New Buffalo school board approves hiring of Tracy Ripley as high school principal

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New Buffalo school board approves hiring of Tracy Ripley as high school principal

Aformer teacher – and student – has come home to New Buffalo.

At their Monday, May 9, New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education meeting, board members approved the hiring of Tracy Ripley, pending background approval, as new high school principal.

She will be replacing Wayne Butler, who announced his retirement in March.

Ripley is a graduate of New Buffalo Area Schools. For 17 years, she taught in the high school’s social studies department. She was also a volleyball coach, a class advisor and on several different committees, such as the Curriculum Leadership Committee.

Ripley has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Central Michigan University, as well as a master’s in liberal studies from Valparaiso University and a post master’s in Ed. S. in educational leadership and administration from Central Michigan University.

She first taught at Barker Middle School in Michigan City before being hired by then New Buffalo Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Lindley. Ripley has spent the last three years at Eau Claire, where she was the principal for the middle/high school for two years before moving onto a district level position as the director of teaching and learning for kindergarten through 12th grade.

While being at Eau Claire was a rewarding experience, she said she’s happy to be “home.”

“I’ve spent 17 years of my educational career at New Buffalo, and this is home…I’m very excited to come back and I’m very appreciative to the board

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

and to Dr. Leslie for trusting me and putting their faith in me and I’m very honored to be back at New Buffalo,” she said, adding that she also lives here.

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Leslie said that they had three applicants for the position.

“It’s kind of the passing of the torch…Out of the three people we interviewed, Tracy was head and shoulders the best of the bunch, she’s the best person for the job and we’re excited to have her here, and I believe she’s excited about joining us,” he said.

Butler presented on the high school’s 2021-2022 school year.

He said they started the year anticipating it being “a bit of a challenge” and was grateful that they could “bring things back to normalcy” after two years of Covid.

“That’s been kind of the theme we’ve been working with this year,” he said, adding that they’ve been “trying to get back to the culture we had prior to March 13, 2020.”

Students have been taking trips again – whether they be nearby, such as to Ferris State University, or overseas, such as to Spain (which included 20 students and five chaperones). Fun activities also made a return, such as ones during Homecoming and Winterfest – activities that Butler said bring the students “joy and make them want to come to school.” The school also hosted assemblies again, such as Hey U.G.L.Y (which featured antibullying speaker Victor Vargas) and the annual talent show. In March, the school had its first play since the beginning of the pandemic, “Matilda.”

Butler said the performing arts program was “split” this year, with elementary music teacher Chris Beushausen stepping in earlier in the year to direct band when band director Christina Baumann was on maternity leave.

Students earned Division 1 ratings at the Michigan High School Band and Orchestra Association’s annual festival in Paw Paw.

Another accomplishment from the year was when SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), donated water bottles to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor when the city experienced elevated

levels of lead in their municipality supplied drinking water. Students also help students in their school, such as through the Peer to Peer program. According to teacher Jennifer Bauer, the program had had 133 students participate since its inception in 2016. Most of all, Butler wanted to thank the teaching staff for “working together to make a positive experience for the kids” at school. “Teachers come together like a big old team supporting each other and making it work for the kids,” he said, adding that there’s been “external pressures on educators from everywhere” but teachers have been “steadfastly supported by the school board and the superintendent.” Tracy Ripley with outgoing principal Board members also approved hiring Wayne Butler Leanne Lamport as sixth grade teacher. Leslie said that he appreciates the “vast experiences” she’s had and all the “different things she can teach.” “I think she’s going to fit in great with our sixth-grade team and we’re very, very excited to have you with us,” he said. Board members approved the extended Contract of Employment for Leslie from July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2027. Board members accepted, with regret, the letter of retirement from Tina Brewster, effective June 30, and also accepted the letter of resignation from Noah Sharum, effective immediately. Leslie said that he’s meeting with the administration at River Valley Schools this Thursday to finalize the middle school sports cooperative proposal and that he’ll be bringing that to the board at their next meeting.

Lake Michigan College honors Dr. Loren B. Hamel with 2022 Bernard C. Radde Distinguished Service Award

The Lake Michigan College Board of Trustees named BHSH Spectrum Health Lakeland President Loren B. Hamel, MD, as the 2022 recipient of the Bernard C. Radde Distinguished Service Award during 75th annual commencement ceremonies May 1 at The Mendel Center Mainstage on the Benton Harbor Campus, 2755 E. Napier Ave.

The award is presented annually to an individual who has advanced the cause of Lake Michigan College and higher education.

“I can’t think of a relationship that has been more important than the one between Spectrum Health Lakeland and Lake Michigan College,” Dr. Hamel said. “It’s an honor to be recognized by such a fine organization. We could not live up to our vision of improving health, instilling humanity, and inspiring hope without the work Lake Michigan College does in our community every day.”

BHSH Spectrum Health Lakeland, a division of BHSH System, was formed by the joining of Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health in 2022. As president, Dr. Hamel leads care delivery for three hospitals, 53 outpatient locations, telehealth initiatives, and more than 500 independent, affiliated and employed physicians in southwest Michigan. He also serves as a strategic advisor to BHSH System.

“LMC has blessed the lives of young adults around our community with a world of new opportunities,” Dr. Hamel said. “Fortunately, we get to hire many of those graduates in all kinds of roles. It is vital to the health of our community to have both education and our local health system collaborating to help create the workforce of the future.”

BHSH Spectrum Health Lakeland employs many LMC health sciences alumni. Through support from Dr. Hamel and the Spectrum Health Lakeland Foundation, LMC’s Health Sciences Department has maintained state-ofthe-art equipment for training students.

“Loren has been a crucial partner in shaping Lake Michigan College’s Health Sciences Department curriculum and strategies to meet the real-world needs of the health care industry,” LMC President Dr. Trevor Kubatzke said. “He is a champion of higher education, our mission at LMC, and continues to be a visible and vigilant leader in the local response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of being recognized for a career of distinguished service.”

Before integrating Lakeland Health and Spectrum Health in 2018, Dr. Hamel served as chief executive officer of Lakeland Health. His “Bring Your Heart to Work” initiative, featured in Harvard Business Review, shared a vision for connecting caregivers’ tasks to the heartfelt needs of those they serve.

An experienced family physician, Hamel practiced medicine for 23 years at University Medical Specialties in Berrien Springs. He joined the Lakeland Health medical staff in 1980.

The Bernard C. Radde Distinguished Service Award is named in honor of the late Dr. Bernard C. Radde, who served as a Lake Michigan College Board of Trustees member for 25 years. The award is presented at commencement by LMC’s board of trustees.

LMC’s 2022 Alumni Awards will be announced this fall. To nominate someone for a Lake Michigan College Alumni Award, please complete and submit the Alumni Award Program Nomination Form at www. lakemichigancollege.edu/alumni-

The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts proudly announces purchase of The Acorn Theater

The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts becomes owner of The Acorn Theater with the sale of the building from founder and previous owner, David Fink, on May 2, 2022.

With the purchase of 107 Generations Drive in Three Oaks, the Acorn Center for the Performing Arts is shifting from tenant to owner of the space, which has been managed by the non-profit organization since it was founded in 2015.

The Acorn’s current staff, led by executive director Beth Kaskel, and the board of directors, which is chaired by Laura Madsen Jolly, is a collective of individuals committed to the advancement of the performing arts in the region. “We are so excited toembark upon this next chapter of growth and development for The Acorn. The purchase of our building will help position us for an exciting future! As we continue to grow, new staff members have been added in the areas of operations, marketing, talent and front of house. You’ll see more diverse programming and partnerships with local organizations. We encourage you to join us on our journey to provide the very best cultural/performing arts experience in southwest Michigan,”

Kasek said. The sale of the theater to the Acorn Center for the Performing Arts is a “passing of the torch,” with The Acorn continuing to conduct business as usual, managing programming as they have since 2015. Another round of extensive renovations will be needed to Photo courtesy of preserve the historic Phillip Solomonson space. These improvements will be made throughout the building, including to performance and production areas, artist and guest amenities, and the development of a new outdoor event space behind the building. The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts will be announcing plans for community engagement soon as they embark upon a building campaign to support and maintain The Acorn’s physical home.

For more information on The Acorn and upcoming events, visit acornlive.org.

Founded in 2015 as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, The Acorn’s mission is to offer a broad range of highquality arts and education programming that nurtures cultural experience, participation and community engagement among residents and visitors of all ages and enhances the economic vitality of the region. — STAFF

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