Arts & Entertainment
Big Randy, the sturgeon in Katie Bryant’s seventh-grade class, is pictured in its tank at LakeVille Middle School. Her class is one of several Michigan science classrooms that incorporate sturgeon into their curriculum, using it to teach children about conservation and natural resources.

Kids raise prehistoric fish as a science lesson

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KIDS & STURGEON: Students at a Genesee County middle school are raising an endangered young sturgeon in their classroom to learn about conservation and environmental stewardship. It will be released into the wild in the Cass River near Frankenmuth, part of a program designed by Sturgeon for Tomorrow, a group involved with the DNR in the annual sturgeon finishing event at Black Lake near Cheboygan. Other schools participating are in Alcona, Cheboygan, Holt, Indian River, Onaway, Zeeland and Frankenmuth. By Jack Armstrong. FOR PLANET DETROIT, DETROIT, CHEBOYGAN, PETOSKEY, HOLLAND, LANSING CITY PULSE, ALCONA, ALPENA AND ALL POINTS.

Education

Former Lansing School District employee speaks out on racism accusations

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Keys. Laptop. Badge. These were the three items Claude Hogan was unsuspectingly ordered to hand over the day he was placed on administrative leave. 

This came as a shock to Hogan, who was the supervisor for a student athletic development program and has worked at the Lansing School District, or LSD, since 2015. All he was told was that he had breached a policy.

Education

Equine Learning Center promotes inclusive equine-assisted services for Lansing

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ECL, originally the Beekman Therapeutic Riding Center, was founded by John Breaugh in 1979. Breaugh was the former principal of Beekman Center, the special education center next door to ECL. A welcome gate separates the indoor arena from the horse stables at the Equine Center for Learning on Nov. 27. The horses are led from their outside stables to the indoor arena for riding lessons during the weekday afternoons and evenings.

Greater Lansing Community News

High Schooler Lahari Raja Fights Food Insecurity in the Greater Lansing Area

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At age fifteen, Okemos High School Sophomore Lahari Raja has taken part in food drives in each of her hometowns. Her most recent is the annual Crunch the Hunger Food Drive, which is entering its second year. Her experience stems from her participation in her middle school’s food drive in Troy, Michigan, leaving her with the knowledge to implement one after moving to the Greater Lansing area. “I got to see what a difference one can of food makes. It left a huge mark on me and I think that’s what really got the gears moving,” Raja said.

Education

Districts seeing shortages in substitute teachers

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SUB SHORTAGE: Many school districts are experiencing a shortage of substitute teachers this fall, with office staff, principals and even superintendents, including the one in Alpena, filling classroom gaps. We hear from the Michigan Education Association and the Pinckney Community Schools superintendent. By Brandy Muz. FOR ALPENA, DETROIT, FOWLERVILLE AND ALL POINTS.

Arts & Entertainment

Great Lakes authors bare their motives

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GREAT LAKES AUTHORS: Books usually speak to readers through words and, sometimes, illustrations. But we can learn what motivated their authors by speaking directly to them,. Seven authors who wrote about Great Lakes environmental issues discuss the motivations and goals underlying their books. For news and feature sections. Edited by Eric Freedman. FOR ALL POINTS.

Education

Lansing School District Still Struggling with Transportation Issues Amidst Driver Shortage

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The Lansing Public School District has been working through transportation issues due to bus driver shortages and although improving, there is still much work to do. “If anyone wants to be a bus driver, please let us know,” Superintendent Benjamin Shuldiner said at a recent school board meeting. At the beginning of each board meeting, Shuldiner lists the amount of gas cards, Capital Area Transportation Authority passes and Dean Transportation sign ups as well as the number of people on the waitlist. This October meeting was no different. As of Oct.

Business & Economy
Mid Michigan College President Tim Hood

Community colleges push to make adult education access easier 

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Mid Michigan Community CollegeMid Michigan College President Tim Hood

By BRANDY MUZCapital News Service 

LANSING – Community colleges in Michigan are making moves to improve educational opportunities for their adult students. Brandy Johnson, the president of the Michigan Community College Association, said the Michigan Reconnect program has helped students above 25 years old get through school. 

Michigan Reconnect gives free or discounted tuition to adult learners to earn an associate degree or certificate. 

Johnson said it is easy to apply for the program. 

“Doing the application on your phone, it asks certain questions, which are the eligibility questions, and you hit submit and immediately what comes up is, ‘Congratulations, you’ve been admitted to Reconnect,’” she said. The eligibility requirements are minimal, Johnson said. 

“Be 25, have a high school diploma, live in Michigan for at least a year, want to pursue a certificate or degree, and that’s basically it,” she said. 

Tim Hood, the president of Mid Michigan College in Harrison, said that Michigan Reconnect has helped adult learners go back to school. “Without this funding opportunity and without the program, in many cases it made the difference between whether they were able to either return to college or come to college for the first time,” he said. Hood said that there is a focus on assisting students individually to keep them in school.