Ypsilanti Community Schools to host open houses for all grades
Parents, students and community members wanting to learn more about the new Ypsilanti Community Schools district are encouraged to attend an upcoming open house.
Families can learn about the small learning communities at the middle and high schools; the co-curricular activities, including clubs and athletics, that will be available for children; opportunities for high schoolers to earn college credit or career credentials; and more about the diverse learning environment the new district hopes to provide for its students.
The open houses this week are:
- 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 — Elementary Learning Center (grades 2-4), 1255 Holmes Road
- 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 — Erickson Elementary (2-6), 1427 Levona St.
- 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 22 — New Tech at Ardis (9-12), 2100 Ellsworth Road
- 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23 — Adams STEM Academy (K-6), 503 Oak St.
- 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23 — Estabrook Elementary (2-6), 1555 W. Cross St.
- 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 28 — YCS High School (9-12), 2095 Packard Road
- 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6 — Washtenaw International Middle Academy (5-8), 510 Emerick St.
Attendees of the open houses also will have the opportunity to meet and become acquainted with the principals of these buildings and new programs.
The five principals from Ypsilanti Public Schools and one principal from Willow Run Community Schools that were offered jobs in the new district have been given their building assignments for the 2013-14 academic year. Superintendent Scott Menzel said almost all were the same as their current assignments. Menzel said the one exception was current Ypsilanti Middle School Principal Jason Riggs, who has been moved to the former Willow Run High School/Intermediate Learning Center complex, which will be for grades 5-8 in the new district.
Ypsilanti Middle School is closing next year when the consolidated district opens.
The Washtenaw International Middle Academy is an International Baccalaureate program. It will be housed in the Washtenaw International High School building, also an IB program, for the first year to provide both programs some additional support and resources as the programs continue to grow and develop, officials said.
The new district posted three principal positions and will post two secondary assistant principal positions soon that still need to be filled. Menzel said the building principal positions are for Erickson Elementary, the Primary Learning Center and Ypsilanti High School. Current YHS co-principal Cory McElmeel will run the New Tech at Ardis program.
The other principal assignments are:
- Sharine Buddin, principal at Perry Child Development Center, Ypsilanti.
- Karla Graessley, principal at Estabrook Elementary, Ypsilanti.
- Charles Raski, principal at the Elementary Learning Center, Willow Run.
- Connie Thompson, principal at Adams STEM Academy, Ypsilanti.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
Rob Thompson
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 2:46 p.m.
Why aren't the middle schools hosting an open house? They took a proposal to the board to put 5th and 6th grade students from both districts in the Willow Run Middle School and put 7th and 8th grade students from both districts in Willow Run High School. They board approved it. They sold it to the parents and the community. Now they have changed their minds WITHOUT telling parents and community members. They are now putting all the 5th - 8th graders in the Willow Run Middle School and not using the Willow Run High School building. Well, maybe Ypsilanti parents don't want to send their kids to Willow Run Middle School in the first place should know ahead of time that their 5th grader will now be housed with 8th graders from both districts. So much for transparency. They continue to make back room decisions, tricking employees and parents.
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 23, 2013 : 12:03 a.m.
Rob, I am not aware of this proposal to house 5th and 6th in the middle school and 7th and 8th in the high school, but I will look into it. I'm also not aware of it being brought to the board. But thank you for your comment and for letting us know about this. If you have any additional information, could you please email me: daniellearndt@annarbor.com? Thank you.
Catbus
Tue, May 21, 2013 : 11:51 p.m.
Will Perry not participate in the open house?
Life in Ypsi
Tue, May 21, 2013 : 10:24 p.m.
Has anything been said about which neighborhoods will be assigned to certain elementary schools for new students? Some schools have been shut down so I am wondering will Willow Run neighborhoods continue to go to the old WR schools and for Ypsi neighborhoods their prior schools? Erickson is closer for West Willow and Sugarbrook residents. I see both districts criss crossing each other throughout the same neighborhoods each morning. It would not make sense to continue and do this.