Sturgis celebrates students; tennis courts revamp OK'd

STURGIS - The Sturgis "Eastwood Singers" have returned after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The singers, made up of elementary students from the district's Eastwood grades 3-5 building, performed Monday, Nov. 20, before a packed audience and board of education. The longtime tradition of the young singers performances was reinstated this year, after being paused since 2020.

The board of education, which met in a scheduled rotation between district buildings at Eastwood Elementary, also heard an update on the grades 3-5 school's lighthouse team program

Siblings Emma Bischko, from fourth grade, and Robert Bischko, from third grade, guided by elementary principal Mike Miller, told the board the purpose of the team is to "make our school a better place for us and others." Qualities in a lighthouse team member, Emma Bischko said, is to "stay positive, have fun and be safe. Through our actions and leadership, we strive to make Eastwood a better place and help make learning fun."

This year, there were more than 90 applications for team membership. Approximately 40 students, about a dozen per grade, were selected.

Work to improve the Augspurger tennis courts was approved Monday during board action. The board examined information about the financial aspect of the work, a report presented by superintendent Art Ebert.

Bids received for resurfacing 12 courts were $72,000 from Tennis Courts Unlimited and $76,770 from Racquet Sports. The school's foundation has $47,350 available for the project, with the district eligible for up to $35,000 in grant funding from the United States Tennis Association. However, the USTA grant cannot exceed 50% of the total cost of the project.

The district resurfaces the tennis courts once approximately every five years to ensure top condition.

A motion by board member Betsie Drumm to table action on the proposal until the board's December meeting died for lack of support. A new motion to accept the bid from Racquet Sports was accepted with Drumm casting the lone "no" vote. Racquet Sports is surfacing the new middle school courts.

Ebert told the board he will work to secure the USTA grant. If the grant is not awarded, he said he will pursue other grant opportunities.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Sturgis celebrates students; tennis courts revamp OK'd