By JESSICA SIEFF
Edwardsburg Argus

For the first time ever, Edwardsburg High School will see a woman heading up the student body, administration and staff as high school principal.

Superintendent Sherman Ostrander announced to members of the district’s board of education that Maclean, the current deputy superintendent and assistant superintendent for instruction with the East Allen County school district, had been hired to fill the position of high school principal.

“We think this is going to be a positive addition to our high school,” he said.

Maclean has an extensive history in education, including working with John Young and School City schools in Mishawaka, Ind., and she carries a Ph.D.

While the district gets ready to welcome its latest addition to the district, it is also recognizing the tough times many area districts are facing.

No doubt there are many teachers throughout the state of Michigan who have been notified as of this week, the last week of April, that they would unfortunately be laid off – making it a rough start to the summer.

In nearby districts, layoffs at both Brandywine and Niles Community Schools were before respective members of the board of education for final approval.

It’s a fate that many districts are sharing but thankfully, Edwardsburg Public Schools has been able to avoid for now.

Just two teachers have been notified through the district that their positions have the potential for layoff, Ostrander said. However, the likelihood of that happening is slim.

Ostrander said one of the teaching positions would be transitioned to part time and the other teacher would be moved into another position.

“We’re required to make notification,” he said, explaining the reason the matter was brought up to members of the Edwardsburg school board Monday night.

Ostrander said there is “not going to be anyone separated from the district” in the matter of those two positions.

Edwardsburg is looking to trim $1.8 million from its budget going into the next school year.

But where surrounding districts used their fund balances and savings to cover decreases in funding that took effect during the current school year, Ostrander said his district has been “fortunate.”

Already, he said, the district has “initiated cuts of approximately $800,000” to present to the members of the board. The rest, he said, would be covered by savings, a move they are making for the first time since the state began notifying schools they would not see nearly as much funding for students as they have in recent years.