Wakefield-Marenisco hires head track coach

WAKEFIELD - The Wakefield-Marensico school board hired physical education teacher Lauren Korpi as head track coach for all high school and junior high students at its meeting Monday evening.

Superintendent Cathy Shamion added that she will post a request for an assistant track coach.

Shamion also held a presentation on the results of the Michigan Educational Assessment Program. Students in grades 3-9 took the MEAP tests last October.

"MEAP was originally designed to measure gaps in curriculum," she said, "But it's turned into the measure of one school against another."

The board also heard an update on the proposed consolidation with the Bessemer school district.

"The same group that started petitions for consolidation in May has started up again to put consolidation on the August ballot," Shamion said.

If the consolidation is approved in August, an interim board would be appointed and run districts separately until July 1, 2015, Shamion said.

President Brad Dalbac said he discussed the issue with the Bessemer board president, adding "We agreed not to get into the consolidation issue until their bond issue has passed."

The board also denied a $135 payment to a family which requested compensation for two lice outbreaks in its household over the past year.

"The school is not responsible for this," Dalbac said.

The next meeting will be held April 28 in Marenisco.

Miranda Anderson/Daily Globe

The Wakefield-Marenisco school board hears updates on the proposed consolidation with the Bessemer school district at its meeting Monday evening. Pictured are, from bottom left (clockwise), member Dan Obradovich, vice president Micki Sorenson, secretary Margaret Lynott, president Brad Dalbac, superintendent Cathy Shamion, member Larry Gabka, treasurer Martha Vestich and member Brandon Yuchasz.