Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 17

jj Lansing State Journal Yrl Betsy Miner Metro Editor 377-1154 E-mail: metrolsjxom 0 0 m- m. m. vm a a OnthslVh get an additional 30 minutes I 'v "I 1 get an additional 30 minutes State part of federal initiative to help K-3 students improve ucation to dole out to local schools. The funds first were given out in 2002. Schools are required to adopt a comprehensive reading program that is shown to help students improve.

The program focuses on comprehension, fluency, vocabulary instruction, phonics and phonemic awareness. While local schools can choose among five state-approved programs and decide how to implement the programs, some things are standard: Schools must commit at least 90 consecutive minutes a day solely to reading instruction and assess students with coach Libby Caldwell and paraprofessional Jean Harrison in a class called Read Naturally. The neediest children get an additional 30 minutes with a tutor. On a recent day, Dylan Stine and Kortez Franklin sat side by side in the hallway, reading a book called "Nosy Nina" not because they had to but because it was fun. And because, as Dylan put it, "Reading doesn't rot your brain the way TV does." "It helps you learn new words and become a better reader," said Dylan, an 8-year-old third-grader.

Reading First program FAQ: www.ed.govprograms Michigan Department of Education: www.michigan. govmde regularly, and teachers must undergo extensive training. Schools also must hire literacy coaches, who help teachers in the classroom and work with students. All the third-graders at Ferndale's Wilson Elementary School get the 90-min-ute block of reading, and those who are struggling First, which aims to ensure all children are able to read by the end of third grade. "We have a long way to go, but if definitely moving in the right said Faith Stevens, supervisor for curriculum and literacy in the Office of School Improvement at the Michigan Department of Education.

The state gets about $22 million annually from the US. Department of Ed HUGH GRANNUAVAssociated Press Reaching out: Third-grade teacher D'Anne Garrett works on a vocabulary exercise this month at Wilson Elementary School in Ferndale. In 109 state high schools with high poverty and low test scores, children are getting help from a federal reading program. "School consolidation is not a sign of a dying E. Sharon Banks, Lansing Schools superintendent Jackson man heads to trial for death of E.L woman i i .1 (T) -) VI 1 Associated Press FERNDALE In 109 Michigan schools with high poverty rates and low test scores, children in kindergarten through third grade are getting help from a federal program aimed at improving their ability to read.

The program is called Making Reading First in Michigan and falls under the federal initiative called Reading Holland tunnel opens to traffic 885-foot route built to make way for runway Associated Press HOLLAND Following a series of delays, a four-lane tunnel is open to traffic. The 885-foot South Washington Avenue tunnel opened this week pleasing many area residents who were anxious to have the road reopened. The tunnel was built to make way for a runway extension at Tulip City Airport Mayor Pro Tern Craig Rich and his wife drove through the tunnel on Tuesday. "It was really cool. It seems to function really well," Rich said.

"As you start to get close to the tunnel, you, as a driver, start slowing down." Construction started in October 2003. The city paid $450,000, while the rest of the $17 million project was funded through state and federal grants. The opening was delayed from Monday because guardrails needed to be installed at the entrances and exits of the tunnel. It originally was slated to open by Thanksgiving, but was delayed in part because emergency systems needed to be fully tested. Fennville resident Linda Den Vyl drives into Holland about three times a week.

She said she couldn't wait for the tunnel to open so she would no longer have to use the detour, which added about four miles to the drive. Tough choices: Lansing School Superintendent E. Sharon Banks defends her proposal to close several Lansing schools Thursday at KEVIN W. FOWLERFor the Lansing State Journal a school board meeting. Residents voiced concern over the plan, which would help the district save as much as $10 million next year.

8-year-old tells court she tried to find her mom By Kelly Hassett Lansing State Journal MASON Minutes after watching Paul Gibbs take her mom from her wheelchair and drive off, 7-year-old Crystal a grabbed her bike, scared but determined to find her, Crystal testified Thursday. Her tes-timony Gibbs T.Dubay helped Mason District Judge Thomas Brennan Jr. decide to send Gibbs, 48, of Jackson to trial formurdermthe July 14 strangling death of his estranged girlfriend Tammie Sue Lansinparents eakout dosing city schools against districC What's next I Board members wilt next meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 6 in the district offices, 519 W.

Kalamazoo St A decision on whether to dose any schools isn't expected until later in January. with the Center for Language, Culture and Communication Arts Middle Magnet School as a means of shaving $10 million from next year's budget She also proposed restructuring Riddle Magnet Middle School to offer an elementary program there. This is the third consecutive year that board members are considering such a large amount in cuts. Closing just one of the schools could save up to $900,000 a year for the 16725-student school system. A decision isn't expected see Schools Page3B resist telling her son that he was in luck, after all Card collection Every year around this time, I hear from people wanting to know where, they can recycle their Christmas cards.

The answer used to be St Jude's Ranch for Children, in Boulder City, Nev. For 30 years, the folks there turned the fronts of used cards into new cards, then sold them to raise money. No longer able to handle the avalanche of cards, St Jude's has suspended the program. If you know of any or-gardzation that accepts used -greeting cards, let me know, and ni pass it on. What do you rftinJc? Call John Schneider at 377-1175, send a fax to 377-1298 or email jschneidkj.com.

1 ,1 5 What's next Paul Gibbs, 48, of Jackson, will stand trial for murder in the July 14 death of estranged girlfriend Tammie Sue Dubay. A trial date has not been set Dubay, 35. No trial date has been set "I rode on my bike looking everywhere," Crystal, now 8, told Brennan about her fruitless 5 a.m. search for her mother the morn-' ing she disappeared. Crystal stopped looking after her grandmother, -Margaret Dubay, arrived at her East Lansing apartment.

"I called my grandmother, so she would come over instead of me being all alone," said Crystal, who clutched a black stuffed animal during her testimony at Gibbs' preliminary hearing. Gibbs' attorney, Lee Taylor, asked Crystal how well she could see what her mother and Gibbs were doing outside that See COURT Page3B TJ HAMUONAsodated Press "To put a child's health at risk IS cnnrA ha1iafn State Rep. Jerry Koofanan R-Grand Rapids R-Grand Rapids. jonn and lonya wwons had worked to get the lead out of their home since they discovered their 5-year-old son, Jonathan, had high levels in his blood. They were eager to sign up when the city's Get The Lead Out program offered to replace their windows.

But they were baffled when the historic commission ordered them to use more expensive wood windows in their home, which is not in a historic preservation district but is a "po tentially eligible" area. "The east side has been blessed with a neighborhood school for a long time," said Kibbey, whose offices are located across the street from Allen Street Elementary School "There's a value to that It is a walkable neighborhood." But Superintendent E. Sharon Banks cautioned the crowd of about 40 residents that closing schools will not Windows: Jonathan Wilkins, 5, looks out a window, which is a source of lead dust in his Grand Rapids home. An historic group says new windows must be wood, which are more expensive. Preservationists' rules complicate lead threat Banks defends proposal to save district millions By Susan Veia Lansing State Journal laming parents and residents of neighborhoods surrounding five Lansing schools that areslatedfor clos ing pleaded Thursday to school board members to consider other options.

Rick Kib-bey, executive director of the Lansing Eastside Kibbey Community Corporation, Development said he'd like to work with the schools to see if there's another solution. John Schneider jschneidgtejxom 377-1175 than 7,000 brand new, still-in-the-box Nintendo DS systems for sale. At inflated prices, of course. Some sellers were advertising the systems for 33 percent more than the $150 retail price. In an e-mail to me.

Baker wrote: "This means that a bunch of greedy jerks bought up the games right before Christmas, just to make a profit "There must be a way for retail stores to (ensure) the game systems are being sold to REAL CONSUMERS, and not to eBay pi i i3 Speaking oirt: Lansing School Board member Amy Hodgin listens 'as a Lansing resident expresses his concerns about plans to close several Lansing schools. mean an end to the community or district "School consolidation is not a sign of a dying district," Banks told the crowd. But "the options are few," she continued. "We're trying to preserve as many programs as possible." Banks last week proposed closing Allen, Walnut, Ver-linden and Maple Grove elementary schools along tion, bidding for a Darth Vader Voice Changer helmet available in stores for $29.99 (if you can find one) reached more than $80. I A Polar Express Train Set which retails for about $250, can cost you $400 or more on eBay.

The practice of trying to exploit a potential shortage is not without risks. In a follow-up e-mail to me, Baker said the Nintendo DS prices on eBay are now sliding back toward the original retail price. Incidentally, after preparing her son for the worst Baker scored. A clerk at one of the stores where she left her name and number phoned to say the store had a Nin-. tendo DS tucked away for her.

Tin not spoiling a surprise here. Baker couldn't eBay pirates add tension to must-have buys EATON RAPIDS We can all agree that Christmas, theoretically anyway, should mean a little more than a desperate determination to corral the year's trendy toy. On the other hand, the average mother is inclined to do what she can to come through for her 13-year-old son on Christmas morning. And when that kid is pinning his hopes on the same toy that every other kid -wants, well a mother can get worked up. Valeria Baker of Eaton Rapids went to five stores looking for a Nintendo DS, a hand-held video game system.

Baker didn't find one, bat, at every store, she found other frantic parents clamoring for the same dung. I. Then Baker went on eBay, the Internet auction service and found more rates, who are causing the drought in the first place." Some may call it piracy; others may call it the American way. Buy low; sell high. Do your homework.

Spot a potential shortage. Capitalize on the supply-and-de-mand equation. An Internet auction service is the perfect vehicle for Christmas opportunists." Imagine trying to sell a cache of Nintendo DS systems from the back of a van. Then consider selling them to a worldwide market from your living room. In demand The Nintendo DS isnt the only hot toy showing up on eBay this Christmas.

A recent report from KRT New Service cited exam-pies of Christmas shopping run amok: I In one recent eBay auc Associated Press GRAND RAPIDS The city's Historic Preservation Commission is insisting that a federally funded lead abatement program install more expensive wood windows instead of vinyl-clad ones. increased the cost of one replacement project by nearly $5,000 by requiring historically correct windows on a home where a child had been diagnosed with lead poisoning. Window replacement is key in lead abatement projects because old windows are a source of lead dust To put a child's health at risk because of their concerns that the work be done historically accurate is beyond belief," said state Rep. Jerry Kooiman,.