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DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac Union Schools Board of Education welcomed new leadership to the district on Monday.

The district held its first Board of Education meeting with Greg Blomgren serving as the superintendent. 

“I’m excited about the people I’ve had an opportunity to meet with,” he said. “There are a lot of committed people here in Dowagiac. We want to see the school and the community do well and we’re excited to get to work.”

“We’re all very excited you’re here,” said Board President Robert Ickes.

During his first superintendent report, Blomgren discussed the change in summer hours from five days per week to four days per week. The office will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday for the remainder of summer vacation.

“Many of the districts in Southwest Michigan are just not as busy in the summer,” he said. “There are six weeks in the summer and we feel like we can do that.”

Blomgren also discussed making changes to the 2024-25 district calendar in order to allow the school year to conclude in May as opposed to the first week of June.

“We found some days during the school year that were professional development days or virtual records days that we will turn into instructional contact days, which will allow us to end the school year in May as opposed to the first week of June.”

In other business, the school board accepted the retirement of Acceptance of retirement – PAC Director Lincoln Clark, PAC Director and the resignation of DMS Assistant Principal Shannon Hall. The board also approved the hires of DMS SPED instructor Amber Gil De Lamadrid, Band Director Benjamin VanRoekel, Band Director and Union High School SPED instructor Caroline O’Toole.