Schools

Students were suppose to be taking ISTEP tests Tuesday, but they couldn't because of technical glitches. This is the 2nd day in a row we've seen problems with ISTEP testing.   Some students were able to log-in Tuesday morning and begin their tests but around 11 there were more problems.    School districts tell me the students would get locked out of their session and in some cases couldn't log back in.    ...

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - Two Indiana school districts that test students for drug use are facing challenges as they look for ways to fund the programs. Officials at Southwest Allen County Schools and Smith-Green Community Schools in Churubusco say the screening is an effective deterrent to drug use but that paying for it isn't easy. The Journal Gazette reports ( http://bit.ly/12hAy9R ) that Southwest Allen has reduced the number of tests it gives to offset the costs.

Several area police agencies, fire departments, medical staff and students held an emergency drill At Penn High School this morning. They attempted to replicate a real school shooting situation as closely as possible. The active-shooter training exercise simulates a gunman breaking into the school while students are in class. "Victims" mimic realistic injuries for medics to treat and even police and EMT response times were portrayed realistically. We want to stress that this was just a drill, but they were creating a very real scenario.

BANGOR, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Two small homemade explosive devices have exploded inside Bangor Middle School. Police tell us a suspect is in custody right now. The school remained on lock-down as authorities searched for any more possible devices. Police say the classrooms were the safest place for them to be. A hazardous materials team as well as the Berrien County Bomb Squad reportedly were on the scene as well. WWMT's Ryan Duffy was on the scene, and reported that the device was a 'pop bottle bomb.' No one was hurt as a result of the explosion.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - A lawsuit on behalf of a former Michigan high school student says some officials failed to properly investigate allegations she was sexually assaulted at school. The lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids says school officials also ignored reports of cyberbullying that prompted her to leave Forest Hills Central High, near Grand Rapids. The student, who was 15 at the time of the alleged assault in 2010, isn't identified in court papers.

ELKHART - Parents who have students in the Elkhart Community Schools will have a chance tonight to weigh in on proposed changes to next year's busing and school schedules. These changes are reportedly needed to offset a shortfall to the district's bus transportation fund. Proposed plans include changing school start and end times. The second recommendation involves changing elementary boundaries to reduce the number of buses needed. The corporation is hosting three public meetings.

THREE RIVERS, Mich. - Some students at Three Rivers High School were eating candy they shouldn't have been eating. Police say the candy was laced with marijuana. Back in late January, officers from the Three Rivers Police Department were sent to the high school after getting a tip that two teenage students had some suspected marijuana-laced candy. An investigation was conducted, which found 8 students were using the candy and 2 of them were delivering the pot-laced candy to fellow classmates.

A threat at local schools kept a lot of kids home on Monday.   In Mishawaka, only 61% of kids were there.   In Elkhart, classrooms were even more empty. Police and school officials took the threat very seriously and wanted to be prepared for the worst. They were tight-lipped about specifics of the plan, but in Elkhart alone, between 20 and 25 officers were stationed at various schools.    Pinewood Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary and the Montessori School of Elkhart are just some of the area schools where security was increased in the form of police officers.

Schools in Elkhart and St. Joseph County are on high alert after an anonymous threat was made saying local school children would be killed today, April 15. There were no incidents reported Monday except a shortage of students. A number of schools in Elkhart had police squad cars parked outside, and in some cases, officers were inside or outside on foot. While some parents decided to send their kids to school on Monday, others kept them home. WSBT has learned in the Elkhart Community Schools, only 30% - 40% of students were in class on Monday.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - About half of the 90 teachers and staff at Benton Harbor High School are being let go. Union officials say they just learned a few days ago the district is going to send out pink slips to the entire faculty this week. The district plans on calling back only half of the current teachers and filling the rest of the positions with new hires. This is part of a so-called "turnaround" program at the high school, approved by the state, to avoid a takeover.