Michigan Education

Voters mostly rejected a group of candidates campaigning as a team for the Traverse City school board. Team 5 TCAPS candidates ran on a similar platform, calling for more transparency and accountability in the district, but only one of the five candidates – Erica Moon Mohr – was elected Tuesday.

The Mesick Consolidated Schools bond has failed again. This was the third time the district asked the community for more money for schools. The $13.7 million plan was to build an elementary school wing on the high school, upgrade technology and enhance security.

Judy Myers is 71. She doesn't have any grandkids in the district, but she voted for the bond.

"If we can pay for seniors to have a senior center," says Myers, "we can have a school for the kids."

But more people agreed with Cindy Short, who voted against it.

UPDATED Oct. 31, 2 p.m.  This story has been updated to clarify the cost of the proposed millage, which would add an extra $480 to the property tax bill on a home with a state equalized value of $100,000. State equalized value is 50 percent of the market value of a property.

On election day, Mesick residents will vote on a $14 million school bond. This will be the third time the bond proposal has gone before voters. It was rejected in 2017 and then again in May, when it failed by only 10 votes.

District officials hope this time around, more people will turn out to vote for the bond. Superintendent Scott Akom says most of the money would go toward building a new elementary school wing onto the high school.

At a forum Thursday night, candidates for the Traverse City school board were asked if the election was a referendum on district Superintendent Paul Soma. The Traverse City Area Public Schools superintendent has been under criticism for potential financial issues relating to the district's homeschool program and allegations of bullying. 

Michigan State University has named a search committee to find a new president.

Residents will continue funding improvements in Traverse City schools. Voters passed a $107 million bond for Traverse City Area Public Schools. According to unofficial election results, 67 percent (15,679 residents) voted yes, while 33 percent (7,662) said no.

The money will go towards things like building reconstruction, safety and technology improvements and bus replacements. 

“I mean you have to educate your kids or you’re going to be nowhere," says Kathleen Ziege who lives in Interlochen and voted for the bond.

Traverse City school officials have cleared the superintendent of allegations of illegal gender discrimination.

The board of Traverse City Area Public Schools voted unanimously Monday night to accept the findings made in an investigative report. In March, the board hired a firm to look into claims that Superintendent Paul Soma bullied female principals.

In Tuesday's election, voters passed two school bonds in northwest Lower Michigan, while two narrowly lost. 

It worked out for Cadillac Area Public Schools this time. Its bond proposal failed last year, but yesterday a new proposal – for slightly less money – passed with 56 percent of the vote. Now $65.5 million will go towards things like a new early childhood center, renovating buildings and equipment. 

School districts across Michigan are asking voters for more money for building renovations and equipment. More than 20 bond proposals are on ballots Tuesday, May 8. A number of those districts are trying again after bond proposals failed in previous elections.

The superintendent of northern Michigan’s largest school district will keep his job. The board of Traverse City Area Public Schools voted unanimously to keep Superintendent Paul Soma during his annual performance evaluation Monday.

A second school district in northern Michigan has shut down because of the flu.

Mesick Consolidated Schools closed on Wednesday and doesn’t plan to open again until next week.

The district says nearly a quarter of students missed class on Tuesday due to illness.