YPSILANTI COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

YPSILANTI, MI - Ypsilanti Community Schools is looking to fill a number of jobs during a career fair Thursday, May 12. The career fair is set for 3 to 6 p.m. at Ypsilanti Community High School, with the district looking to hire qualified teachers, paraprofessionals, social workers, transportation and food service staff. Ypsilanti Community Schools currently has job postings for 98 positions. For more information about the career fair, please visit www.ycschools.us, or contact Sue McCarty, YCS human resources director, at smccarty3@ycschools.us. READ MORE:Ypsilanti Community Schools voters pass non-homestead millage‘We’re diving in the water with them.’ How a Michigan school is boosting literacyYpsilanti students prepare Jamaican jerk chicken for astronauts in NASA culinary competition

YPSILANTI, MI - Ypsilanti Community Schools voters renewed the district’s ability to collect all its state per-student funding by approving an 18-mill non-homestead operating millage proposal on Tuesday, May 3. The millage, which is required of all Michigan school districts, is for 10 years and equates to approximately approximately $11.47 million in 2022. Voters approved the renewal 3,026-1,295. The millage asked voters to approve the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18.0731 mills, or $18.0731 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation, for a period of 10 years, from 2023-32, and also approve an increase of .5 mill, or $0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation, for a period of 11 years, 2022-32. READ MORE:New centralized elementary school approved by Western votersYpsilanti students prepare Jamaican jerk chicken for astronauts in NASA culinary competitionGrizzly Scholars program fosters early love of STEM in Ypsilanti students

Growing Hope Earth Day CelebrationGrowing Hope is partnering with Ypsilanti Community Schools to host its Earth Day Celebration at Erickson Elementary School, 1427 Levona St., from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 22. Library Lot Earth Day FestivalAnn Arbor blues rocker Laith Al-Saadi is slated to headline a four-day Earth Festival in the library commons of the downtown Ann Arbor District Library, 319 Fifth Ave. in Ann Arbor. Related: Ann Arbor blues rocker Laith Al-Saadi to headline 4-day Earth Day festivalLeslie Science and Nature CenterThe Leslie Science and Nature Center, 1831 Traver Road in Ann Arbor, is hosting its Earth Day Festival from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 24. Drive Electric Earth DayA Saline Ace Hardware is hosting an electric vehicle event in conjunction with Drive Electric Earth Day. Find information about the Earth Day event online.

YPSILANTI, MI - On a bustling Wednesday morning inside Ypsilanti Community Schools’ Erickson Elementary, it can be hard to find a staff member or student with a minute to spare. When a student who has been identified for reading intervention has some downtime in their core classroom, they’re quickly ushered to a quiet room where they are taught foundational skills in a concentrated time period by one of the school’s two reading interventionists.

YPSILANTI, MI - Ypsilanti Community Schools will ask voters to renew its ability to collect all its state per-student funding with an 18-mill non-homestead operating millage proposal on the May 3 election ballot. The millage, which is required of all Michigan school districts, is for 10 years and equates to approximately approximately $11.47 million in 2022. The tax applies only to non-homestead, industrial, commercial and non-qualified agricultural property. The 18-mill renewal is collected as an operational fund for the district from local taxing authorities since Michigan changed how it funds schools in 1994 with the passing of Proposal A, YCS Director of Business and Finance Priya Nayak said. “It is not a cost increase.”READ MORE:New Western elementary school among bond items on Jackson County ballot in MayYpsilanti students prepare Jamaican jerk chicken for astronauts in NASA culinary competitionGrizzly Scholars program fosters early love of STEM in Ypsilanti students

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - For some Washtenaw County teenagers learning the rules of the road or how to parallel park isn’t the only thing standing in the way of getting their first driver’s license. Those younger than 18 also face the costly requirement of a driver’s education class, some running $600 for the necessary hours of instruction. That’s why the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office is getting involved, according to a memo from Sheriff Jerry Clayton. Year one is funded through a $33,000 grant from the AAA Foundation, which the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to accept on Feb. 16. Many of the teens who would benefit come from Black or communities of color, county officials say.

ANN ARBOR, MI - With the Washtenaw County Health Department announcing its plans to to lift its mask and quarantine mandate for schools on Feb. 28, several Washtenaw County schools say they intend to maintain current masking and COVID-19 safety protocols while they determine a best path forward. Swift went on to note AAPS’ universal mask mandate was announced on July 30, prior to the mandate the county health department issued in September. Lincoln Consolidated Schools also is moving forward with the existing mask and quarantine protocols until further notice, Superintendent Robert Jansen said. The Washtenaw County Intermediate School District also plans to maintain the county’s current protocols requiring masking and quarantining for COVID-19, Spokesperson Ashley Kryscynski said. READ MORE:Mask, COVID quarantine orders for schools being lifted by Washtenaw CountyMore vaccinated Washtenaw County residents are ending up in the hospital with COVID.

YPSILANTI, MI - From learning about how airplanes fly to financial literacy, Ypsilanti Community Schools fourth-graders are getting their first taste of the STEM fields, and how they apply in the real world. The Grizzly Scholars pilot program, introduced by YCS graduate Rhonda Germany Ballintyn and funded by the Germany Ballintyn Education Foundation, aims to instill a love science, engineering, technology and math, with a focus on removing barriers to high-quality education and career opportunities.

YPSILANTI, MI - Ypsilanti Community Schools is seeking qualified teachers and classroom paraprofessionals during an upcoming virtual career fair. The district will conduct 30-minute interviews with interested candidates via Zoom from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16. Candidates interested in interviewing should schedule an interview online by Dec. 15. For more information on job openings in the district or the job fair, visit the district’s website or contact YCS Human Resource Director Sue McCarty via email. READ MORE:More Washtenaw County schools cancel classes due to threats, staff shortagesTeaching art, serving lunch, driving the bus: Brutal shortage has Michigan schools looking for ‘super subs’Ann Arbor Public Schools explains shortage of subs, breaks down staff absences

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Additional Washtenaw County schools have canceled classes or moved to remote learning Friday, Dec. 3, due to threatening social media posts that have circulated following the tragedy at Oxford High School. Ypsilanti Community Schools and Dexter Community Schools said threats have been isolated to the high school in messages to families, while YCS and WIHA/WIMA noted threats they’ve received have not been deemed credible. “Just this morning, the WSA collectively met with the police chiefs of Washtenaw County and the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office,” the letter states. “Every threat, no matter how big or small, is illegal and investigated by schools and law enforcement. READ MORE:Ann Arbor Public Schools cancels classes due to social media threats Friday, Dec. 3Washtenaw County schools see social media threat, demonstrations after Oxford High School shootingFour dead, terrorism charges, video evidence: The latest on the Oxford High School shooting

YPSILANTI - An Ypsilanti student died Monday after experiencing a medical emergency during high school boys basketball tryouts. Ypsilanti Community Schools confirmed to MLive on Tuesday afternoon that Jaylen Mitchell was rushed to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital following the incident and he received immediate medical attention but ultimately died at the hospital. Mitchell was a senior at YCHS Stemm Middle College and was well-liked by those in the community, the press release said. YCS also encourages the community to utilize other valuable resources available.”Boys basketball tryouts and practices for high school teams across the state of Michigan began on Monday. It is unclear how the Ypsilanti basketball program will move forward at this time.

An Ypsilanti Community Schools student has died after experiencing a medical emergency during basketball tryouts, the district revealed.

YPSILANTI, MI - Students and staff at Ypsilanti Community Schools will have the entire week off through the Thanksgiving holiday in an effort to deep clean district buildings and allow students and staff to address physical and mental health needs. Superintendent Alena Zachery-Ross informed families of the schedule change in a letter Monday, Nov. 8. Staff who are not working for this special project and not providing services to partner districts are required to work, Zachery-Ross said. Zachery-Ross said she met with building administrators a few weeks ago, who listed what their greatest needs were inside buildings: More transportation staff, cleaning of buildings and staff in general were the top three concerns. Board members agreed with the decision to close down buildings leading up to the Thanksgiving break, given the stress the year has put on staff and students.

YPSILANTI, MI - There’s a running joke inside Ypsilanti Community Schools’ Achieving College & Career Education building that if anyone needs to check in with a student’s mother, auntie or grandmother, they just go find Carla Whitsett. That’s because in her 23 years with the district as a paraprofessional, Whitsett’s relationships with students and families have continually gone beyond the classroom and into the community, ACCE teacher Lauren Fardig-Diop said.

YPSILANTI, MI - Jeanice Townsend’s interest in serving on the Ypsilanti Community Schools’ board never waned after she came up short for a seat in the November 2020 election. Townsend’s patience paid off Monday, Oct. 25, however, when she was unanimously selected by the school board to fill a seat vacated by longtime board member Ellen Champagne. “This has been a long journey and it’s just a testament that it was delayed but not denied,” Townsend said after being approved as a board member Monday, Oct. 25. As a board member, Townsend said she wants to give back to the children the same enrichments she was provided as a student, including a sense of belonging, identity, values, respect, guidance, resiliency and pride. “I’m so grateful that you have stepped up for this hard job.”Champagne, who had served on the board for 11 years, as a member of both the Ypsilanti Community Schools and Ypsilanti Public Schools boards, stepped down after moving outside the district.

“Again, it’s helping meet our goal of keeping more kids in school, five days a week.”Washtenaw County schools can participate in “test-to-stay” because the county has implemented a mask mandate for K-12 schools inside buildings. The county’s largest school district, Ann Arbor Public Schools, however, has not implemented test-to-stay. “If those kids aren’t on quarantine, then maybe we don’t really need to close it.”Getting off the groundGenerally, more county school districts are using test-to-stay on a case-by-case basis, Washtenaw County Health Department Spokesperson Susan Ringler-Cerniglia said. In Washtenaw County schools, tests used for test-to-stay are primarily administered in-house by trained staff. School districts within the county register how many rapid antigen COVID-19 tests they need with the Washtenaw Intermediate School District.

YPSILANTI, MI - A former bus garage and surrounding property Ypsilanti Community Schools has leased since 2017 will go off the tax rolls after its school board approved selling it to Budget Towing. The Ypsilanti School Board approved the sale of the building at 800 Railroad St. to Nabil Salamey of Budget Towing for $125,000 by a unanimous vote during its Monday, Aug. 16 meeting. The district had been leasing the building to Budget Towing since 2017, after it sat vacant for years. Previously, the building and surrounding property served as the bus garage for YCS transportation before it began privatizing its transportation services around 2011. Budget Towing owns other surrounding property that abut the property.

The Y has kicked off its summer food distribution program for youth in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.

More than a dozen Michigan school districts and community organizations were awarded nearly a half-million dollars in grant funding to combat student hunger. The organization No Kid Hungry awarded about $450,000 in grants to 13 school districts and community organizations to help feed students this summer and in the upcoming school year, according to a press release from the organization. Recipients include Kalamazoo Public Schools, Comstock Park Public Schools, Ypsilanti Community Schools and Detroit Public Schools Community District. No Kid Hungry is also offering help to find summer meals through their Free Meals Finder map and texting hotline. Other grant recipients include Young Men’s Christian Association of Monroe Michigan, Fennville Elementary School, Bangor Public Schools, Young Men’s Christian Association of Saginaw, Mid-Peninsula School District, Hamtramck Public Schools, Cassopolis Public Schools, Eastpointe Community Schools and 313Reads.

Virtual meetings with parents who wanted more individualized instruction for their children - often after traditional school hours - and small group work will once again serve as the backbone for a new K-8 virtual learning school Ypsilanti Community Schools is offering this fall. “We’re taking what we have learned to provide an innovative learning option for our students and communities,” said Ingraham, the principal of the Ypsi Connected Community School. “We feel that it’s perfect for many students,” Ingraham said. Middle school students have an advisory hour to begin the day before a reading and writing block and “unified arts” instruction with live instruction. Those interested in enrolling in the Ypsi Connected Community School can apply online.

YPSILANTI, MI - Carlos Lopez thought it was a perfect fit for the district when he learned Ypsilanti Community Schools families were interested in a dual language Spanish immersion program. “I started my teaching career teaching 21 African-American students and two Caucasian students Spanish in the first Spanish immersion program in Detroit,” Lopez said. This fall, Lopez will help implement a new dual language immersion program at YCS, beginning with a group of 25 kindergarteners that offers 90% of its curriculum in Spanish and 10% in English at Ford Early Learning Center. YCS is the second Washtenaw County school district to offer a Spanish immersion program, joining Lincoln Consolidated Schools. Ford Early Learning Center Principal Daniel Young agrees it’s natural for elementary students to participate in the immersion program, due to their ability to pick things up quickly at an earlier age.

YPSILANTI, MI - Ypsilanti Community Schools students hoping to return to the classroom will have to wait a couple of more weeks as the district deals with a shortage of bus drivers and transportation staff. Ford and Perry schools will resume in-person instruction for kindergarten and first grade only, while Erickson, Estabrook, Holmes, and YIES elementary schools will remain in in-person instruction without interruption. Students were kept in remote learning, however, due to the rise in COVID-19 cases locally, along with Gov. The district still plans on trying to help those students close out the year with in-person instruction, Zachery-Ross said. “We continue to work diligently to offer in-person instruction to our students,” Zachery-Ross said.

YPSILANTI, MI - Ypsilanti Community Schools is moving to remote learning for the week following students’ return from spring break, the district announced Friday, April 2. The district announced it is moving to virtual learning beginning Monday, April 5, with plans to return to in-person learning on April 12, citing the “number of students and staff who potentially traveled” and the rise in COVID-19 cases in Washtenaw County. YCS is encouraging anyone who has traveled to get a free COVID-19 rapid test through a local testing site. In its most recent two-week period from March 11-24, the Washtenaw County Health Department has reported 798 new COVID-19 cases. As of March 29, the health department is reporting 141 new cases, two hospitalizations and two deaths in the last 24 hours.

YPSILANTI, MI -- Fifty-eight student-created pieces of artwork depicting diversity, equity and justice will be displayed throughout Ypsilanti soon. The art pieces, created by Ypsilanti Community Schools students, were supposed to be part of an exhibition featured at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington D.C. in May 2020, art teacher Kathy Fisk said. When that display didn’t happen, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the artwork was redesigned as streetscape banners being installed throughout the city. YCS arts education staff will work with the Department of Public Services to make arrangements for installation. “The title of the exhibit was ‘Public Education’ because we believed we were educating the public on those ideals,” Fisk said.

(AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – The Washtenaw Superintendents’ Association has issued a statement calling to increase vaccine supplies for teachers in the county’s public school districts. According to a recent survey of educators by Michigan Education Association, only 25.6% of respondents in Washtenaw County had received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. WSA represents the superintendents of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and the following nine public school districts: Ann Arbor Public Schools; Chelsea School District; Dexter Community Schools; Lincoln Consolidated Schools; Manchester Community Schools; Milan Area Schools; Saline Area Schools; Whitmore Lake Public Schools and Ypsilanti Community Schools. Washtenaw County superintendents have taken every opportunity to collectively advocate on behalf of our school communities at the local, state, and federal levels. We call on local Washtenaw County leaders to continue to keep equity at the center of everything we do, including our vaccination efforts.

We’re getting the youngest teachers, because every year, you’re hiring people straight out of college.”Zachery-Ross’ concerns are felt by fellow Washtenaw County superintendents, who issued a statement Thursday calling for additional vaccine supplies for educators. In a survey released by the Michigan Education Association, Washtenaw County ranked last in the state with just 25.6% of its educators either vaccinated or are in the process of being vaccinated, compared to the state average of 63.1%. Supply continues to be an issue, however, with the Washtenaw County Health Department giving just 700 to 800 school staff their first-dose appointments each week. “They definitely do much better when it’s in-person learning,” Pilkins said. “I’m excited to get back to some kind of normalcy.”READ MORE:Ypsilanti, marginalized groups impacted more by COVID-19 in Washtenaw CountyVaccination frustration: Washtenaw County has state’s lowest percentage of vaccinated teachersSeniors, essential workers continue to roll through Washtenaw County vaccine clinics

Pizza Prep School in the Domino's Pizza World Resource Center in Ann Arbor. The advertiser paid a fee to promote this sponsored article and may have influenced or authored the content. ANN ARBOR – One way to reflect on a regional economy is to check out the top employers and their industries, including public and private organizations. Here’s the latest list identifying the top employers in Washtenaw County compiled by Ann Arbor SPARK. Ann Arbor SPARK updates the list annually in January.

Ann Arbor SPARK compiles list of the largest employers in Washtenaw County.

ANN ARBOR, MI - Some schools got an early jump on celebrating a snow day opting to cancel classes Friday, Feb. 5 due to inclement weather. Washtenaw County was blanketed with snow late Thursday, with 2-4 inches of snow expected in Southeast Michigan. Washtenaw County schools closed are:Arbor Preparatory High SchoolEast Arbor Charter AcademyFather Gabriel Richard High SchoolFortis Academy (virtual learning only, no in-person classes)Lincoln Consolidated SchoolsLivingston Classical AcademyManchester Community SchoolsSt. Francis of Assisi Catholic SchoolSouth Arbor Charter Academy (virtual learning only, no in-person classes)Washtenaw Christian AcademyWhitmore Lake Public SchoolsYpsilanti Community Schools: Food distribution and grab-n-go delivery bus service canceled. Distribution is rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 8. Lenawee County schools closed are:Addison Community SchoolsAdrian Public SchoolsBlissfield Community SchoolsBritton Deerfield SchoolsClinton Community SchoolsHudson Area SchoolsMadison School DistrictMorenci Area SchoolsOnsted School DistrictSand Creek Community SchoolsTecumseh Public SchoolsLivingston County schools closed are:Brighton Area SchoolsFowlerville Community SchoolsHoly Spirit Catholic SchoolHowell Public School DistrictLight of the World AcademyLivingston Christian SchoolsLivingston Educational Service AgencyMaple Tree Montessori AcademyPathway SchoolREAD MORE:Ann Arbor and Detroit snow, wind and cold: Here’s the scoopWhat 10 other weather forecasters are saying about Michigan’s early-February snowstormFriday’s travel conditions in Michigan to be ‘worst we’ve seen all winter,’ NWS says

YPSILANTI - Some Ypsilanti Community Schools students will return to the classroom next month, while students who have been in remote learning all year could start attending in-person classes in early February. All students will continue to receive remote instruction after returning from winter break on Jan. 4. For those students, in-person instruction had been offered four days a week in grades K-5, while grades 6-12 received two days of in-person instruction per week. Gretchen Whitmer’s announcement of COVID-19 restrictions that included a three-week ban on in-person learning at high schools. READ MORE:Staff shortages, increase in COVID-19 cases cause Ypsilanti schools to extend remote learningIn-person, hybrid, virtual options for school year offered by Ypsilanti Community SchoolsMore than just high schools are going or staying virtual in Washtenaw County

YPSILANTI, MI - District staffing shortages due to quarantine mandates, as well as an increase in local COVID-19 cases, have caused Ypsilanti Community Schools to extend remote learning for all students through Jan. 19. Washtenaw County’s sustained rising number of positive COVID-19 cases and increased hospitalizations led the district’s decision, Superintendent Alena Zachery-Ross said. The district previously moved all K-12 students to remote learning in light of Gov. Gretchen Whtimer’s announcement of COVID-19 restrictions that included a three-week ban on in-person learning at high schools that ends Dec. 8. “We ask our community to continue to have hope and follow the recommended precautions so we can all have a safe and healthy holiday season,” Zachery-Ross said.

YPSILANTI, MI - It’s not uncommon for meal distribution days at Perry Early Learning Center to draw a big crowd, particularly during the middle of a global pandemic, Ypsilanti Community Schools food service worker Jane Young said. The response to the Tuesday, Nov. 24 meal distribution, though, took it to another level, Young said, with local sneaker and apparel boutique Puffer Reds providing more than 50 turkeys to families in need. Because Ypsilanti Community Schools has regularly hosted meal distributions since the spring, Williams said it made sense to partner with the district to continue the growing tradition of helping others in the community. Puffer Reds also is partnering with the city of First Fridays Ypsilanti to collect food donations for Food Gatherers. It also plans on providing meals to the community on Giving Tuesday on Dec. 1.

YPSILANTI, Mich. Parents with students at Ypsilanti Community Schools said they support the districts decision to no longer have a school resource officer on campus. Thats one of the reasons officials with Ypsilanti Community Schools is making changes. My initial feeling was sadness because our school resource officer, Deputy Guynes, has been awesome, teacher Dan Schunck said. Were on top of the social unrest theyre seeing right here in the Ypsilanti community. Parents said theyd still like to see the district partner with the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office and the Ypsilnati Police Department in other ways.

Washtenaw County released a list of ongoing and pop-up community testing sites for this week. Tests for residents are being offered through Washtenaw County Public Health in partnership with Michigan Medicine, Packard Health, Kroger and Ypsilanti Community Schools. Heres where you can get tested:Ongoing testing sitesPerry Early Learning Center (550 Perry Street, Ypsilanti Township)Drive-up and walk-up testing is available 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. This site is supported by Packard Health and Ypsilanti Community Schools. Ford Elementary School (2440 E. Clark Road, Ypsilanti Township)Drive-up and walk-up testing is available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.