Plymouth-Canton Community Schools students rehearse for the musical
“Mamma Mia,” which opens tomorrow night in the
newly-renovated auditorium at Salem High School. 

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools student actors and crew members will present the hit musical “Mamma Mia” beginning this weekend.

The Friday and Saturday performances of the Abba-based music are set for 7 p.m. on April 7-8 and April 14-15 at the recently renovated Gloria Logan Auditorium for Performing Arts at Salem High School, 46181 Joy Road in Canton. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, and can be purchased online at pptc.booktix.com.

“Our students are involved in every aspect of the production of 'Mamma Mia' and they are so excited to entertain our community,” said Paul Bird, auditorium manager and technical director at Salem High School. “Putting together this wonderful musical, our students showed creativity, talent, teamwork and perseverance to make sure their performance of 'Mamma Mia' is as entertaining and professional as can be.”

Racist video prompts swift school district action

Social media posts by at least one Plymouth-Canton district student include a racially biased video apparently created by the teen. The video shows a white student threatening to shoot and lynch black classmates and was posted to various social media sites in early March.

While the racist video was created and posted outside of school, the negative impact was felt by other students, staff members and families, explained Superintendent of Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Monica Merritt in a letter to families. Merritt said the racial and threatening content of the video disrupts learning in the schools and, “We do not condone or tolerate reprehensible acts of this nature.”

Memorial Day events return to local communities

Next Monday will be the national celebration of Memorial Day, a day of remembrance and honor for those who have died in service of our country.

While many celebrate the day, few are aware of the significance and history of the event which began as Decoration Day in the 1860s to honor soldiers who died in the Civil War. That war, which ended in the spring of 1865, claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the first national cemeteries in the country.

Memorial Day was originally celebrated on May 30 but in 1968, Congress approved the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, establishing the holiday would always fall on the last Monday in May. 

School trustee resigns post

Leonardo Savage has resigned his position with the Plymouth-Canton Schools Board of Education due to "continuing health challenges."

The resignation was announced by board president Patti McCoin during the March 9 meeting of the board members. 

"We thank him for his service to the school community and send our best wishes to Mr. Savage and his family," she said.

Safety concerns delay back-to-school plans

The new guidelines for the return to face-to-face learning in classrooms issued by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) last week won't move the anticipated return date in Plymouth-Canton schools.

Administrators said last week that more planning time is necessary to ensure the safety of students and teachers. Superintendent of Schools Monica Merritt told parents and members of the board of education during a meeting last week that stringent social-distancing protocols along with other safety measures will be implemented when students return to classrooms.

The necessary planning for those safety measures and procedures will take more time than originally scheduled and slow the Safe Start learning timeline the district had initially proposed. 

Union leader questions district student return plan

While teachers in the Plymouth-Canton Schools are eager to return to their classrooms for in-person learning, they are concerned about their safety and the safety of students in light of the current coronavirus pandemic.

Plymouth-Canton Education Association President Heather Fitchpatrick sent a statement to members of the board of education earlier this month, noting that the 1,100 members of the teachers' union feared that the district might be rushing to a full return “without specific details that keep our teachers and students safe.”

Fitchpatrick's statement was read to the board members and audience during the virtual meeting by board member Lauren Christenson. Currently, the district plans to return to full-time, in-person learning by March 1.

School district adopts new transgender policy

Members of the Plymouth Canton Community Schools district approved a new transgender policy regarding student restrooms and locker rooms during their regular meeting earlier this month.

The issue was not without controversy as some parents commented that the decision was a means of preparing all students for the diverse professional work-place environment while others labeled the decision as the path of destruction and darkness and vilified it as “evil.”

While some written comments were negative, the overwhelming majority of those who commented were in support of the new policy which had been under consideration by district administration for about a year.

School board candidates cite need for communication

 Julie Brown, Special Writer

The issue of social media, as well as official communication channels, “has gotten some school districts in issues,” noted Susan Rowe of the League of Women Voters of Northwest Wayne County. 

She moderated a recent candidate forum for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Board of Education, which can be viewed on YouTube and at the LWVnorthwestwayne.org website.

Three candidates are to be voted on for the six-year terms: Rob Baty, Lauren Christensen, Patrick Kehoe, John T. Lazarowicz (a current board trustee), Michael B. Lloyd, Jeannie Moody-Novak, Sheryl Picard, Gina Thibault, Christopher Vos, and Shawn H. Wilson.  Sebastien Osterag and Anupam Chugh Sidhu, the current board vice president, are vying for a partial Plymouth-Canton term ending Dec. 31, 2022.

Local restaurant awards 2 culinary arts scholarships

Yelim Park

Sydney Smith

Two aspiring young chefs were recently helped along with their career goals by awards from the Karl's Culinary Scholarship.

This year, Sydney Smith and Yelim Park were each awarded the scholarships.

Smith is a second year student at Schoolcraft College and a second year recipient of the award. She is a 2019 graduate of the Plymouth Canton Education Park. Smith said she loves hospitality, loves food service and hope to someday become a food director at a resort.

Park graduated in 2020 from Plymouth Canton Educational Park and is in her first year at Schoolcraft College. She is currently employed at Rocky's of Northville and her career goal is to be an executive chef at her own restaurant.

Former district band director named to new school post

While students at Workman Elementary School in Canton returned to classes in a virtual world last week, they will have plenty of support in their studies.
Marc Whitlock, a 17-year veteran of the Plymouth Canton Community Schools district has been named the new Student Support Coordinator at Workman. Whitlock, who has been an educator for 28 years, was most recently a teacher at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park and Discovery Middle School while also leading the world-renown Plymouth-Canton Marching Band.

District students set to begin virtual school year

Students in the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools will begin school this year from home.

In an extended meeting recently, members of the board of education approved a plan to begin the school year virtually, for all students. Board members and administrators noted that the decision was based, in part, from information received in a survey of district families and input from the union which represents district teachers. The district had been planning on a blended system of in-person and virtual classes, but that decision was changed during the discussion of the safety protocols and dangers of COVID-19.

Renovations at elementary school buildings set to begin

Eriksson, Field, Hulsing and Dodson elementary schools in the Plymouth Canton Community Schools district will be among the first to receive upgrades and renovations funded by the $275 million bond issue voters approved earlier this year.
Members of the district board of education learned of the priorities of the planned projects during their regular meeting. These buildings were selected, according to Bill McCarthy of McCarthy & Smith, Inc., due to the need for additional class space and the development of secure entrances at Field, Eriksson and Hulsing.  McCarthy said the similarity of the buildings would allow architects greater ease in preparing plans, rather than having to design entries specific to unique plans in separate buildings.

Back to school?

School districts, families, educators 
facing difficult decisions this year

Back to school preparations this year have been put on hold for K-12 schools in Michigan since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit in March. As COVID-19 cases in the state increased at a rapid pace again in July and into August, members of local boards of education and district administrators are deciding how -- and if -- they will resume in-person classes in the fall. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials issued new coronavirus guidelines for schools on July 23, but as administrators agree, the situation remains fluid and changing every day.
The process for reopening schools amid the pandemic has been widely debated, and currently, the responsibility is with individual school districts to determine what the upcoming school year will look like.

Local students are each awarded $2,500 National Merit scholarships

National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has named the students who have been awarded $2500 scholarship winners. The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were
chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program.
National Merit $2500 Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state percentage of the national graduating high school seniors.

School superintendent reassures parents, students

Superintendent of the Plymouth Canton Community Schools Monica Merritt recently addressed area families and staff members regarding the impact of the coronaviris pandemic on the local schools.
Merritt said, “This has been a difficult time for all of us.
“Since the beginning of this unprecedented crisis, our goal has been to provide you with the most timely and important communication in a variety of formats, including these calls on Friday evenings. With our Continuity of Learning Plan now being implemented, and with our educators working hard every day to meet the needs of our students, you will continue to receive your Sunday calls from your building principals, but we will relax the weekly robocalls from me.

School district to refund fees for cancelled activities

Families hoping to participate in several pay-to-play activities in the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools district will receive refunds for the fees, according to a district spokesman.
District finance administrators have asked parents not to dispute charges for the fees that may have been paid by credit card, as this complicates the refund process.

Student charity race goes digital

This year, participants will have eight days to complete the Super Jess 5K charity race.
The 10th annual event, which provides help for local families in medical crisis, will take place virtually, to comply with social distancing required by the coronaviris pandemic.
The virtual event will allow participants to run, walk or bike the trail at their leisure through May 10.
The charity event, organized by students in the Plymouth Canton Community Schools district, is named for former Canton High School sophomore Jesse Lindbauer who suffered a sinus infection which became an infected brain abscess in 2011. The Plymouth Canton community created the Super Jess 5K race to help the teen's family with medical expenses during his recovery.

Residents warned of ‘band’ scam

Several teens have struck a sour note with police in the area as they have solicited donations for a non-existent band trip.
According to police reports, a group of teens has been approaching people in parking lots and inside stores in the Plymouth and Canton areas asking for donations for a fake trip with the band.
The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools music boosters group issued a letter to residents late Friday warning of the impostors.

Voters approve school millage requests

Plymouth-Canton schools 
Voters in the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools District approved the $275 million bond proposal on the March 10 ballot by 26,017 yes to 11,997 no votes.
According to school officials, the bond funding will be used for facility and site improvements at several buildings, to enhance safety and security features throughout the district, to purchase furniture and playground upgrades, purchase school buses and address infrastructure and technology needs at most school buildings.
Officials stressed that the approval of the $275 million bond issue will mean no increase in the current tax rate paid by property owners. Currently, the school debt levy in the district is 4.02 mills.
District officials said the funding will be used to construct a third outdoor athletic stadium at the Plymouth-Canton Education-al park and a total renovation of the performing arts center at Salem High School.

Plymouth-Canton school millage on March ballot

Voters in the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools district will be asked to approve a bond proposal during the March 10 election.
The bond funding will be used for facility and site improvements at several buildings, enhance safety and security features throughout the district, to purchase furniture and playground upgrades, purchase school buses and address infrastructure and technology needs at most school facilities.
Approval of the $275 million bond issue will mean no increase in the current tax rate paid by property owners, district officials have stressed. Currently, the school debt levy in the district is 4.02 mills.