by orionontv | Jul 16, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers, Lake Orion Schools, Music
ORION TWP, Mich. – On Thursday, June 27, the Lake Orion High School Concert Band performed on the stage of the Wildwood Amphitheatre to a large crowd consisting of friends, family and music enthusiasts alike.
Band Director Michael Steele welcomed audience members to their “9th Annual ‘Starry Night’ Concert,” which took the listeners into fantastical yet familiar worlds.
Steele addressing the large crowd – Photo by ONTV
The band, which is comprised entirely of current Lake Orion High School students, played classics such as “Lawrence of Arabia” by Maurice Jarre and recognizable tunes like “Summer of ’69 (The Music of Woodstock),” arranged by Ted Rickets, “Eighties Flashback,” arranged by Paul Martha, and “A Tribute to Dave Brubeck,” arranged by Patrick Roszell.
The band opened the concert with “King Cotton March” by John Phillip Sousa, a playful and triumphant track that set the tone for the entire night.
After the first song, Steele took the microphone and gave his gratitude to the LOHS Concert Band members for their dedication to art and music.
“I’m indebted to these guys for giving up their time and for putting in their immense energy and their great talent and I think you’re really going to enjoy tonight’s performance,” Steele said.
The show was about an hour plus a brief intermission right before “Lawrence of Arabia,” which ended up being a good choice since it is such a long-winded, epic and taxing track to play.
Many different soloists were given their time to shine at Wildwood, Saxophone, Trumpet and Oboe (to name a few) were brought center stage to display their prowess.
Overall, the LOHS Concert Band’s Wildwood concert was a blast to hear and experience, you can find the full Wildwood video along with other free concerts on ONTV’s YouTube page: youtube.com/user/orionontv. As well as, orionontv.org/watch.
Trumpet soloist – Photo by ONTV
The next free Wildwood concert will be 50 Amp Fuse, playing pop hits July 11 at 7 p.m.
For more information on the LOHS Concert Band, visit their Facebook page or their website at lakeorionschools.org/high-school-home/departments/fine-and-performing-arts/band.
by orionontv | Jun 26, 2024 | Lake Orion Schools
LOCS Superintendent Search Update
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June 26, 2024
Dear LOCS Community-
The Lake Orion Community Schools Board of Education has selected five candidates to interview for the vacant Superintendent position. Interviews will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, July 17 and 18.
“Thank you to all the candidates who applied for the Superintendent position,” said LOCS Board of Education President Danielle Bresett. “We deeply appreciate the time and effort dedicated to this process. Each candidate brought a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to educational excellence. Their contributions have greatly enriched our selection process, and we are excited about the promising future ahead for LOCS.”
The interview schedule (meetings will begin at 4:55 p.m.):
- July 17-18 LOCS Board of Education will conduct first-round interviews with five candidates. The interview schedule (Board of Education public meetings will start at 4:55 p.m.):
- July 17
- 5 p.m. Heidi Mercer, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Lake Orion Community Schools
- 6 p.m. Meghan Ashkanani, Director of Teaching, Learning, and Technology, Berkley School District
- 7 p.m. Catherine Kochanski, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
- July 18
- 5 p.m. Kenneth Janczarek, Superintendent, Clintondale Community Schools
- 6 p.m. Todd Bidlack, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services, Bloomfield Hills Schools
All interviews are open to the public and will be held in the board room of the LOCS Administration Building, located at 315 N. Lapeer St., Lake Orion, MI 48362.
After each interview, the public will have the opportunity to provide written feedback to the Board on the candidates. Interviews will not be live-streamed but will be recorded and available for viewing at LakeOrionSchools.org/SuperintendentSearch following the interviews.
Candidates were selected from a field of 18 applicants.
At the conclusion of the interviews on July 18, the Board will determine which candidates to invite back for a second round of interviews.
All updates will continue to be posted on the LOCS Superintendent Search page.
Sincerely,
LOCS Administration
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by orionontv | Nov 9, 2023 | Lake Orion Schools
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 9, 2023
Lake Orion High School automotive program
awarded $30,000 grant
LAKE ORION, Mich. — Lake Orion High School has received a grant of $30,000 from the
Margaret Dunning Foundation to support automotive equipment upgrades.
The grant, submitted by second year LOHS Automotive Instructor Justin Montgomery, is one of
the largest grants received by the automotive program in recent history.
The grant will provide an opportunity to upgrade and add new equipment to the auto shop. We
will be upgrading both of our 2-Post Hoists, creating a safer welding space with two walk-in
welding booths with fume extraction, among other smaller equipment upgrades to benefit the
students. All these items will help the shop resemble what students will see out in the industry
and keep them even safer while working in the shop.
“I think that our automotive students deserve the best environment to learn new skills and
achieve their goals in. This equipment is going to really help jump start our program and
generate more excitement among our auto students” Montgomery said. “My students have so
much talent! I cannot wait to see them using this new equipment and continue helping them
build a foundation of knowledge that will lead them to success in life and the automotive
industry.”
The new equipment and upgrades will be installed over the course of the 2023-24 school year.
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About the Margaret Dunning Foundation
The Margaret Dunning Foundation was founded by Ms. Dunning in 1997. She was born in 1910 in
Redford Township, Michigan, and moved with her mother to Plymouth, Michigan in the1920s. During
her lifetime, Ms. Dunning was a successful businesswoman, philanthropist, and civic booster. She was
major supporter of many Plymouth nonprofits, including the Plymouth District Library and the Plymouth
Historical Society. In addition to her personal philanthropy, Ms. Dunning was a classic car enthusiast
and was a regular participant in the Woodward Dream Cruise with her 1930 Packard 740 Roadster.
Ms. Dunning died in 2015 at the age of 104. Her estate provided additional funding for the Margaret
Dunning Foundation, which continues to support her charitable interests and legacy.
315 N. Lapeer
Lake Orion, MI 48362
(248) 653-4637 cell
Mark Snyder
Director of Communications
and Marketing
LakeOrionSchools.org
Twitter: @LkOrionSchools
Facebook: @LakeOrionCommunitySchools
by orionontv | Aug 28, 2023 | Lake Orion Schools
News from Lake Orion Community Schools
Today’s date: August 24, 2023
For release: Immediate
For more information: Superintendent of Schools Ben Kirby at 248-693-5400 or by email at [email protected]
Lake Orion Community Schools places two proposals on the February/March presidential primary ballot
The Lake Orion Community Schools’ Board of Education has approved placing a non-homestead proposal and a sinking fund proposal on the February/March presidential primary ballot.
The first proposal, a 10-year non-homestead proposal, supports the school district’s operating budget. This budget covers everything necessary to provide educational programs and services in Lake Orion Community Schools.
Every school district in Michigan is required to levy 18-mills on non-homestead property to receive their full share of state aid. The non-homestead millage is levied on businesses, second homes, vacant land, and rental property. It does not affect taxes on the home in which a homeowner lives (a primary residence).
Non-homestead levies are subject to rollbacks under provisions of the Michigan Constitution.
“When these rollbacks occur, school districts lose revenue and experience reductions in their State Aid,” LOCS Superintendent Ben Kirby said. “Even though a non-homestead levy cannot exceed 18-mills, we are asking for approval of 21 mills to protect the school district from future rollbacks in the 18-mill levy if and when they occur.”
The second item on the February/March presidential primary ballot is a 10-year sinking fund proposal. It is intended to replace the existing 1.8862 mill sinking fund originally approved by voters in 2016. If approved by voters in presidential primary, the levy will continue at 1.8862 mills, and generate approximately $5 million annually.
The sinking fund is a pay-as-you-go method of funding upgrades and repairs to schools and school facilities. In addition to funding upgrades and repairs, changes in Michigan law now allow sinking fund revenue to be used for construction or repair of school buildings, school security improvements, the purchase of school buses and transportation vehicles, and for the acquisition or upgrading of technology.
Revenue from LOCS’ sinking fund will be used to enhance the 2018 bond projects and complete projects that were not included in the bond.
“When the school district started our bond proposal project in 2018, $300 million in needs were identified, our community approved a bond for $160 million to update, upgrade, and enhance our district. The sinking fund will provide revenue to complete projects that were not included in the 2018 bond,” said Kirby.
Board of Education President Birgit McQuiston said the intent of the two ballot proposals is to maintain and protect the school district’s operating budget and to maintain and upgrade school facilities, technology, and the student transportation fleet.
“Taken together, we believe that the two proposals will assure that Lake Orion Community Schools can remain financially sound and that the community’s investment in the school district is protected,” she said.
The non-homestead millage will have no effect on the taxes for homes in which a homeowner lives, and that the sinking fund will restore a proposal that was approved by voters in 2016.
The school district is preparing informational materials to help assure that the community is well-informed and that their questions are answered. Information will be included on the school district website, through the news media, social media, school district communications, printed materials, and mailed directly to the community.
Details about the proposal are available now on the school district’s website and will be updated continually through Election Day. For more information, all residents are invited to visit LakeOrionSchools.org/School-Election-Information or contact Superintendent Ben Kirby at 248-693-5400 or by email at [email protected].
The school district invites all community members to share their thoughts about the upcoming ballot proposals. Visit www.research.net/r/LakeOrionmillageproposals to take a brief survey.
by Becky Andrus | Jun 3, 2021 | Lake Orion Schools, Meetings
