure of this important historic program.”

Jeff Fisher, the flight school’s director of aviation technology, said contracting someone part-time to perform maintenance on the school’s five aircraft would compromise the safety of airplanes and students because often Bartholomew spends “eight hours in one day doing maintenance.”

“A lot of these airports (students fly into) don’t have mechanics at them, so we’re compromising safety. We are compromising for our students,” he said.

Phelan vowed that “quality and maintenance will not be compromised” as the college makes cuts in the next several months.

It’s not the first-time the flight school’s future has been cloudy. In 2005, a $200,000 gift from the Weatherwax Foundation ensured the school would stay afloat.

Without the flight school, the airport could encounter troubles of its own. The airport’s tower receives money based on the number of flights.

“It helps keep the number of landings and takeoffs at optimal levels because that all relates to funding for our air traffic control tower and indirectly for the priority we get for bigger projects,” said Airport Manager Kent Maurer, who noted he does not get involved with JCC’s administrative decisions.

In 2010 more than $500,000 in county funds were spent on airport operations. Maurer said that number would have to increase if federal funding declined.

Maurer said the airport would “be much less safe” if it were to ever lose its air traffic control tower, because of low visibility on the runways due to building obstructions and terrain.

He said another less-direct impact is that business people might then land at other airports due to safety concerns, further decreasing the airport’s traffic.

Phelan said he has had preliminary conversations with Lansing Community College about developing a relationship with students from its aviation flight program, which ended in May. He also said he is looking for grant money to keep JCC’s flight school viable.
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As published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on June 16, 2011

Thanks to a gift of $12,500 from the Albion Health Care Alliance and $5,000 the board agreed to put forth from its general fund, the district might be able to support a full-time nurse next year.

The district is facing the closure of the Wildcat Wellness Center at the high school Oct. 1 due to the denial of state grant money from the Michigan Department of Community Health.

The board considered hiring a part-time nurse for $12,500 through a new school nursing program run by the Calhoun County Health Department when Joyce Spicer, executive director of the Alliance, shook things up Monday night.

“Education is important, but the kids can’t learn if they’re not healthy,” Spicer said.

Spicer offered the board $12,500 from the alliance in the hopes that the district would supplement the rest of its share of $25,000 for a full-time nurse.

Through the program, the district would pay 40 percent of the $62,500 that will be needed for salary and supply costs, while the other 60 percent would be funded from grants from Calhoun County Health Department partners such as the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Board president Dan Skean said he would make appeals to the community and local nonprofits to help subsidize the remaining $7,500 needed for a full-time nurse.

Albion Health Care Alliance President Linda Armstrong said that process had already begun at Monday’s meeting, when “someone in the audience came forward with a sizable contribution.”

Rutherford said the nurse would be “extremely mobile and portable compared to what you might have had in the past” and the district can decide where the nurse should be placed.

The nurse will provide basic and emergency care services, administer medication when necessary and will be available to speak in classrooms about issues such as pregnancy, diabetes, obesity and bullying.
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As published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on June 16, 2011

On Monday, school board President Dan Skean announced Paula Steele and Daniel Heckman had removed themselves as candidates for the one-year position for personal reasons.

Skean said Heckman, a retired superintendent from Plainwell Community Schools, emailed him Sunday to inform him he would not be interviewing Thursday.

Steele, the principal at East Lansing High School, emailed and called Skean on Monday afternoon — the same day she was scheduled to interview.

“I understand that in these tight economic times people are keeping their options open and there is flexibility at both ends,” Skean said. “I would have appreciated a longer notice.”

The three remaining finalists include: Richard Ames, a retired superintendent of Hillsdale Community Schools and Springport Public Schools; Maurice Ware, the executive director of Educational Support Services for Battle Creek Public Schools; and Bobbi Morehead, most recently the principal at W.K. Kellogg Middle School in Battle Creek.

On Tuesday, the board decided to move the special meeting to select its superintendent from next Monday to July 1.

The rationale was to allow newly elected school board members Shawnette Spicer and Sonya Brown to be sworn in and vote on the hire.

“I feel like I want everyone on the board to say, ‘We made this decision together’ … and to not be able to opt out of this process,” said board member Don Phillips.

That meeting will take place at noon in the boardroom at Crowell School.
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As published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on June 15, 2011

But it was one of the few high notes the Spartans hit in the Division 3 regional final as veteran-laden Bath dismantled Springport 5-1.

Bath had seven seniors on its roster, while Springport started six underclassmen.

“Seniors matter,” Springport coach Jo Dee Johnston said after the Spartans closed a school record-setting 34-6 season. “It’s do or die with them, because you don’t get to come back and play again.”

Springport scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to beat Grandville Calvin Christian 2-1 in the semifinals.

Bath (31-6) knocked in two runs in the first inning, and Springport was forced to play catch-up the rest of the contest.

Bath added two more runs in the third inning and one in the fifth — more than enough for Bath senior Taylor Toune, who pitched a three-hitter and drove in three runs.

Johnston said she wasn’t concerned about Bath taking an early lead because she figured her team’s offense would spring to life.

“To be honest, I wasn’t worried about the two, I wasn’t worried about the five, because we can come back anytime,” she said. “However, we didn’t really show up to hit.”

Toune retired 10 straight batters to start the game, and singles by Hannah Baum and Becca Watson were the only hits until Heisler’s home run.

Johnston gave freshman Sam Bates credit for fighting hard on the mound and said she didn’t tell her ace anything other than, “It’s just a game, come out and do your thing,” prior to handing her the ball.

Bates struck out six and had two 1-2-3 innings. Bath had nine hits.

Johnston said the loss ultimately was an opportunity to grow and reflect on a superb season.

“We broke so many records and came home with so many trophies — and with a young team. Basically all of them are going to be back,” she said. “We’re going to be better. We’re going to be back with vengeance.”
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As published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on June 12, 2011

In the 41st running of one of the state’s longest standing races, Chris Kelly of Twinsburg, Ohio took charge of the men’s 5k at around the two-mile marker and never relinquished his lead to win with a time of 16 minutes, 51 seconds — 10 seconds better than last year’s top time.

“Two guys were pushing me really good compared to last year where I was by myself the last mile,” he said.

Hanover-Horton sophomore Bryce Stroede was the runner-up, seven seconds behind Kelly.

The race held a special significance for the 20-year-old Kelly because his grandparents, who live in the Jackson area, were there to cheer him on.

While Kelly had to outlast some stiff competition to defend his title, Taylor Heath simply had to stay on course to win his second consecutive 5-mile hybrid run title.

The Hanover-Horton graduate who recently completed his first year of college at Lake Superior State University blew the competition and last year’s winning time out of the water.

He completed the off-road/road course mixed competition in a time of 29 minutes, 8 seconds — 3 minutes, 21 seconds better than in 2010.

“Well the difference between this year and last year was I didn’t get lost,” he said with a grin. “Other than that, one year of college certainly helps.”

Lindsey Burdette, of Hanover-Horton, also garnered her second consecutive 5-mile hybrid run title, with a time of 38 minutes, 12 seconds.

“I liked the weather this year because I think it’s better when it’s a little rainy stuff and today it was kind of misty,” she said.

Janet Scott, Horton, was also a repeat winner, triumphing in the 5k walk with a time of 35 minutes, 37 seconds.

New to victory lane at the Rose Run was Julie Bloomfield of Jackson in the women’s 5k run (21 minutes, 47 seconds) and Ray Drysdale of Albion in the men’s 5k walk (34 minutes, 32 seconds).

One runner who was more distracted by what came after the run than her finishing time was 25-year-old Jenny Phelan — who was to become Jenny Murphy roughly eight hours after completing the race.
Phelan was scheduled to marry Matt Murphy at First Congregational Church in Jackson at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Hanover-Horton graduate had bridesmaid Becca Rudy by her side for the 5k run, snapping photos and providing her with some verbal motivation.

“My time certainly wasn’t one of my fastest, but I grew up racing and it was kind of sentimental to run one last time with my last name,” Phelan said.

Proceeds from the run benefited the JCC cross country program.
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As published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on June 12, 2011

Concord Community Schools is not only proud to have survived its first 175 years, the people in it are excited to be part of one of the county’s oldest districts.

Capped off with a grandiose display of fireworks Friday night, the 175th anniversary celebration at the high school and middle school included local artists, musicians, business, classic cars, games and a barbecue dinner.

Cheryl Price, the district’s curriculum coordinator and the head of the Concord Marketing Committee, said the event was the final leg of a yearlong celebration that included a parade and tailgate party during the fall and a free Christmas concert and “dessert spectacular” in December.

“We’re lunatics basically,” she said with grin. “We actually think big and we are extremely excited about Concord and we want to market Concord, so we decided to market Concord to us and get us re-ignited in our excitement for what we do out here and the kind of people we have.”

Details on the location of Concord’s first one-room schoolhouse are sketchy. According to “Reflections In the Pond,” a 1976 book published by the Concord Heritage Association, the school was in a “lean-to” that was built onto a log cabin that was either on N. Albion Road just outside the village or between S. Main and Union streets at Monroe Street.

The current school facility on Main Street was completed in 1953, according to Citizen Patriot archives, a decade after the old Maple Street school building was destroyed by fire.

When Carol and Linda Franssen moved from Nebraska to Concord in 1977, the schools were the primary factor.

“There was no graffiti on the walls, no wild, crazy dressing and there didn’t seem to be any other clandestine activities going on…a good place to raise kids,” he said.

Five of Franssen’s children graduated from Concord High School and he said, “they speak for the community more than we do.”

His children include two dentists, a dental hygienist, a high school teacher and a Marine who works at the Pentagon.

“They didn’t get that way by just stumbling around,” he said. “It comes back to their grass roots and their education and we feel very confident that because of the athletic program and scholastic program we have very well adjusted kids who speak well for the community.”
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As published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on June 11, 2011

The city of Albion is putting to use almost $350,000 earmarked for housing rehabilitation projects that has been sitting in a city bank account since 2000.

A contract agreement finalized Monday between the city and the Community Action Agency of South Central Michigan will allow Albion residents who meet income restrictions to apply for up to a $35,000 interest-free, deferred loan to renovate and bring their homes up to current building code.

The money is left from a Community Development Block Grant awarded more than a decade ago. City Manager Mike Herman said the city has not been able to use the money because a planning department no longer exists to administer the necessary legwork for rehabilitation projects.

The city will pay CAA 18 percent of the sum of the loans it helps distribute within the Albion community.

“It’s a fantastic partnership, and our ability to better the housing stock in Albion is huge,” said Amy Rose Wallace-Robinson, senior manager of housing rehabilitation at CAA.

Herman said the initial money being put into the program would focus on helping eight to 12 homeowners in a 121-house radius in the northwest region of the city.

“In order to cluster the spending and have the most impact in a neighborhood … we are planning on canvassing that neighborhood with Community Action Agency fliers saying we are now going to be working in the area with those who need major home repairs,” Wallace-Robinson said.

Applicants can make no more than 80 percent of the current median area income annually — $42,100 for a family of four — but Wallace-Robinson said CAA will “likely be helping people below 60 percent of the current median income.”

Herman said the program has the potential to open up a plethora of new funding avenues for the city.

“Community Action Agency has access to the countywide program so they can do areas outside of here, plus they have access to other programs, like home weatherization and some other things,” he said.
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As published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on June 9, 2011

That’s just the kind of educated, informed student he’s come to expect of Austen because of her enrollment at Sharp Park Academy.

Austen O’Reilly was one of four fifth-grade students giving a presentation on childhood obesity Tuesday night as part of the first Fifth Grade Exhibition at the International Baccalaureate school.

“The definition of (binge eating) is saying you’re not going to eat cookies and then you eat more cookies after that,” said O’Reilly’s classmate Jada Wilson.

The group shared a survey of third- to fifth-grade students at the school that showed 39 percent didn’t know what obesity was, 52 percent did not think schools should cut flavored milks from their menus and 31 percent drink pop every day.

The presentation concluded with the audience pledging to eat healthier and eat less and the students beat boxing and dancing to a song about fitness.

“They get the idea of finding their own answers instead of spoon-feeding them answers,” Mike O’Reilly said with a proud smile. “They actually have to do research on their own and help obtain the answers needed to do their research, and they come up with some of their own conclusions.”

Julie Garrison, the school’s International Baccalaureate coordinator, said this type of exhibition is a requirement for the exiting grade of any IB-certified school.

“This is where they take a hot topic that is global that they have been learning about through the years and they do an independent study, they do research, they do interviews, they write a persuasive essay and they present to classmates,” she said.

The other presentations Tuesday included research findings about the importance of vaccinations, steroids in sports, bullying and oil spills.

Fifth-grader Marcus Higgins said unearthing new facts about a relevant topic affected him.

“Did you know that dolphins, fish, birds, turtles, crabs, sharks and even jellyfish are affected because of the big, nasty, stupid BP Oil spill?” he asked. “The British Petroleum Company should pay.”
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As published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on June 8, 2011 

The high school and 23 other Michigan schools that are considered to be the state’s lowest-achieving schools were granted the money based on detailed redesign plans they submitted to the state earlier this year.

The grant will be dispersed in annual installments of roughly $890,000 for three years.

“It’s given us a big boost — and when I say us I’m talking about the school, the teachers, the students, the parents and also the Albion community as a whole,” said Albion High School Principal Derrick Crum.

Crum said the grant will help the high school increase its allotted time for learning each day, a requirement of the transformation model redesign plan.

“We will have a seven-period day (instead of six), and right now it’s still in the works because it’s a negotiating thing in terms of the time,” he said. “What we’re looking to do is maybe start 30 minutes earlier and keep the kids 30 minutes longer.”

The grant cannot be used to call back any teachers who are laid off for the 2011-12 school year, but it will support several new positions within the district.

The redesign plan states the high school will hire two outreach workers to “support the students, parents and school in ensuring academic success for the students.” The district has one outreach worker.

The funding will also provide assistance for the district’s new Coordinator of Differentiated Instruction, a nongrant-funded position. Crum said the district was interviewing candidates Tuesday for a position that will help develop more targeted curriculum, assessments and instructional methods for classrooms.

“Within the grant there is support for that person to bring people like college students in to be in the classroom and be able to help them differentiate instruction by working with small groups of kids,” he said.

Crum said he would go into more detail about new programs and class offerings the grant is supporting at a public meeting from 6-7 p.m. Thursday in the high school cafeteria.

School board President Dan Skean said the funding is a “testimony to the hard work of our administration and staff and to the strong support we have received from the CISD.”
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As published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on June 7, 2011