Watershed Voice sent out questionnaires to local candidates running for Three Rivers City Commission, St. Joseph County Commission, Three Rivers Board of Education, and Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees. In the days leading up to the election on Tuesday, November 8, Watershed will publish the questionnaires in the order they are received. Linda Baker, who is running for Three Rivers School Board, filled out WSV’s questionnaire. Here are her answers.
Linda Baker
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.
At a work session Monday evening, members of the Three Rivers Board of Education (BOE) and Three Rivers Community Schools (TRCS) administrators weighed options for returning to school following the New Year. After some discussion, the BOE tabled any final decisions on the matter pending a review and clarification of further options by administrators. Further discussion will take place at a special meeting next Monday, December 14, scheduled at 6 p.m. for the purpose of reviewing an annual TRCS budget audit.
During a special meeting Thursday, the Board of Education (BOE) said it found Three Rivers Community Schools (TRCS) Superintendent Ron Moag to be “effective.” The statement came at the end of a closed session that lasted well beyond two hours. Thursday’s meeting concluded a two-meeting process wherein BOE members conducted Moag’s annual performance evaluation, facilitated by Rod Green of the Michigan Association of School Boards. During closing comments, BOE members also discussed the status and future of online instruction in the district.
During a regular meeting of the Three Rivers Community Schools (TRCS) Board of Education on Monday, three public commenters provided criticism of the Lincoln Learning virtual instruction platform adopted as part of the TRCS “Return to Learn” pandemic response plan.
A contentious conversation over a statement on racial justice in the midst of recent and current national events continued at a Three Rivers Community Schools (TRCS) work session Monday. Board of Education (BOE) members Dan Ryan, Anne Riopel, and Kevin Hamilton discussed the relative merits of possible wording of the statement, as well as the potential for curriculum changes that might address issues of racism.
Note: This article contains strong language and references to racial slurs.
The Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education reviewed a draft of a racism and social justice statement at a work session Monday, for refinement and adoption at a future meeting.