No action was taken at the Three Rivers Community Schools (TRCS) Board of Education (BOE) meeting Monday evening in regards to adopting a policy for flags and other displays in Three Rivers classrooms. The BOE chose to table all actions concerning the policy in favor of scheduling a future closed session to discuss recent, “critical” attorney-client information.
Ben Karle
The Three Rivers Public Library (TRPL) and the George Washington Carver Community Center (GWCCC) recently co-hosted a discussion about diversity as a part of a series of conversations through a grant funded by the American Library Association.
In a reflection of statewide pressure to reopen winter athletic programs and other school activities, the Three Rivers Board of Education (BOE) adopted a resolution in support of lifting statewide restrictions that are currently in place. The resolution asks Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to approve restarting school winter athletic programs. BOE President Erin Nowak clarified that the resolution would not actually reopen Three Rivers Community Schools (TRCS) sports programs and other extracurricular activities, but instead would ask the state to lift restrictions.
Dates for reopening Three Rivers Community Schools buildings to students have changed following a Board of Education meeting Monday. Pre-K through fifth grade students will now begin attending school in person next Tuesday, January 19. Middle and high school students will return to hybrid learning as previously planned on Monday, January 25. However, they will now return to full face-to-face instruction two weeks later, on February 8. Also at Monday’s meeting, new school board members were welcomed, new officers were chosen, and Superintendent Ron Moag provided an update on current capital improvements.
Whether real or perceived, conflicts of interest can sometimes be a concern for voters in an election. Watershed Voice reached out to three candidates for open positions on the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education in order to get their input on the potential for such conflicts.
Watershed Voice sent out questionnaires to over 30 candidates running for elected school board positions in St. Joseph County and the surrounding area. Leading up to the General Election on November 3, Watershed will publish the questionnaires as it receives them back from the candidates. Ben Karle, a candidate for the Three Rivers Community Schools’ Board of Education, filled out our questionnaire. These are his answers.
Ben and Nicole Karle recently began distributing free “Hate Has No Home Here” yard signs at the Huss Farmers Market and other venues in the area in the name of “empathy and love and acceptance.”