Parents, students and community members wanting to learn more about the new Ypsilanti Community Schools district are encouraged to attend an upcoming open house.
Families can learn about the small learning communities at the middle and high schools; the co-curricular activities, including clubs and athletics, that will be available for children; opportunities for high schoolers to earn college credit or career credentials; and more about the diverse learning environment the new district hopes to provide for its students.
The open houses this week are:
- 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 — Elementary Learning Center (grades 2-4), 1255 Holmes Road
- 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 — Erickson Elementary (2-6), 1427 Levona St.
- 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 22 — New Tech at Ardis (9-12), 2100 Ellsworth Road
- 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23 — Adams STEM Academy (K-6), 503 Oak St.
- 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23 — Estabrook Elementary (2-6), 1555 W. Cross St.
- 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 28 — YCS High School (9-12), 2095 Packard Road
- 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6 — Washtenaw International Middle Academy (5-8), 510 Emerick St.
Attendees of the open houses also will have the opportunity to meet and become acquainted with the principals of these buildings and new programs.
The five principals from Ypsilanti Public Schools and one principal from Willow Run Community Schools that were offered jobs in the new district have been given their building assignments for the 2013-14 academic year. Superintendent Scott Menzel said almost all were the same as their current assignments. Menzel said the one exception was current Ypsilanti Middle School Principal Jason Riggs, who has been moved to the former Willow Run High School/Intermediate Learning Center complex, which will be for grades 5-8 in the new district.
Ypsilanti Middle School is closing next year when the consolidated district opens.
The Washtenaw International Middle Academy is an International Baccalaureate program. It will be housed in the Washtenaw International High School building, also an IB program, for the first year to provide both programs some additional support and resources as the programs continue to grow and develop, officials said.
The new district posted three principal positions and will post two secondary assistant principal positions soon that still need to be filled. Menzel said the building principal positions are for Erickson Elementary, the Primary Learning Center and Ypsilanti High School. Current YHS co-principal Cory McElmeel will run the New Tech at Ardis program.
The other principal assignments are:
- Sharine Buddin, principal at Perry Child Development Center, Ypsilanti.
- Karla Graessley, principal at Estabrook Elementary, Ypsilanti.
- Charles Raski, principal at the Elementary Learning Center, Willow Run.
- Connie Thompson, principal at Adams STEM Academy, Ypsilanti.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.