- The theme schools are sixth-grade programs — now connected to City Middle/High School — at Blandford Nature Center (now City @ Blandford), the John Ball Zoo (City @ Zoo) and the Center for Economicology (City @ Riverside).  Applications are due March 2.

- The Central High School campus has a School of Health Science and Technology, partnered with Spectrum Health and others.  Union hosts the Academy for Design and Construction, featuring a new public-private partnership with area construction companies such as Christman and Rockford.  GRAPCEP/Engineering and Biomedical School is now open to ninth-graders at the Creston campus.  Ninth-graders are also now welcome at the School of Business at both Ottawa Hills and Creston.  Applications are due Feb. 5.

- GRUPA is now accepting sixth- through eighth-grade students.  Applications for the GPRS school, modeled after a charter program in Detroit, are due March 2.

- City Middle/High School offers a college preparatory curriculum.  The district often notes the high school is the region’s top-performing school on state standardized tests.  City Middle/High is in the process of finalizing its use of the rigorous International Baccalaureate curriculum.  Applications for City Middle/High School are due Jan. 31.

The open houses feature information on all the specialty programs for all grades, but are split between the high schools and the City building.

Here are the dates and times, per GRPS:

9 – 12 Grade School Choice Open Houses
Tuesday, January 13 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm @ Creston High School
Wednesday, January 14 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm @ Union High School
Wednesday, January 21, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm @ Ottawa Hills High School                                               
Thursday, January 22, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm @ Central High Campus / Montessori Building

6 – 8 Grade School Choice Open House
Saturday, January 31 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm @ City High/Middle School

West Michigan native Taylor Lautner will officially be back for “Twilight” sequel: “New Moon”

That news being reported by entertainment news outlets all across the country today, the news is also on the home page of ”Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer’s website.

Lautner plays Jacob Black, a werewolf competing for the affections of main character Bella.

The movie is set for release November 20, 2009.

Read more about Taylor in my previous post (from, ironically Nov. 20, 2008)…

West Michigan Native in “Twilight”

(posted Nov. 20, 2008)

Taylor Lautner as Jacob in Twilight

West Michigan native in “Twilight”

Taylor Lautner was born in Grand Rapids and grew up in Hudsonville, and now his career is set to take-off after his role in Twilight.

Back in July, I posted a blog about Taylor, but with the switch to the new website, I have had to re-post and re-write what I posted then.

Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart in Twilight

Taylor plays Jacob Black, a werewolf and possible love interest of Bella, the main character in Twilight, a teen vampire/romance movie.

Taylor’s filmography includes: Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005), The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D (2005), Shadow Fury (2001)

From his bio on IMDB.com – Taylor began studying karate at the age of six, training at Fabiano’s Karate School (340 E Lakewood Blvd, Holland, MI or Fabiano’s Karate School website).

“Twilight” poster courtesy Summit Entertainment

The announcement kicked off Monday night’s GRPS board meeting.  Parents at Harrison Park will meet for two-hour English As A Second Language (ESL) courses twice a week.

It’s a pilot program expected to start in January.

“The data is very cleary that families who read together can help children significantly boost their vocabulary and school performance,” Literacy Center of West Michigan Executive Director Susan Ledy said in a statement.

The district also announced it exceeded its United Way fund-raising goal by $13,000. GRPS raised $103,000 for the campaign.

That money in a way comes back to GRPS, particularly in the form of Schools of Hope, a massive tutoring program also led by the United Way. Schools of Hope gives first- through third-graders access to an in-school tutor at a total cost of roughly $90,000 per year.

Here’s how the board voted:

Kenneth Hoskins – YES
Amy McGlynn – YES
Tony Baker – NO
Harry Campbell – NO
Jane Gietzen – NO
Lisa Hinkel – YES
Catherine Mueller – YES
David Allen, Arnie Smithalexander – ABSENT

GRPS also announced a new United Way program to help parents at one elementary school with their English and other literacy skills.

photo of Josiah Tummel, courtesy Zeeland Public Schools

A seventh-grader from Zeeland has achieved something no other student around the nation has: his essay is the only American entry featured in a United Nations booklet called “Peace Messages from Around the World.”

An essay by 13-year-old Josiah Tummel is one of 109 messages in the booklet, one from each of 109 nations.  A statement from Zeeland Public Schools says there were 150,000 entries received and copies of the book were sent to “the highest diplomat of each of the 192 UN member states.”

Josiah and his classmates were part of an assignment for their English class at ZPS’ Cityside Middle School.

Here’s his essay:

“I’m a 7th grader at City Side Middle School. I am submitting a letter about peace. I suggest that you consider peace as a topic to talk about this year at your meeting. A reason that peace is important is because if you don’t have peace, you’re never really happy. I mean, think about it, when you’re in a war, are you really happy? Also if you don’t have peace you won’t be successful. Think about it, do these wars really settle anything other than who has the strongest army? No, it doesn’t. So try to stop all of that, it is so crazy to keep going on those wars. So please consider talking about peace this year at the United Nations meeting because without peace it’s a lost cause.

“Sincerely, Josiah.”

Neither the superintendent nor board members would elaborate on the nature of that disagreement.

“I have concluded it is in the best interest of the district and its students that I resign to enable the district to move forward,” the superintendent told the board and those in attendance at a special board meeting.

Pressed in an interview with 24 Hour News 8 to be more specific, Wallington said, “I got into education for kids and if I can’t keep the educational system moving forward — the board and I aren’t able to work together — in my opinion it’s in the best interest of the district that I resign and they find someone that’s a better match with the direction they wish to go.”

The board members present unanimously accepted the resignation — board President Pamela Hoezee was not in attendance — and authorized the naming of an interim superintendent subject to the board’s approval.

Wallington said the board will honor his contract, meaning he will continue to be paid.

The school board was set to vote at Thursday’s special meeting on taking back a raise given to Wallington and reducing his authority. The superintendent told 24 Hour News 8 he didn’t know the reasoning for that, saying it was a question for the board.

Board Vice President Dennis Groendyke refused to explain the reasoning, saying in an interview only that “we feel that we did what was best for all parties concerned.”

The resignation came after the board went into closed session with its attorney.

Groendyke said the situation wasn’t related to accusations that some school administrators had falsified the date on a job application.

An item banning the superintendent from discussing the hiring process of a special education paraprofessional was also on the board’s agenda Thursday along with a measure to rescind the raise given to the districts’ financial director.

A part-time district paraprofessional — the daughter of Godfrey-Lee’s finance director — addressed the board at the outset of the meeting, saying that she believed she was going to be full-time but ended up in a job that was part-time with no benefits. She said she brought her son into the district but that he found himself in a hostile environment.

The paraprofessional told 24 Hour News 8 the superintendent didn’t have anything to do with that hostile environment.

Other district employees at the meeting said they too were uncertain of the reason for the board’s potential action against the superintendent.

———

UPDATE 9/18/08:

The crew of “The Steam Experiment” will continue their closed-set shooting Friday, they are still on track to wrap September 26th or 27th.

———

UPDATE 9/11/08:

from the set of “The Steam Experiment”

———

UPDATE 9/10/08 8:20pm:

Val Kilmer has wrapped shooting for his role on “The Steam Experiment” and has now left town… moving on to his next project. ——— So this puts me ahead of imdb.com, for now… Its not very often, a movie fan or movie blogger can be able to put out this kind of information before IMDB.com (the google of movies) which I love!!! But heck, this is cool…

“The Steam Experiment”

.

The Story (from an official release):

Six people find themselves trapped and terrorized in an urban turkish bathhouse in a Hitchcockian suspense-thriller directed by Philippe Martinez. The story begins when former university professor James Pettis (VAL KILMER) boasts to the local paper that he has trapped six people and is holding them hostage in a Turkish bath to prove his hypothesis that humans will devolve into chaos under the pressures of global warming. Detective Jack Mancini (ARMAND ASSANTE) is brought in to interrogate Pettis who offers to reveal the hostages’ location if his hypothesis is printed as the next day’s front page headline. The six potential victims are: an ex-professional football player (ERIC ROBERTS), a former actress (MEGAN BROWN), a nurse (PATRICK MULDOON), a waitress (EVE MAURO), a restauranteur (QUINN DUFFY), and a writer (Cordelia Reynolds). As temperatures rise to horrifying levels, the six desperate detainees fight to survive against impossible odds.

What the Director, Philippe Martinez is saying:

“I’ve always been fascinated with Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense thrillers and the atmosphere of his films. We have a superb ensemble cast, a strong script, and it will be an interesting journey into the darkness of human nature when confronted with a crisis situation.”

The Cast:

Val Kilmer (pictured above) plays Jimmy Pettis, a former university professor who has warned about global warming and its apocalyptic impact on humans… and has now gone a little crazy when nobody takes him seriously… that’s when he takes six hostages into a “steam bath” and turns up the heat… demanding that the press print his theories as front-page news.. or else. — Armand Assante (pictured above) plays police detective Jack Mancini, who negotiates with Kilmer’s character to try to determine if “Jimmy” is bluffing, or really holding six people hostage for “The Steam Experiment”. — Eric Roberts (pictured above) plays one of the hostages… a former professional football player — Patrick Muldoon (pictured above) plays another hostage, a nurse — Megan Brown (pictured above) another hostage, plays a former actress — Eve Mauro (pictured above) another hostage, plays a waitress — Quinn Duffy (pictured above) hostage, plays a restaurateur — Cordelia Reynolds hostage, plays a writer — Ricky Wayne (pictured above) plays Newspaper Editor Walter Grubbs —

“The Steam Experiment” Details:

Director/Producer: Philippe Martinez (previously Directed “Wake of Death” (2004) and “Citizen Verdict” (2003) ) Executive Producers: Luc Campeau, Karinne Behr, Luc Campeau, Neil Steinberg, Steelbridge Finance, Rob Malkani, Stephen Bannon and Trevor Drinkwater Based on screenplay by: Rob Malkani Production Company: CinePro Pictures (Chairman/CEO is Philippe Martinez) Starring: Val Kilmer, Armand Assante, Eric Roberts, Patrick Muldoon, Megan Brown, Eve Mauro, Quinn Duffy, Cordelia Reynolds, Ricky Wayne Release Date: TBA Genre: Drama/Thriller Other Story details: “The Steam Experiment” features an old-fashioned Turkish-style steam bath with only one way out and a door that locks from the outside, built for a local soundstage by Deano’s Inc. in Grand Rapids (What Rachael reported 9/2/08) Setting: Grand Rapids, MI Production Status: Pre-Production, 16 days of shooting September 5th-September 26 Shooting Locations: Grand Rapids, MI (filming in Amway Grand Plaza Hotel), The Grand Rapids Press, The Grand Rapids Police Department, a Grand Rapids bar, one of the bridges, sets built in a soundstage in Grand Rapids, and various other locations around Grand Rapids What Suzi reported 9/12/08

How this all started, for me:

“The Steam Experiment” has been in the works for months… and for about 4 weeks, I’ve been waiting to report this news: Val Kilmer is the name that started this whole search for clues

I know that Producers have been scouting various locations around Grand Rapids for months

Some of those locations include the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, The Grand Rapids Press downtown office, some street scenes, a Grand Rapids bar, one of the bridges, and sets built in a soundstage in Grand Rapids The Production Company Cinepro Pictures is based in Largo, Florida, and the stort was originally written to be located in Tampa, Florida and has been re-written to be based in Grand Rapids Armand Assante, Eric Roberts, and Patrick Muldoon also star

So far there are no plans to put out a call for “extras”, because local actors and actresses and people working at the location shoots have filled out the cast

You may remember a previous mention of Armand Assante – he’s set to star in another movie that was scheduled to film in West Michigan – “The Fifth Mafia”, but is now not coming to Grand Rapids

For more information:

My original mention in August 13th blog My 1st blog with details September 2nd 6pm news 9/2/08: What Rachael reported Tuesday evening 11pm news 9/2/08: What Suzi reported Tuesday night

UPDATE 9/18/08:

The crew of “The Steam Experiment” will continue their closed-set shooting Friday, they are still on track to wrap September 26th or 27th.

———

UPDATE 9/11/08:

from the set of “The Steam Experiment”

———

UPDATE 9/10/08 8:20pm:

Val Kilmer has wrapped shooting for his role on “The Steam Experiment” and has now left town… moving on to his next project.

———

Its not very often, a movie fan or movie blogger can be able to put out this kind of information before IMDB.com (the google of movies) which I love!!!   But heck, this is cool…

“The Steam Experiment”

.

The Story (from an official release):

Six people find themselves trapped and terrorized in an urban turkish bathhouse in a Hitchcockian suspense-thriller directed by Philippe Martinez.

The story begins when former university professor James Pettis (VAL KILMER) boasts to the local paper that he has trapped six people and is holding them hostage in a Turkish bath to prove his hypothesis that humans will devolve into chaos under the pressures of global warming.  

Detective Jack Mancini (ARMAND ASSANTE) is brought in to interrogate Pettis who offers to reveal the hostages’ location if his hypothesis is printed as the next day’s front page headline.

The six potential victims are: an ex-professional football player (ERIC ROBERTS), a former actress (MEGAN BROWN), a nurse (PATRICK MULDOON), a waitress (EVE MAURO), a restauranteur (QUINN DUFFY), and a writer (Cordelia Reynolds).  As temperatures rise to horrifying levels, the six desperate detainees fight to survive against impossible odds. 

What the Director, Philippe Martinez is saying:

“I’ve always been fascinated with Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense thrillers and the atmosphere of his films.  We have a superb ensemble cast, a strong script, and it will be an interesting journey into the darkness of human nature when confronted with a crisis situation.“

The Cast:

“The Steam Experiment” Details:

Director/Producer: Philippe Martinez (previously Directed “Wake of Death” (2004) and “Citizen Verdict” (2003) )

Executive Producers: Luc Campeau, Karinne Behr,  Luc Campeau, Neil Steinberg, Steelbridge Finance, Rob Malkani, Stephen Bannon and Trevor Drinkwater

Based on screenplay by: Rob Malkani 

Production Company: CinePro Pictures (Chairman/CEO is Philippe Martinez)

Starring: Val Kilmer, Armand Assante, Eric Roberts, Patrick Muldoon, Megan Brown, Eve Mauro, Quinn Duffy, Cordelia Reynolds, Ricky Wayne

Release Date: TBA

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Other Story details: “The Steam Experiment” features an old-fashioned Turkish-style steam bath with only one way out and a door that locks from the outside, built for a local soundstage by Deano’s Inc. in Grand Rapids (What Rachael reported 9/2/08)

Setting: Grand Rapids, MI

Production Status: Pre-Production, 16 days of shooting September 5th-September 26

Shooting Locations: Grand Rapids, MI (filming in Amway Grand Plaza Hotel), The Grand Rapids Press, The Grand Rapids Police Department, a Grand Rapids bar, one of the bridges, sets built in a soundstage in Grand Rapids, and various other locations around Grand Rapids What Suzi reported 9/12/08

How this all started, for me:

“The Steam Experiment” has been in the works for months… and for about 4 weeks, I’ve been waiting to report this news:

Val Kilmer is the name that started this whole search for clues

I know that Producers have been scouting various locations around Grand Rapids for months

Some of those locations include the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, The Grand Rapids Press downtown office, some street scenes, a Grand Rapids bar, one of the bridges, and sets built in a soundstage in Grand Rapids

The Production Company Cinepro Pictures is based in Largo, Florida, and the stort was originally written to be located in Tampa, Florida and has been re-written to be based in Grand Rapids

Armand Assante, Eric Roberts, and Patrick Muldoon also star

So far there are no plans to put out a call for “extras”, because local actors and actresses and people working at the location shoots have filled out the cast

You may remember a previous mention of Armand Assante – he’s set to star in another movie that was scheduled to film in West Michigan – “The Fifth Mafia”, but is now not coming to Grand Rapids

For more information:

My original mention in August 13th blog

My 1st blog with details September 2nd

6pm news 9/2/08: What Rachael reported Tuesday evening

11pm news 9/2/08: What Suzi reported Tuesday night

And a “vibrant city core” is key to hanging on those young adults.

That word in the second presentation at the West Michigan Regional Policy Conference.

Carol Coletta, president of CEOs for Cities, said those educated young adults are very mobile — 64 percent of them look for a place to live before they look for a job. She says their priorities are clean attractive places where they can live the way they want to live. They’re looking for the type of housing they want — and of course they want to be able to afford it. And she says they are looking for a community that is welcoming and culturally diverse, among other things.

Educated young adults are now 30 percent more likely to live within three miles of the center of the metropolitan area in which they live — in other words, they live downtown and in nearby neighborhoods.

But Coletta says cities sometimes miss the mark by focusing too much on making “cool” cities and not enough on understanding that the ultimate goal needs to be attracting and retaining young talent.

She says cities and regions are really the driver on the issue but states can get involved, most effectively by investing in education. Cities ought to connect the students at their college campuses to the cities to increase the likelihood that those students are interested in staying once their education is complete.

Cities need to be distinct, Coletta says, and not seek to copy how other cities are defining themselves or attracting talent.

Asked about transit, she says a downtown transit system is not effective in attracting talent but she says a regional transit system is.

The presentation from “Our Big Three” — Haworth, Herman Miller and Steelcase — is now underway. Look for something on that soon.

Your thoughts on this presentation?

Tony

Genetski also says the state is spending less than average on infrastructure — roads, bridges, etc. — and spending more than average on education and health care.

His opening remarks shed light on the potentially uphill battle business leaders in the region will face trying to convince leaders in Lansing to side with their view. Education leaders in the state believe that most schools in the state are underfunded.

And Genetski is suggesting scrapping the MBT and replacing it with no tax on business at all.  That’s something that was discussed last year but didn’t have traction in part because opponents worried it would cost the state too much in lost revenue.  But Genetski says over time, the state will lose revenue anyway because the MBT will send businesses and their employees packing.

Keep it here for more updates. Your thoughts?

–Tony