Four teachers were hired for the upcoming school year Monday by the Glen Lake Board of Education.
An estimated 200 applications were submitted for the positions, created from a teacher retirement and larger class sizes expected in the primary grades.

Linda Kinder McCauley was hired to work with kindergarten students. Most recently a teacher with Kalkaska Public Schools, she has a master’s degree in elementary education and a bachelor’s degree which an emphasis in earth science, social studies ad geography. She is just completing her early childhood endorsement and has worked with developmentally delayed students.

Leah LaVanture, a 1997 Glen Lake graduate, was hired to teacher elementary special education. She has a master’s degree in special education and most recently worked at Norris Elementary as a paraprofessional, aiding a student with autism.

At the secondary level, Jason Bradford was hired to work with special education students. He comes to Glen Lake from the Traverse City Area Public Schools, where he worked as a special education teacher for grades 7-9. Bradford holds a master’s degree in educational technology and has coaching experience with middle school athletes playing basketball.

Ryan Schut was hired to fill a vacancy created with the retirement of longtime teacher Don Miller. Schut has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, and a bachelor’s degree in American history. He minored in physical education. Most recently, Schut was the physical education instructor and athletic director for Grand Traverse Academy in Traverse City.

In other business during the regular monthly meeting, the board:

• Heard proposals for the addition of pre-algebra for high school freshmen; a mathematics laboratory for grades 9-12; and a new 9-week exploratory “newspaper” class for 7th and 8th grade students. The proposal for new mathematics courses is the result of the new Michigan Merit curriculum and increased requirements in this subject.

• Reviewed textbooks scheduled to be purchased with federal impact money before school resumes this fall. The books, available for public review over the next month, are for Advanced Placement Environmental Science and mathematics.

• Heard a presentation from high school principal Kevin Kelly on a student enrichment trip to England similar to other student trips taken to Germany and Spain. Kelly led four similar trips to England in his previous position with Bellevue Community Schools.

Trago elected new G-L school board president

Virginia Trago was elected president of the Glen Lake Board of Education during the board’s organizational meeting Monday night.

Trago replaces Joan Hawley, who lost her re-election bid in May. Roger Mikowski will serve as vice president, Jeff Smith will be secretary, and Greg Flees is treasurer.

Newly-seated trustees Ross Hazelton and Ken Fosmore were sworn in and began their 4-year terms.
In other routine organizational issues, board members:

• Agreed to continue to meet the second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the high school media center.

• Designated the Thrun Lawfirm as legal counsel and Lewis & Knopf as auditors for the 2008-09 school year.

• Identified Jeannie Peacock as the person responsible for posting meeting notices and performing election duties on their behalf.