Message from the Superintendent - Dr. Charles Coleman

Welcome!

This past year marked the beginning of the renovation and expansion of Battle Creek Central High School and Valley View Elementary School. The festive ground breaking ceremonies took place in May and June and were attended by students, staff, local and state dignitaries and friends of the school system. If you have been by either of the school sites you will have noticed much activity as the renovation and upgrading work begins for all our schools.

Our Small Learning Communities at Battle Creek Central were recently proclaimed by Governor Granholm as "cutting edge" during a visit she made in February. Other initiatives that have been put in place to help students succeed at the high school level include after school, Saturday school, spring break school, summer school classes and tutoring. An additional section of night school was also added to accommodate the demand. Battle Creek Public Schools is pleased to offer "school" in every way, shape and manner, day and night.

Our Advanced and Accelerated program continues to grow with the inclusion of 4th graders. The program now encompasses grades 4-8. Advanced offerings including the Math/Science Center and dual enrollment with local colleges are offered at the high school level.

Our district is one of the few districts in the state to have all day Kindergarten in all elementary schools. Laptop computers have been given to all sixth graders for use in the classroom and that program will continue to expand. The Fine Arts Academies at the high school and elementary levels continue to showcase an amazing array of talent. The Legacy Scholars Program which provides a two-year education, including tuition and books, at Kellogg Community College for our sixth grade students when they graduate from Battle Creek Central or South Hill Academy has added another sixth grade class.

Battle Creek Public Schools is proud to partner with noted neurosurgeon, Ben Carson, for our Carson Scholars Program. Twenty-two $1,000 scholarships were awarded to students this year and 145 scholarships have been awarded to date.

The district website sports a new look this fall. The website's easy access and linking should be a snap for anyone to navigate. You will find a great deal of information regarding the district on the website.

As a result of the array of programs for students and the new construction underway, we are prepared for an exciting school year and new future.

To All Battle Creek Public Schools Parents, Students, and Staff:

I would like to make sure our parents, students and staff are well informed and kept up to date with the facts about H1N1.

Our public health partners, the Calhoun County Public Health Department (CCPHD) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are NOT recommending school closure for isolated cases of H1N1.  In fact they are reporting the H1N1 virus should be treated much like the regular influenza virus.  The most important thing you can do is practice good basic hygiene such as:
Symptoms of H1N1 and other influenza-like illnesses include:  fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  Please keep children with these symptoms home from school and contact your family physician.  If your student develops a fever or influenza-like illness at school, you will be contacted to pick up your child and keep them at home until they are fever free without the use of medication for 24 hours.

Parents, please make certain your emergency contact information at school is up-to-date and have a plan of care should your student be sent home with flu-like symptoms.

We will continue to stress the importance of the basic hygiene recommendations to students and staff.  These are important health lessons that are applicable to many illnesses.  Our custodial staff is cleaning our buildings every day with a hospital-grade disinfectant.  According to the Calhoun County Health Department the H1N1 virus is a fragile virus that is appropriately addressed with basic cleaning practices. 


Sincerely,
 
Charles E. Coleman, Ed.D
Superintendent