New Buffalo superintendent search has begun

SCHOLASTICS

Lake Michigan College to seek millage renewal on May ballot

After a ceremonial oath of office, the newly elected members of the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education hit Tbe used. Board members will vote on which candidates to interview in open session. First interviews, which will be open to the public, will take place April 11, the ground running with regards to beginning their terms on the board during their first meeting Monday, Jan. 9.

The following members were elected to the following offices: Lisa Werner, who’s retaining her position as president; Patricia Newton, vice president; Brad Brunner, secretary and John Haskins, treasurer.

Next, Dave Killips, regional president for West Michigan for the Michigan Leadership Institute, distributed a tentative timeline with regards to the district’s superintendent search.

A preliminary job posting, which will close March 17, was scheduled to be posted Jan. 10.

On Jan. 17, board members will be given three questions to answer: What are the skills/traits/characteristics you want to see in the new superintendent? What are the challenges facing New Buffalo Schools in the next three to five years? What are points of pride? Members must give their answers to Killips by Jan. 18 or 19.

Killips will spend Jan. 25 talking to different focus groups set up by the school district and ask them the same questions, which will also be posted on the school district’s website from Jan. 23-27.

Killips said the anonymous answers will give him material to develop a profile of a potential candidate, which will be sent to board members for their approval and hopefully added to the preliminary job posting by Feb. 1.

Board members will hold a meeting, which will mainly be in closed session, March 28, during which they’ll go through all the candidates’ applications and resumes. Each candidate will be assigned a number, so no names will 12 and 13. On April 13, the board will decide who to bring back for the final set of interviews. The final interview is scheduled for April 20. On April 20, board members will be asked to decide who to hire as superintendent contingent upon successful contract negotiations. Board members discussed the former Agnes Conway property and how to develop it, particularly with regards to building some type of attainable housing or for rent attainable housing there, with Eric Neagu, managing principal of Antero Group, and Ed Gosslin, an attorney who’s been involved in real estate development. Gosslin said two to three years ago, the “opportunity presented itself” to bring attainable housing to the area in conjunction with providing additional lots for the high school’s building and trades program “in a form or fashion where it could be a public private relationship.” Lots could be set aside for the program and then a developer could come and perform more detailed work “related to getting infrastructure and a subdivision or a site plan together that’s commercially viable and also could meet the need of the high school to provide additional lots for the program.” After looking at the around 30-acre parcel across from the elementary school, it was discovered that, while it was a on a wetland, a portion of it was “developable.” The adjacent Conway property, which was acquired by the school along with other lots, looked “really prime for development,” Neagu said. Some site plan analysis has been done, and wetland delineation is being

New Buffalo superintendent search has begun BY FRANCESCA SAGALA finished up. Neagu said they held a workshop with New Buffalo Township, the sanitary district and others and “landed on a concept” that’s still evolving into a final development scheme that should be ready by February. He added that an “original concept plan” was put together with space for about 26 single family homes; however, the preference would be to go denser and “do a little bit more of a unique mix.” Gosslin said that they’re currently looking at the space available primarily in the eight acres acquired in the Conway transaction, where there could be a mix of single family “that would probably carry through to more dense areas as a transition toward the back of the area.” The current trail system there would be incorporated into it.

One option is a standard smaller lot, single family home. Other options include townhomes, duplexes and traditional multi-family residential. “We haven’t locked into any one program yet - we really have to analyze this and look at the available density and what we can get given the current stated present condition with wetlands,” he said. Board members approved joining the Juul Labs, Inc. Vaping Lawsuit. Interim Superintendent Dr. Michael Lindley said that several school districts throughout Michigan have entered into a class action lawsuit against Juul and other manufacturers of vape type cartridges and their district was asked if it wanted to enter into litigation at no cost. Board members approved the replacement of two HVAC equipment units for the elementary gym rooftop for $73,922. The Lake Michigan College Board of Trustees unanimously voted to place a millage renewal proposal on the May 2 ballot during their meeting Tuesday, Jan. 4.

The proposal would renew the current millage for Lake Michigan College, which expires with the 2023 tax levy, for another 20 years. The current millage generates nearly 30 percent of LMC’s total operational budget.

“This is a renewal of critical funding that the community has previously voted to support,” Lake Michigan College President Dr. Trevor Kubatzke said. “It is important to note that we are not seeking any tax increase. This proposal would freeze the LMC tax rate for district residents for the next 20 years.”

A millage is the rate at which property taxes are levied on real estate or other property. The millage rate is the number of dollars of tax assessed for each $1,000 of property value. A mill is one-thousandth of a dollar or onetenth of a cent. LMC’s renewal proposal is for 0.8804 of a mill.

“Lake Michigan College has a demonstrated 76-year history of financial accountability, responsibility, and commitment to the community,” LMC Board Chair John Grover said. “The college continues to provide outstanding training and education to all community residents while maintaining an affordable tuition rate.

“LMC offers more than 75 accredited academic programs with small class sizes taught by accomplished and knowledgeable faculty,” he added. “Nearly 400 high school students are enrolled in our Early College Program. Many of our in-district students qualify for free tuition through the LMC Promise. Plus, LMC offers community destinations such as the Fab Lab and LMC Mendel Center, the largest performing arts center in the region. The millage renewal is important to continuing the impact LMC has on our students, employers, the local economy, and the community.”

According to a 2021 study by Lightcast, LMC’s positive economic impact on the community totals more than $400 million a year. This includes the economic and social impact of LMC alumni, workforce training, and college operations. LMC is a leader in higher education, community and employer partnerships, workforce training, and retraining and serves as a cultural hub for Southwest Michigan.

“As the labor market continues to change, Lake Michigan College is the choice for employers and workers, helping to strengthen the regional economy,” Kubatzke said. “The number one issue for economic development is workforce and people, and LMC plays a key role in enhancing and expanding training to attract and retain quality employers and good paying jobs.”

For more information, visit lakemichigancollege.edu/ millage or contact Al Pscholka, LMC executive director, community & governmental relations, at apscholka@ lakemichigancollege.edu or 269-861-3092. — STAFF REPORTS

Bison girls picked apart by Eagles

BY STAN MADDUX

The New Buffalo High School girls’ basketball team lost 4616 at home Tuesday, Jan. 10, to Howardsville Christian.

The Lady Bison struggled to unanswered points. Smith, who was off another steal, went in for the lay-up but missed. She then scored after grabbing the offensive rebound before the end of the period. keep pace with the sharp shooting Eagles almost from the beginning.

A bucket from senior Jordan Bryk with about four minutes left in the second quarter cut the lead to 15 points.

The score at halftime was 26-10 after senior Sami Smith, after a steal, dribbled the ball down court but missed the lay-up.

After grabbing the ball off the rim, she put it back up and into the net.

The Lady Bison in search of their third victory of the season began the third quarter with two quick buckets from Smith to pull to within 12 points.

Smith hit two short jump shots, including one set up by a nifty pass from senior Lexie Parmley.

However, the Eagles responded with six Howardsville Christian scored all three of the fourth quarter points. Smith led New Buffalo with eight points. Bryk finished with four points, while Ava Mancini and Lilly Rusklowski each scored two points.

Head Coach Dave Kelly said his defense gave Howardsville Christian too many openings to the rim and open jump shots, especially in the first half before switching to a zone.

He also felt the players were not attacking the rim on offense enough.

“We need to be a little bit better at getting aggressive underneath and taking it to them,” Kelly said.

SPORTS

From the Bleachers

COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

The entire sports world

stopped and stared in disbelief as Damar Hamlin fell over backwards and laid on the ground, not breathing during last week’s NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals.

The play looked like any other play that any football fan has seen thousands of times, but this time Hamlin got hit at precisely the wrong time at exactly the wrong location and he went into cardiac arrest. It seemed like the moment Damar hit the ground, medical personnel began running out onto the field and began issuing CPR and Damar was circled by players from both teams. Soon, tough, grown men were openly crying and an ambulance whisked Damar to the hospital.

When Damar arrived at the hospital, he was in critical condition. The doctors immediately put him on a ventilator to help him breathe. The first thing he said when he woke up a few days later was “did we win?”

The doctors said that the simple question showed that his thinking was in order and the time he spent without oxygen hadn’t affected his thinking. Damar actually wrote the question on a piece of paper because he couldn’t speak yet. That changed Friday when, after removing his breathing tube, he told his teammates that he loved them.

Hamlin has made remarkable progress in his recovery. An incident that could have turned out so terribly seems to be going in the right direction. Along the way, a lot of good things happened. First, his teammates and the players on the opposition all rallied behind Damar. Next, the medical people were great and have made this story a happy one. Then the network and the league both did the right thing. The league canceled the game and the network didn’t sensationalize the play. Sunday, was the first game since the incident and on the very first play Damar’s team, the Buffalo Bills, ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.

Damar had a charity with assets of a couple thousand dollars. By the end of the week after contributions had rolled in, the amount was over seven million. Damar’s family was also top notch. I think I saw a member of his family almost daily thanking the hospital, doctors, and people everywhere for their thoughts and prayers.

Everyone associated with this near tragedy handled themselves well, a lesson that most politicians could learn from. The town of Buffalo needed some good news after the horrible weather they’ve been having. Hopefully, Damaßr will continue to improve and be completely healthy soon.

Sunday, the Bears lost again and ended up with the worst record in the NFL this year. For the first time since 1947, the Bears have the first choice in the college football draft. To me, that’s the epitome of winning by losing.

Comedian Mort Sahl said, “A conservative is someone who believes in reform. But not now.”

Hope everyone has a great year. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.