Kalamazoo Promise Celebrated

KALAMAZOO (WKZO) -- In the past few years, Kalamazoo schools have celebrated “the Kalamazoo Promise” with a week of special events, but not this year. Superintendent Michael Rice says this year they are planning an entire season of activities to get Middle School students to begin thinking about their college careers.

Sixth Graders will all get a chance to tour WMU and get a taste of college life. Seventh Graders will hear from Kalamazoo school grads who have gone on to successful careers, and 8th graders will be exposed to the High Schools to prepare them for the transition. Dr. Rice says it’s all designed to prepare students for college. The programs will begin later this month.

School districts in Michigan would be allowed to establish their own versions of the Kalamazoo Promise, using revenue from tribal casinos under legislation passed unanimously this week by the State Senate. Bill sponsor Ron Jelinek, from Three Oaks, tells us that New Buffalo Schools wants to create scholarships from its portion of Three Winds Casino revenues, but was told that the money could only be used for K-through-Twelve programs, and nothing post-secondary.

Jelinek says that should be changed, so more kids can go to college. Jelinek says that he was in contact with New Buffalo Schools officials while the legislation made its way through the Senate.