Keystone school board approves scholarship for a high school grad

Keystone Academy school board approved adding $500 to the Parent-Teacher Organization’s $500 to make a $1,000 college scholarship to a top-performing student graduating from Belleville High School.
The scholarship was suggested to the board before its Feb. 8 regular meeting by Shaylette Stuckey, representing the PTO. The winner would be based on an essay judged by a Keystone dean.
Eighth-grade graduates of Keystone go on to high schools other than BHS, including Arbor Prep, Milan, Huron and Lincoln, but for this first year the scholarship will be limited to BHS.
Connie Shull, board secretary, said she would like to see every student have a chance, even if they don’t get all A’s. If the student can write an excellent essay, that’s what is important.
Board president Vesta Losen said the board received a $2,000 prize from Bay Mills Community College, its charter authorizer, a couple of years ago, so, “We have the money to do it.”
Keystone Principal Keturah Godfrey said Belleville High School does a school scholarship banquet and a lot of former Keystone students are invited to the banquet, but Keystone is not included.
Losen said every year there are Keystone graduates among the top students in the BHS graduating class and at other high schools.
In other business at the 44-minute meeting, the board:
• Learned that board vice president Susan Meland is moving to Wisconsin in May and her resignation from the board will be in effect after the May meeting. Board treasurer Carol Manley also has indicated she will serve out her term through June and will not consent to reappointment because of her son’s activities at Flat Rock High School and her intent to be involved. The board needs two new members and is working on candidates;
• Heard Principal Godfrey report that three Keystone teachers were named Teachers of Excellence by National Heritage Academies: Kindergarten teacher Sheila Montri, her paraprofessional Laura Dean, and fourth-grade teacher Elsbeth Carty. They were recognized by the school and their families were able to join in;
• Learned art teacher Laura Ball has resigned to work closer to her home on the other side of Detroit at another NHA school. She has been replaced by Christina Robbins;
• Reviewed the discipline reports for Dec. 21 through Jan. 22 that showed no middle school student-on-student or student-on-staff physical or verbal assault, no persistent disobedience in the district, 15 gross misdemeanors in the district, and 39 absent and 21 tardy students listed by student number and grade;
• Approved the 2018-19 board meeting calendar, which indicated the board meeting at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The only deviation from that is the February 2019 meeting, which was changed from Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, to the next week, Feb. 21; and
• Learned none of the board members was interested in attending the 2018 National Charter Schools Conference June 17-20 in Austin, TX.