Clawson School Board Approves $157,929 Video Surveillance Upgrade

The funds to improve both the interior and exterior systems in Clawson schools will come from the 10-year technology bond approved by voters in 2011.

In order to both meet the current video surveillance needs of Clawson Public Schools and leave room in the budget open for future needs, Technology Director Ryan Velzy found a plan to serve as a "middle ground." The Clawson Board of Education unanimously approved funds for the project, which will come from amounts budgeted based on the 10-year technology bond passed in 2011, at its board meeting on Monday. ROK Systems, a Michigan-based security firm, won the bid at just over $157,929. "This proposal is kind of a middle ground with not doing a rip-and-replace ... we’re going to take portions of that analog system that's 10 years old, cameras, and connect them to a digital system," Velzy said, adding that the amount was under the amount …

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Kindergarten Entry Age Changes for Clawson Schools

A recently enacted Michigan law changed the minimum age requirement for a child enrolling in kindergarten.

Plan on sending your child to kindergarten in Clawson for the 2013-14 school year? Here are some things you should know. A recently enacted state law changed the minimum age requirement for children enrolling in kindergarten. The changes are set to take place over three years beginning at the start of the 2013-14 school year. Currently, a child must be five years old before Dec. 1 to be eligible for kindergarten, but that has changed, according to the Michigan Pupil Accounting and Attendance Association (MPAAA): Parents with children who are ineligible for enrollment according to the new standards, but will be five years old by Dec. 1, can apply for a waiver to secure enrollment, according to the MPAAA. Contact Clawson Public Schools at …

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cw

9:41 am on Friday, March 8, 2013

The age changes are very in line with nationwide trends. Michigan is one of three other states that have a Dec. cut off. Imagine your fall child competing with a spring baby that was "red shirted" (held back - which is very common, especially on the east coast) for a college spot, grant or scholarship. That other child is almost 2 years older!.   more ›

Clawson's 2012 MEAP Results Show Highest Gains in Math

Clawson students made the biggest jump in third and seventh grade math proficiency, however they lag behind peers in ninth-grade social studies and eighth-grade math.

While there is cause for celebration for some of the improvements shown by Clawson students on the math portion of the MEAP exam, the other side of the coin is that there still is work to do in eighth grade math, fourth-grade reading and ninth-grade social studies to stay on pace with peers across the state. Those are the trends from the 2012 MEAP results released today by the Michigan Department of Education. The 2012 Michigan Educational Assessment Program measures progress in subjects such as math, reading, writing, science and social studies for third through ninth-graders. Compared to last year's results, Clawson saw improvements in several areas including double-digit increases in the percentage of students who met or exceeded state …

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State Supt. Flanagan: Michigan Teachers Should Make $100K

The head of the Michigan Department of Education asserts that higher wages would encourage more people to become teachers.

The key to getting more qualified math and science teachers into Michigan schools is simple, according to state Superintendent Mike Flanagan: pay them more. Flanagan, who heads up the Michigan Department of Education, said Monday at an assembly of scientists at Michigan State University that Michigan schools need more math and science teachers. The problem, he said, is that most scientists and mathematicians don't consider teaching in public schools to be a viable career option. “We can do all we want with content standards, but the elephant in the room is that it won’t do much good if we don’t have enough math and science teachers in our schools,” Flanagan said while discussing science standards in K-12 schools, according to a release …

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Cheryl Junker

12:19 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013

Religious schools are funded by the Church, through tithes and students' tuition. Many teachers are nuns and do not consider it a sacrifice but a choice to join the Convent. They live frugally, housing costs and healthcare are paid by the Church and they don't have families to support! The Felician nuns I know are still teaching into their eighties, a sacrifice indeed! And yet, even Parochial …   more ›

Wintry Snow and Ice Mix Closes Clawson Public Schools Monday

A Winter Weather Advisory expired at 6 a.m. Monday, but area public and private schools are closed all day.

After a night of snow and freezing rain, the Clawson Public Schools are closed for the day. As of 5:30 a.m., the following schools officially canceled classes due to wintry conditions: Nearby districts like Birmingham, Troy and Royal Oak are also closed. A Winter Weather Advisory remained in effect until 6 a.m. Monday after several inches of snow fell overnight and then turned into freezing rain in areas. The transition to regular rain is expected to happen around sunrise, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS warned that travel can become difficult during a Winter Weather Advisory, particularly due to slippery roads and limited visibility. The forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of rain before 8 a.m., followed by areas of …

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Clawson School Board Seeks New Member

Before his first board meeting, newly elected Brad Batur resigns, leaving an open seat.

He was sworn in last month after being the only listed candidate on the November ballot for two open seats on the Clawson Public Schools Board. But Clawson resident Brad Batur has resigned before his first board meeting scheduled for next week. In a letter to the district this week, Batur said he isn't able to fulfill the duties of the position. "I unfortunately have too many aspects of my family and work life that take precedent over the position, and I will not be able to provide the time and commitment the position deserves to help the community." Batur could not immediately be reached for comment. Anyone interested in filling the seat, which will end Dec. 31, 2013, must apply by 5 p.m. Jan. 15. Candidates must reside in the Clawson …

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Kenwood Students Will Be First to the Polls

Kenwood students have kicked off their own election series and have successfully proposed two issues for the upcoming Kenwood School Nov. 5 ballot.

Clawson Could Become the First City in Michigan with an App

City government, businesses, residents, schools and visitors could benefit from a municipal application for smartphones, developer tells City Council.

GPS location directions for restaurants, streaming city TV and touch-to-call directory capabilities are three of the many features that could be included in a municipal mobile application compatible with smartphones – and a local developer wants to make Clawson the first city in Michigan to have one. Stephen Thornhill from Kart Media Group, a Birmingham-based digital media agency that has designed apps for HGTV, presented his idea to the Clawson City Council at its regular meeting Tuesday night. He began by explaining that if the council agreed to move forward with the app it would be the first Michigan city to have one. “People are starting to rely on their mobile devices more and more for information over their computers,” Thornhill said…

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