New testing data shows things could be turning around at KPS. Also: WMU students and staff want the school to take a stand on the war in Gaza. And a local politician is apologizing for a recent outburst.
By Ben Jones ● Archive ● September 27, 2024
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Friday, September 27, 2024
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New testing data shows things could be turning around at KPS. Also: WMU students and staff want the school to take a stand on the war in Gaza. And a local politician is apologizing for a recent outburst.
New statewide testing data shows good news for KPS
It’s been a good year for Kalamazoo Public Schools, according to Superintendent Darrin Slade. He told the board of trustees last night that measures of student success are improving. Students in elementary, middle, and high schools who took the M-STEP showed increased proficiency rates in math, reading, and social studies. Most numbers showed greater improvement than the rest of the state.
Slade attributes the improvements to the district’s use of summer school and Saturday classes in the spring. He also pointed to the district’s concerted efforts to improve student attendance over the past year. At the same time, the district remains below the statewide average in terms of proficiency scores on the M-STEP. Slade said district leaders would take what they’ve learned from these test results and use them to inform the district’s strategic plan going forward. – John McNeill, NowKalamazoo
Gaza debate continues at WMU
Last spring, students set up camp on Western Michigan University’s campus to protest the war in Gaza. They agreed to clear out after university officials promised to discuss their demands. Now students and faculty want to see results. The activists gathered at WMU’s Board of Trustees meeting yesterday to ask the school to make a statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. “Silence in the face of these atrocities puts us on the side of the executioners,” said Associate Professor Don Cooney. Speakers pointed out that the university has previously issued statements taking a stance against the apartheid in South Africa and Asian discrimination during the pandemic.
University administrators have held firm to the position that WMU shouldn’t weigh in on controversial issues. “To declare the winner of debates over complex issues … would chill the very process of debate and exchange of ideas that makes us who we are,” President Edward Montgomery said during a previous meeting. – John McNeill, NowKalamazoo
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Oshtemo trustee apologizes after meeting outburst
Things got heated during the public comments portion of Tuesday’s Oshtemo Township Board of Trustees meeting. Now Trustee Zak Ford is apologizing for his behavior that eventually resulted in him being asked to leave the meeting. The situation began when residents of a small cul-de-sac south of West Main Street complained about a proposed development nearby. The project would result in the cul-de-sac becoming a through road. Ford responded angrily. “Get out of here with this crazy selfishness. You’re embarrassing yourself right now,” he said. Video of the meeting recorded by Public Media Network shows Township Supervisor Cheri Bell and Clerk Dusty Farmer both telling Ford he was out of order. Public comments continued until Ford stood up in anger and Bell ejected him from the meeting.
Ford has since apologized for his outburst. “During election season, things can get a little tense,” he told MLive. “That wasn’t my best five minutes, and I’m going to seek forgiveness and hope we can move forward in a positive way.” Supervisor Bell emphasized that the public comments portions of township meetings are meant to be respectful. “The right of our residents to publicly address their elected officials and provide comments and input on matters of importance to them is one that the Township takes very seriously,” she said. [MLive]
Portage park to close for tornado cleanup
It’s been nearly five months since a tornado tore through Portage, but the city is planning to begin intensive cleanup work at one popular park. The Portage Creek Bicentennial Park Trail between Celery Flats and Romence Road was heavily impacted by the storm. Trees were torn down and some structures were damaged. The city is planning to close the park intermittently while crews work to fix it up.
The park will be closed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, but will open back up in the afternoons and weekends. The efforts will begin on Oct. 1 and are expected to take one to two weeks. The paved trail is popular with runners and bikers. The city is advising them to find an alternate trail during weekdays. [WWMT]
– Newsletter closed and cleaned up by Ben Jones
Things to do in Kalamazoo
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Opening Night! Symphonic Dances | Kalamazoo Symphony – Miller Auditorium
09/29, 7:30 P.M.
Police and Technology Conference – Fetzer Center
9/27, 8:30 AM
Friday Morning Women’s Ride – Texas Drive Park
9/27, 9:30 AM
Baby Storytime – Kalamazoo Public Library, Central
9/27, 9:30 AM
– Kalamazoo County Expo Center
9/27, 10:00 AM
Family Storytime at Central – Kalamazoo Public Library, Central
9/27, 10:30 AM
Senior Citizen Breakfast – Kalamazoo Public Library, Eastwood
9/27, 10:30 AM
Creating Blackout Poetry – Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
9/27, 11:00 AM
Annual Sustainability Celebration – WMU, Board of Trustees Plaza
9/27, 11:00 AM
Vicksburg Farmers’ Market – Vicksburg Historic Village
9/27, 2:00 PM
Literacy in Your Community – Kalamazoo Public Library, Central
9/27, 3:30 PM
Sounds of the Zoo Music Festival Day 5 – Bronson Park
9/27, 5:00 PM
Live Music Friday @ Louie’s Trophy House – Louie’s Trophy House
9/27, 5:00 PM
Live Music Friday @ Louie’s Corner Bar – Louie’s Corner Bar
9/27, 5:00 PM
Wax Wings Board Game Night – Wax Wings Brewing Co.
9/27, 6:00 PM
Anna p.s. – The Distant Whistle Brewhouse
9/27, 6:00 PM
It’s Music Bingo Night – LFG Gaming Bar
9/27, 7:00 PM
The Beer Garden Sessions ft. SXX – Presidential Brewing Co.
9/27, 7:00 PM
– Green Door Distilling Co.
9/27, 7:00 PM
Dust Bunnies Sketch Comedy – Crawlspace Comedy Theatre
9/27, 7:30 PM
Six: The Musical – Teen Edition – Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
9/27, 7:30 PM
Jersey Boys – Farmers Alley Theatre
9/27, 7:30 PM
POTUS (or Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive) – WMU, York Theatre
9/27, 7:30 PM
Friday Night Karaoke – Rugger’s Up and Under
9/27, 8:00 PM
Hopie Jo, Jes Kramer, Shai Li – Dormouse Theatre
9/27, 8:00 PM
– Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
9/27, 8:00 PM
Extreme Karaoke – Shakespeare’s Pub
9/27, 8:30 PM
LIVE at Dabney with Saint Clair – Dabney & Co.
9/27, 8:30 PM
Prior Noon – Wild Bull
9/27, 9:30 PM
Kalamazoo Farmers Market – Kalamazoo Farmers Market
9/28, 7:00 AM
Texas Township Farmers’ Market – Joyce I. Neubauer Farmers’ Market Pavilion
9/28, 8:00 AM
Police and Technology Conference – Fetzer Center
9/28, 8:30 AM
– Spring Valley Park
9/28, 9:00 AM
Fall Craft Show – Kalamazoo County Expo Center
9/28, 9:00 AM
South Street Print Fest: The KIA’s Steamroller Printmaking Event – Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
9/28, 9:00 AM
Rootead in Youth: Spring Session – Rootead
9/28, 10:00 AM
Kalamazoo Bears Women Tackle Football Tryouts – Flesher Field
9/28, 10:00 AM
Drive Electric Kalamazoo – Midtown Fresh Market
9/28, 10:00 AM
– Kindleberger Park
9/28, 10:00 AM
“The Right to Read” Film Screening – Kalamazoo Public Library, Eastwood
9/28, 10:00 AM
– Kalamazoo County Expo Center
9/28, 10:00 AM
Music Morning at the Farm – DeLano Homestead
9/28, 10:30 AM
Youth Led Book Group – Richland Community Library
9/28, 10:30 AM
Free Sound Immersion – Bethany Reformed Church
9/28, 10:30 AM
Creating Blackout Poetry – Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
9/28, 11:00 AM
Salsa CookOff – Kalamazoo Mall
9/28, 11:00 AM
Sounds of the Zoo Music Festival Day 6 – Downtown Kalamazoo
9/28, 12:00 PM
Sounds of the Zoo Music Festival: Downtown Busking – Downtown Kalamazoo
9/28, 12:00 PM
Fall Fest – Merrill Park
9/28, 12:00 PM
Mick Foley Autograph Event – Fanfare
9/28, 12:00 PM
Octoberfest @ the Distant Whistle Brewhouse – The Distant Whistle Brewhouse
9/28, 12:00 PM
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