News Summary
The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools District is set to welcome students back for the upcoming academic year. Schools will operate on varied schedules tailored for elementary, middle, and high school students. In addition to important dates regarding the school year, a significant expansion of the local high school radio program, 88.1 The Park, is underway to enhance student participation and local news coverage. However, the district faces serious allegations of racial discrimination involving a teacher’s remarks, while Canton High School has received a grant for its mascot rebranding.
Plymouth, Michigan – The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools District is set to welcome students back for the 2024-25 academic year on Tuesday, September 3. Schools in the district will operate on varied schedules, with elementary schools starting at 8:55 a.m. and concluding at 4:01 p.m., middle schools from 8:15 a.m. to 3:09 p.m., and the high school (P-CEP) from 7:25 a.m. to 2:21 p.m. Starkweather School will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.
This school year will feature several important dates for students and families, including:
- Family-teacher conferences: November 13-14
- Professional development days (no school): October 9, November 5, and March 5
- Election Day (no school): November 5
- Thanksgiving break: November 27-29
- First semester tests: January 15-17 (grades 9-12)
- Winter break: December 23 – January 3
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no school): January 20
- Presidents Day (no school): February 17-21
- Spring break: March 24-28
- Second semester tests: June 9 (grades 9-12)
- Last day of school: June 9-11
In addition to the start of the school year, a significant expansion effort is underway for the local high school radio program, 88.1 The Park. The campaign, known as the “Amplification Campaign,” aims to raise over $500,000 for the radio program which has been a staple in the Plymouth-Canton area for 53 years. The rotary Club of Plymouth has generously committed $200,000 of this target towards transforming the radio station’s facilities.
The current facilities of the radio program are insufficient in space to accommodate all interested students. The proposed expansion includes converting a classroom into multiple new spaces and upgrading equipment. The goal of these improvements is to nearly double student participation and enhance the breadth of local news coverage.
As of now, just under $100,000 remains to be raised to reach the campaign goal. A fundraising auction event has been scheduled for Saturday, May 17 to gather support from the community.
However, the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools District is also facing serious allegations of racial discrimination. The situation involves an incident with an eighth-grade student at East Middle School, where derogatory remarks were allegedly made by a teacher after the student chose not to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance in protest. The Arab American Civil Rights League is assisting the family in filing a complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights in response to this incident. The school district has stated that it has policies against discrimination and has taken necessary actions concerning the teacher involved.
In another development, Canton High School has received a $145,894.40 grant from the Native American Heritage Fund. This funding will be utilized for rebranding its mascot to “Cobras.” The rebranding process was initiated when students voted for the new name, which received formal approval from the P-CCS board.
As the new academic year approaches, the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools District remains focused on enhancing educational opportunities for students while navigating challenges related to inclusivity and school spirit.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Northern Michigan Receives $50,000 for Disaster Relief
Major Construction and Renovation Planned for Allendale Schools
Farmington and Farmington Hills Present Community Updates
Traverse City Brothers Launch LED Sports Gear Tour
Northern Michigan Ice Storm Recovery Efforts: Roads Cleared
Novi, Michigan Proposes $120 Million Bond for Public Safety
Visa Troubles for International Students at Michigan State University
Visa Woes for International Students at Michigan State University
Michigan’s Head Start Office Shuts Down, Leaving Families in the Lurch
Novi Proposes $120 Million Public Safety Facilities Update
Additional Resources
- WXYZ: Community rallies to raise $500,000 for high school radio station expansion
- Wikipedia: Plymouth, Michigan
- Click on Detroit: Plymouth-Canton awarded $145k grant to replace Chiefs mascot with Cobras
- Google Search: Plymouth-Canton Schools
- Free Press: Plymouth-Canton ballet co. trailer stolen, props for Nutcracker
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Racial discrimination
- Michigan Lottery Connect: Wayne County educator wins Excellence in Education award
- Google News: School Discrimination
Author: STAFF HERE PLYMOUTH WRITER
The PLYMOUTH STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREPlymouth.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Plymouth, Wayne County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Plymouth Ice Festival, Art in the Park, and the Plymouth Fall Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Plymouth, plus leading businesses in automotive and retail that power the local economy such as Roush Industries and Downtown Plymouth businesses. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HERENovi.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
