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SSOCIATED
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EWSPAPERS OF
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ICHIGAN
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February 21, 2013
C
ANTON
- P
LYMOUTH
As the Plymouth-Canton school
district prepares for a May 7 bond
election, school board members
are also preparing a resolution
regarding the fate of Central
Middle School in downtown
Plymouth.
After board members finalized
the language for the May 7 bond
vote by a 5-2 margin, discussion
centered around the aging middle
school, which will be replaced with
a new middle school in Canton
Township, if the $114 million bond
is approvedby voters inMay.
“We have to be very thoughtful
about what we do with it, and be
community stewards,” said school
boardmember JudyMardigian.
Discussion included working on
community partnerships or selling
the property for the maximum
value and putting that money back
into the classroom. Mardigian said
she would work with her fellow
board members to draft an appro-
priate resolution to present to the
community.
The $114 million bond election
formally approved by the board
will include funds for the construc-
tion of the new middle school,
allow the district to replace the
aging bus fleet, and support the 1:1
initiative, which will supply a digi-
tal device for every student in the
district. That portion of the bond
will be about $15million.
Several school districts already
supply similar devices to students,
including Utica, Frasier, Grand
Ledge and Boyne City. Livonia
school board members just
approved language for a $190 mil-
lion bond proposal that includes
$30million for technology.
If the bond is approved, con-
struction on the middle school
would start this summer. The
school would open to students at
the beginning of the 2015-2016
school year.
Several teachers from Central
Middle School and parents of stu-
dents there voiced support for the
bond. Mardigian, who cited the
timeframe when she voted against
moving forward on the bond on
Feb. 7, voted for it this time around.
School board members Mike
Maloney and Mark Horvath voted
against it.
Horvath said he was still con-
cerned about the timing and the
lack of detail in the plan.
“The goal is absolutely noble,
but I'd prefer we wait until we have
a concrete plan to do this, so that
we could give the staff at Central a
plan that we know will work when
we go for the bond,” he said. “I can't
ask people to vote on awish.”
The Plymouth Community United Way
will host the 2013 Annual Meeting and
Awards Presentation from 7:30-9 a.m. March
15, at Comcast, 41112 Concept Drive,
Plymouth.
The public is welcome. The morning
begins with networking and a continental
breakfast followed by the meeting at 8 a.m.
The purpose of the meeting is to elect new
board members and officers, and includes
reports on the organization's 2012 finances
and programs. Plymouth Community United
WayBoard of Directors ChairmanPaul Hood
will recognize contributors with Platinum,
Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards as well as
those for Community Service.
To RSVP, call Cindy Bumgardner at (734)
453-6879, ext. 2 or send an e-mail to
cindy.bumgardner@pcuw.org by Friday, Feb.
22.
For more information, visit www.ply-
mouthunitedway.org.
Serving the Plymouth and Canton com-
munity since 1944, the Plymouth Community
United Way focuses on basic needs, educa-
tion and stability.
The Plymouth United Community Way is
seeking volunteers and senior citizens who
need help for the upcoming Rake 'N' Go
event.
Senior citizens and those with disabilities
who may need help with yard cleanup this
spring andwho reside in Plymouth, Plymouth
Township or Canton Township can contact
theUnitedWay office for help.
Rake 'N' go is planned for April 27 in all
three communities, but the last day to request
help is March 15. Volunteers are also needed
to clean yards and perform light outdoor
chores andmaintenance.
To request an application for help, or to
volunteer, access www.plymouthunitedway.
org. For more information, call (734) 453-6879
or send an email to betty.nolan@pcuw.org.
The Canton Police Department is asking
for help in identifying two men suspected in
the armed robbery of the Family Dollar store
on JoyRoad.
The robbery took place just before 9 p.m.
Feb. 6, police reports said, and was captured
on surveillance cameras in the store.
One suspect is described as a dark com-
plexioned black male, about 30 years old. He
is about 6-feet,1-inch tall and weighs about
150 pounds, witnesses said. He has a narrow
face and was wearing a black hooded sweat-
shirt with NIKE in white lettering, the wit-
nesses told officers.
The second man is described as a dark-
complexioned blackman, about 20 years old.
This suspect was about 5-feet, 8-inches tall,
witnesses said, and had a round face. Hewas
wearing a black coat and gray jeans at the
time of the robbery.
Anyone with information on the identity
of the suspect is asked to contact the Canton
Police Department at (734) 394-5400.
Anonymous tips can also be called in to
Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP, or
online to www.1800speakup.org. Crime
Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for a tip that
leads an arrest.
We have to be very thoughtful
about what we do with it,
and be community stewards.
”
School board moves forward on bond issue
United Way sets annual meeting
Volunteers sought for Rake ‘N’ Go
Robbery suspects are sought