Tag Archives: Godfrey-Lee Public Schools

Lee High School to celebrate 100 years of tradition and history with Centennial Celebration Sept. 30

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Over the years, Lee Middle & High School has grown from the single front wing built in 1923 (Courtesy, Lee High School)

By Deborah Reed

deborah@wktv.org

The district’s K-10 Godfrey Avenue School grew from two classrooms to 12 between 1894 and 1916, and was still overcrowded with classes meeting in stairwells (Courtesy, LHS and the Godfrey-Lee Parent-Teacher Association)

In November 1923, an excited band of students, led by Principal Francis W. Marsh, left the old Godfrey Avenue School and entered the halls of the new Lee Street School for the first time.

One hundred years later, on Saturday, Sept. 30, the community and alumni will celebrate Lee High School (LHS) with a Centennial Celebration event.

“[Lee High School] has such a rich history and traditions,” said David Britten, Former Superintendent and Alumni Representative. “Even though much of that has changed, I think it’s important that the people who live there, and the people who are involved with the school district, know what some of that is in order to better understand what is going on today and why it is what it is.”

A rich history

As Wyoming’s oldest high school, and the only school still occupying its original 1923 structure, LHS represents the entire district.

Lee High School in 1949, with original front section built in 1923, east wing addition (1925), and west addition (1930) (Courtesy, Lee High School)

“The tradition is more than the 100 years of Lee High School, but the school district itself, dating back to 1857,” said Britten.

Britten went on to say that the primary focus of the celebration is to help the current community learn about the depth of history of the entire area.

“People don’t realize [LHS]’s roots, its history, is really Wyoming’s history,” said Britten.

A member of the Wyoming Historical Commission, Britten is doing what he can to make people citywide more aware of the history and traditions of the city itself.

“I made it a point while I was there (at LHS), and even since I’ve left there, to make that history visible to people, either through Facebook or presentations,” said Britten. “It gives you clarity.”

Traditions – then and now

A full-size gym with regulation court was built in 1952 at the north end of the west wind along Havana Ave and was considered one of the best basketball courts in Wyoming (Courtesy, Lee High School)

As a freshman at LHS in 1969, then serving as middle school principal, conjoined middle and high school principal, and then superintendent of Lee schools until his retirement in 2017, Britten has seen traditions come and go.

“We used to be more social as a school,” remembers Britten. “Back in our day, we had dances after every home game. It didn’t matter if it was football or basketball.”

Britten also remembers another lost tradition – socializing at soda bars.

“You could walk from school over to Chicago Drive or to Burton, and one of the drug stores would have a soda bar,” said Britten. “Now, kids are more alone. Their connection is through their phones or online video gaming, but not so much the kind of social things that we did.”

Britten believes that is why the Centennial Celebration is so important.

“The more a school district or school itself or parents can put together these kinds of celebrations, whether it’s for a 100th anniversary or something else, and bring people together, the better,” said Britten.

What attendees can expect

Centennial Celebration activities will include an all-years alumni reunion, homecoming activities, and an open house to view the progress of the reconstruction, upgrade, and remodeling of Lee Middle & High School.

In 1938, an 11-acre athletic complex was completed on Godfrey Avenue (Courtesy, Lee High School)

The traditional homecoming parade, followed by a varsity soccer match that will begin at 5 p.m., will be held on the preceding Friday.

Saturday activities will commence at Lee Field on Godfrey Avenue at 12 p.m. with the traditional homecoming football game between the Lee Legends and Eau Claire Beavers. State Representative Winnie Brinks, a former member of the Godfrey-Lee staff, will welcome fans to the stadium just prior to kickoff.

The game will include performances by the award-winning Lee High School band and other activities. At half-time, the traditional crowning of the homecoming king and queen will also feature on-field representation by several dozen past Lee High School royalty, extending back to the 1950s.

The Centennial Celebration community open house and alumni reunion will begin at 1 p.m. in the Lee High School gym on Havana Street. Aside from guided tours of the school, a substantial historical display will highlight the history of the Godfrey-Lee community since the first landowners of 1833.

David Britten and Thomas DeGennaro compiled 100 years of memories and history in a book and with all proceeds going to Lee High School (Courtesy, Lee High School)

Three hundred copies of a new 128-page book titled 100 Years at the Lee Street School by David Britten and Thomas DeGennaro will be made available for purchase, with all proceeds supporting Lee High School.

“It became a labor of love over a couple of years,” said Britten about the book. “We think it’s going to be a key part in this celebration.”

Several other activities will be ongoing until the open house/reunion ends at 5 p.m., and attendees will be encouraged to donate to a scholarship fund for Lee students.

Complimentary light refreshments will be available.

“A hundred years only comes once”

Britten urges community members to come out, enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime celebration, and support LHS students by attending the football game, presentations, and performances.

“A hundred years only comes once,” Britten said with a laugh. “I’m not sticking around to plan the 200 year celebration.”

To learn more about Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, visit www.godfrey-lee.org.

Reid Haskins scores 7 TDs in Bridgman’s 56-0 win over Godfrey-Lee

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Bridgman defeated Godfrey-Lee 56-0 on Friday night. (WKTV)



By: Zach Fanko, WKTV Contributing Writer


Bridgman quarterback Reid Haskins spent plenty of time in the end zone Friday night as the No. 6 team in 8-player Division 1 football ran away from Godfrey-Lee 56-0.

The Bees’ signal-caller found success both through the air and on the ground with 142 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, as well as 223 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns.

“You know Reid really doesn’t get as much credit for his passing,” Bridgman coach Aaron Locke said. “Very shifty runner, but he was efficient throwing the football tonight.”

Adding to the rushing total was Clark Smith with 76 yards and a touchdown on just four carries, while Wade Haskins made some big catches with three receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Despite being ranked as a top-10 team in the Associated Press high school rankings, Bridgman (6-0) is ineligible for the 8-player state playoffs as their enrollment is deemed too high for MHSAA 8-player guidelines.

With that said, the Bees are aiming to finish the regular season before playing another 8-player school Northpointe Christian who finds themselves ineligible for the playoffs. The two schools have scheduled a “bowl game” of sorts to showcase their student athletes.

“We can only control what we can control unfortunately,” Locke said. “We are enjoying the success our student athletes have earned so far this season.”

The Bees face Lawrence for their homecoming game next week. Meanwhile Godfrey-Lee (0-6) travels to Eau Claire.

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Lee middle & high school building contractor approved; repairs, reimagining set to start

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  • Construction and reconstruction will begin at Lee middle and high school this spring. One of the new projects will replace an area of the building which collapsed in 2019 with a new entrance off Havana Street, as well as a new multipurpose area. (Supplied)
  • Construction and reconstruction will begin at Lee middle and high school this spring, including enclosing the currently unusable interior courtyard to be used as a cafeteria and other purposes. (Supplied)
  • Construction and reconstruction will begin at Lee middle and high school this spring, including a new area which will include a band room. (Supplied)
  • Construction and reconstruction will begin at Lee middle and high school this spring, including a new area which will include a band room. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The long saga of a much-anticipated makeover of the Wyoming Lee Middle and High School building will move into high gear early this year as, following the final approval of a general contractor late last year, construction will begin as soon as spring weather allows.

In 2020, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools district voters voted to support a bonding proposal which would allow the district to put out bonds for about $18 million for a wide range of building and facility projects.

At the time, the district not only faced the task of modernizing portions of its middle and high school that are nearly 100 years old, it had to make repairs to a portion of the building which collapsed in 2019. But modernization and repairs are only the most obvious part of the historic and still bustling building.

“As far as the new construction, I am most excited for us to begin to make our facilities worthy of the amazing students that we serve,” Eric Mockerman, district Board of Education president, said to WKTV. “I am (also) happy that our building will be more accessible to our community in multiple ways and it will overall be easier to navigate throughout the facility. I am very excited for the addition of our new band room that will better fit the needs of the phenomenal program that will use that space.”

According to information provided by Dirk Weeldreyer, district interim superintendent, the building effort will be a two-year project, expected to be completed in the 2023-24 school year.

Construction and reconstruction will begin at Lee middle and high school this spring. One of the new projects will replace an area of the building which collapsed in 2019, shown at left. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

Among the projects are the reconstructed portion of the building along Havana Street in the space where the building collapsed and was demolished. An existing entrance to the gym will be redone, and the area demolished turned into a new media center on the first floor and new classroom spaces on the second floor.

Also planned is a new cafeteria and multi-purpose space that will be built in the area that is currently the unused courtyard of the building. And there will be a new band room addition on the north side of the building.

“Our current construction timeline calls for activity on our new/rebuilt spaces to commence in early spring 2022,” Weeldreyer wrote in an email. “We will need to work from the ‘inside out’ on these new spaces, so the first thing to happen will be excavation and preparation of the interior site (inside the current courtyard).”

There will also be interior renovation work in the existing classroom spaces starting in the summer of 2022, and renovation will continue over the subsequent 18 months or more.

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools’ new superintendent eager to get to work on ‘exciting’ district agenda

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Lee Middle and High School. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, after selecting Dr. Mike Burde, currently Assistant Superintendent at Kenowa Hills Public Schools, to be the next GLPS superintendent last month, the school board approved his contract at its meeting Monday, Dec. 13.

Superintendent Burde’s first day on the job will be Jan. 3. And a long list of “exciting “ work awaits him.

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Burde. (Supplied)

“It’s an honor to be selected as the next superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools,” Burde said to WKTV. “I am eager to get started in listening, learning, and building relationships in the schools and in the community. With bond construction projects scaling up, new curriculum programs, and forward-thinking continuous improvement efforts, it’s an exciting time to be a Legend!”

Burde will work with Interim Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer as he transitions out of this role.

The Board, in a previous statement, said it was “especially thankful for Mr. Weeldreyer’s leadership” since the beginning of the school year.

“We have been fortunate to have the time to conduct a thorough search, and it has been time well spent,” GLPS board President Eric Mockerman said in the statement.

Mockerman also told WKTV he and the district is excited to have Burde take over in the new year.
 

“I am excited to get to work with Dr. Burde. He comes to us with a wealth of experience that I believe will lead Godfrey-Lee well into the future,” Mockerman said. “While we were going through the interview process the board was impressed by Dr. Burde’s experience as well as the thoroughness that he had planned for his first 90 days.

“I spoke personally with several of Mike’s references through the hiring process and I also had the opportunity to speak to several of his current board members who backed up 100 percent what was told to me by his references. Mike … is more than ready to hit the ground running with all of the work that needs to be done. I think he is an excellent fit for Godfrey-Lee.”

Superintendent Burde, according to a biography on the Kenowa Hills Public Schools website, become the district’s assistant superintendent in 2012. Since then, “he has supported the district’s implementation of building and district improvement plans that support student-centered education; which the district calls Personal Mastery. Dr. Burde has also been an active advocate for the K-12 instructional technology; assisting in the planning and implementation of district’s ongoing 1:1 technology initiative. In addition, he’s worked to develop strong partnerships with organizations such as KnowledgeWorks, the Michigan Department of Education, and the Michigan Association of State and Federal Program Specialists (MASFPS).”

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Education from Spring Arbor University, Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University, as well as a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University.

For 15 years, Dr. Burde has been involved in public school administration at the elementary, secondary, and central office levels. He began his professional career at Ionia Public Schools, where he served as a middle school social studies teacher before taking on various leadership responsibilities at Belding Areas Schools.

Burde and his wife, Jacqlyn, have two children: Katherine and Marilyn.

Godfrey-Lee schools superintendent search moves into initial interviews this week

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Lee Middle and High School. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

After reviewing 14 applications for its Superintendent of Schools position, the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Board of Education is moving forward this week with its selection process by scheduling interviews with three West Michigan educators.

The interviews will be held Tuesday, Nov. 9, and Wednesday, Nov. 10, with the interviews open to the public and the public “encouraged to attend.”  Interviews will be held at the Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center, 961 Joosten St. SW, Wyoming.

The interview schedule for Nov. 9 will have Dr. Michael Burde, current Deputy Superintendent at Kenowa Hills Public Schools, scheduled for 6:45 p.m.; and Brevet Bartels, current Middle School Principal at West Ottawa Public Schools, scheduled for 8 p.m.

On Nov. 10, at 6:45 p.m., Ana Aleman-Putman, current Principal at Grandville East Elementary School, is scheduled to be interviewed.

“We were pleased with the applicant pool and interest demonstrated in the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, especially with the large number of superintendents retiring in Michigan over the last two years and all the difficulty facing school districts during the pandemic,” Board President Eric Mockerman said in supplied material. “We believe these quality candidates may meet our needs and expectations.
 

“We look forward to finding out more about the candidates’ leadership abilities and what each candidate has to offer our students, staff, and community. The Board continues to appreciate the input from the public and encourages people to attend the interviews.”

According to a statement from the district, 19 educators responded to the posting with preliminary applications for the position. Five candidates eventually withdrew or did not complete the application fully.  Applicants consisted of current superintendents, central office administrators, principals, intermediate school district employees, and a teacher.  The position attracted interest from California, Illinois, Michigan, and Canada.
 

The superintendent search became necessary as Kevin Polston accepted the position of Kentwood Public Schools superintendent after serving the district for four years.  Interim Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer has served the Godfrey-Lee Schools for the last several months.  The process has been facilitated by the Michigan Leadership Institute.

“It is our hope to have a new superintendent in place by January 3 (2022), realizing we may have to be somewhat flexible regarding that date,” Mockerman said.

A district description made as part of the initial search process states that total enrollment is about 1,761 students with Hispanic/Latino students at about 1,398 of that total. Staff includes 123 instructional staff, 61 support staff and 13 administrators. Its most recent budget expenditures were $27,605,217.

Also, district voters approved a Godfrey-Lee Public Schools bond request in 2020 to fund a wide-ranging building, reconstruction and technology effort. The project went out to bid in October with construction slated to begin in late winter/early spring of 2022. The current construction/renovation timeline calls for all projects to be completed by early 2024.

For more information visit godfrey-lee.org.

Godfrey-Lee schools gain state education monetary award, will be part of STEM ‘playbook’ project

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Lee Middle and High School. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools recently announced that it was one of 15 districts across the State of Michigan selected to participate in the continuation of a state STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program, the MiSTEM Place, Project and Problem (3-P) Based Learning Playbook for the State of Michigan.

In return for participation in this program, the district will be awarded $10,000 for the enhancement of the districts current STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) programs.

“Innovating the student experience has been a focus of our district and this award is an affirmation to the hard work of our staff and students,” Kevin Polston, superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, said in supplied material. “We believe each child is brilliant and it is our mission to create conditions for student success. STEAM is one of many ways we accomplish this goal.”
  

The playbooks will be published for Michigan schools to utilize as examples of programs who exemplify outstanding implementation of 3-P Learning. Godfrey-Lee was recognized for K-12 STEAM, Senior Capstone Experience and recent project “Bilingualism is our Superpower!”

The MiSTEM award will go to support the further development of the K-12 STEAM program including vertical curriculum development, according to supplied material. It will also fund opportunities for student teams to share their STEAM experiences with surrounding communities such as representing Godfrey-Lee by speaking at the MACUL Student Showcase.
 

The MiSTEM organization is locally run through Grand Valley State University and is a longstanding partner with Godfrey-Lee schools.

 

Godfrey-Lee schools name interim superintendent as process to replace Kevin Polston begins

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Lee Middle and High School. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Anybody who knows Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, who has been inside the walls of the middle/high school complex and its other schools, knows that the last four years have been extraordinarily good years under the leadership of outgoing Superintendent Kevin Polston.

But life, and the ‘legendary’ educational and facility advancement of the district, will continue its movement forward as Polston leaves later this month to take over leadership of the Kentwood Public Schools system.

Dirk Weeldreyer (Supplied)

And the first step in that continuing path is the June 11 announcement that the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Board of Education has appointed Dirk Weeldreyer to become interim superintendent effective July 1.

While Board of Education President Eric Mockerman had nothing but praise for the departing superintendent, he and the board see the district continuing to move forward, both in the interim and longterm.

“We have been blessed to have Kevin with us for the last four years and with his leadership we have gotten through some very tough times. Kevin has helped to build a very strong team and prepare us for a bright future,” Mockerman said to WKTV. “I am excited to have Dirk come on board with us and help us through this process. His experience and knowledge of our district as well as his other interim experiences will help to make this transition easier.”

Weeldreyer is expected to serve for six months to allow time for the district to complete a search process and appoint a full-time superintendent.

“We will take this time to establish a profile for who we want for our next leader and go through the process of searching for the right candidate,” Mockerman said.

Weeldreyer comes to Godfrey-Lee with nearly 20 years of educational leadership experience including nine years as the superintendent of Fennville Public Schools where he retired in 2017, according to supplied material. His more recent school district service includes serving as interim superintendent at both Caledonia Community Schools and Muskegon Public Schools.

He currently serves as the Executive Director of the School Equity Caucus, a statewide organization of approximately 200 school districts that seeks adequate and equitable school funding in Michigan.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to serve the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools during this time of transition,” Weeldreyer said in supplied material. “The district has a well-deserved reputation for providing an outstanding educational experience for its students, and the many similarities between my previous district, Fennville, and Godfrey-Lee make me feel right at home.

“I look forward to building relationships with the staff, students, families, and community as we continue to provide an excellent education for our children.”

While there will still be plenty of work to do for a superintendent, in the short and long term, at Godfrey-Lee, the district has in the past four years accomplished much. It has cemented its reputation as a making its “minority majority” student population a strong and proud reputation, transitioned is sports image and district outlook moniker to become “The Legends”, and survived a partial collapse of the middle/high school building by, in part, getting passed a local bond measure to not only repair the damage but to fund massive facility and infrastructure improvements.

All of which were led by Superintendent Polston.
 

“I have been fortunate to serve the Godfrey-Lee community over the past four years,” Polston said to WKTV. “It is a truly special place because of the amazing people that call this district home. It will always have a special place in my heart and I will take the Legend spirit with me long into the future.”

Technology in schools, specifically Godfrey-Lee Pubic Schools, discussed on WKTV Journal In Focus

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Visiting WKTV Journal In Focus in this segment are district Superintendent Kevin Polston and Director of Technology Adrianne Rose. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

In early April, it was announced by AT&T and the nonprofit Connected Nation that Godfrey-Lee Public Schools would be one of 13 schools and nonprofits across Michigan that would receive free mobile hotspots and internet connectivity with the specific goal of serving at-risk students.

That news follows the district last November gaining voter approval of a $17.8 million bonding measure intended for building and infrastructure improvements. So there is big technology news happening in the Godfrey-Lee community.

Adrianne Rose, Director of Technology, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, on WKTV Journal In Focus set. (WKTV)

Visiting WKTV Journal In Focus in this segment are district Superintendent Kevin Polston and Director of Technology Adrianne Rose. And we will not only talk specifically about the technology improvements in-work and planned, but also the status of the all the improvements that $18 million will fund.

Superintendent Polston also talks about his state-wide education work after being appointed early this year by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to lead the Student Recovery Advisory Council of Michigan. The group is looking at educational issues caused by the pandemic and is tasked to “provide guidance and recommendations to ensure Michigan students have the tools and resources they need to get back on track.”

So, coming full circle, the Godfrey-Lee schools leader talks about how technology and connectivity will also be an essential element of getting students back on track.

WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.