Last night at their board meeting, Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) decided to close two elementary schools because of budgetary issues. International School at Bertha Vos and Interlochen Community School will close after the 2016 school year.
Old Mission Peninsula School, however, received a “stay of execution,” as noted on Facebook by Allison Bullard O’Keefe, an OMPS parent who helped to organize the Old Mission focus group to save the school.
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Because of an anonymous $800,000+ donation from an Old Mission resident, the board voted to delay a decision on whether or not to close OMPS. The next steps will be for the TCAPS board and superintendent Paul Soma to meet with the donor and determine if and how to move forward.
Here’s Allison’s note on Facebook:
We have a stay of execution. All in thanks to a group of highly dedicated, passionate, caring and downright awesome group of people who worked tirelessly the last 5 months to protect and save our community school.
We are forever grateful for the generosity of our donor and the MANY other community members who have stepped up even in the last week donating their talents, time and treasure. The school board is open to working with us and we will take the needs and wants of our Peninsula residents to the table while continuing to do what is best for our students.
We believe we can get this all solidified in the next 6 weeks. That is our goal. There is some more hard work ahead, but we are close. Now to take a minute to celebrate! ??????WAHOOOO!!!!!!!
A NOTE FROM JANE: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers like the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, and magazines like Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So of course, I started my own newspaper. Because the Gazette is mainly reader-supported, I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks my way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the Old Mission Peninsula. Check out the donation page here. Thank you so much for your support. -jb
[…] Commission and is the ex officio liaison to the Zoning Board of Appeals. He has been part of a community group working to keep the Old Mission Peninsula School and Peninsula Community Library open. As part of […]
[…] TCAPS Board has deliberated on whether to close schools because of budgetary issues. At the TCAPS board meeting on March 7, 2016, TCAPS voted to close two elementary schools, the International School at Bertha Vos and […]
[…] Vos and Interlochen Community School. Old Mission Peninsula School, however, received a “stay of execution” so that issues surrounding the $800,000 donation could be further […]