News

Federal lawsuit looks for ‘adjunctive relief,’ transgender school policies still important debate in Williamston

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After months of deliberation and a slew of meetings trademarked with passionate arguments, the Williamston Community Schools Board of Education passed a pair of policies in November 2017 in relation to transgender youth and their definition, among other guidelines. And despite passing months ago, the debate surrounding the policies have yet to go away. Currently, there’s a pending federal lawsuit that names six of seven Williamston Board of Education members as defendants: Greg Talberg, Christopher Lewis, Sarah Belanger, Nancy Deal, Kathy Hayes and Joel Gerring. The seventh member of the board at the time, Jeffrey West, was the lone vote against the policies, which the school board passed 6-1. He is not named in the lawsuit.

politics

Williamston High School students experience cultures outside their community

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Across the country politicians are born everyday and what could better strengthen them for their future, than a model club? The Model United Nations Club is a part of many high schools in the U.S. There are conferences in different states each year that prepare students for the real world of politics, The United Nations. Williamston High School, along with its middle school, has a Model United Nations Club of its own and they’re looking forward to helping students reach their goals through the organization. Senior student and secretary general of Williamston’s Model U.N, Lia Bommarito, said their club of 40 members meet every Wednesday and they’re almost always preparing for conferences. The club travels across the U.S. to about five conferences each year and the biggest event is where they get together with other high schools to debate policy, representing different nations.

News

The Williamston 2017 Homecoming Parade advances community involvement

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WILLIAMSTON- From student groups and athletes, to community members and ministries, this year’s Williamston Homecoming parade had something for everyone.The parade took place Oct. 6 before Williamston High School competed against the Fowlerville Gladiators at their home field. The parade route began at St. Mary’s Church on North Cedar Street at 6 p.m. and finished at the gates of the Larkin-Nortman Memorial Field right before the game began. The parade featured many important teams and organizations within the community.

Community News

Water test finds some lead in Williamston schools

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By Kelsey Clements
The Williamston Post

Officials have replaced boiler room valves in two Williamston schools where lead was found over acceptable limits and will address other fixtures where lead was present by June. The valves at Williamston High School and Explorer Elementary did not carry drinking water, according to Superintendent Narda Murphy. But water tested by Testing Engineers & Consultants on Feb. 13 contained lead levels above the threshold of 0.015 mg/L. Small amounts of lead were also found in a teacher’s lounge faucet in Williamston High School, a restroom drinking fountain in Explorer Elementary, a kitchen sink and 7th grade hall drinking fountain in Williamston’s Middle School, and a maintenance garage bathroom sink.

Education

Rolling Video Games coming to Williamston High School

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By Tiago Zielske
The Williamston Post

A new attraction could roll in for Williamston High School’s home football playoff. Board Member Charles Hasemann presented the school board with the fundraising idea Oct. 20. Rolling Video Games is a game truck trailer with four widescreen high-definition TVs that cover the walls of the trailer, with built-in vibration motors synched to the on-screen action and speakers in the front and back. Hasemann said, “At events where there are lots of families with lots of kids who aren’t participating in the event…it gets all the siblings engaged in something worthwhile to the kids.” He also said that used to create YouTube troll videos, buy views for them, and blackmail players with them.

Education

Williamston High School in acceptance stage after fatal accident

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By Eric Walters
Williamston Post staff writer

In October 2011, Williamston High School freshman Gabe Corbett died after a locker room wall he was climbing on collapsed, falling on top of him. “We remember him every day and he’ll never be forgotten. But, people have begun to realize that we need to move on, we can’t be crying every day, we have to focus on other things,” said Williamston High School principal Dr. Jeffrey Thoenes. Thoenes said the aftermath of Corbett’s death went better than expected, a fact that he credits to his students. “Our kids are remarkable.

Education

Sports suffer minimal losses at Williamston High School

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By Justine McGuire
Williamston Post staff writer

WILLIAMSTON – Loss of funds has not stopped Williamston High School from providing sports programs for its students. The high school has avoided cutting sports teams and coaching positions but has had to trade two part-time athletic directors for one part-time athletic director and assistant principal, Mike Freeman, who took on the extra role without additional pay. The school has also had to cut back on uniforms, supplies and materials. Finance Director Steve Cook said the district has lost $270 per student, or about $500,000. The district’s total budget is just shy of $16 million.

Education

InvenTeam receives grant for rip-current alert system

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By Eric Walters
Williamston Times staff writer

In fall 2011, the Williamston High School InvenTeam was awarded a $10,000 grant by Lemelson-MIT for the rip-current detection system idea it developed. Williamston is the only team from the Midwest to receive a grant. The InvenTeam program was begun by Lemelson-MIT, with the first grant being awarded in 2002. Teams consist of high school students, teachers and mentors, who work together to create inventions that solve real-world problems. The teams submit ideas for review and a select few are awarded grants to further the idea and actually build the invention. Dan Schab, a teacher at the WHS Math and Science Academy, is a mentor for the team.