Parents in Utica Community Schools in Macomb County may soon see new school boundaries and building assignments as the district explores moving to a kindergarten through grade five, grade six through eight, and grade nine through 12 grade model to align with Michigan’s curriculum standards and recent facility upgrades.
Utica may change how grade levels are organized
Utica Community Schools is weighing a possible change to how its grade levels are structured, Superintendent Robert Monroe announced in his latest Monroe Memo.
Currently, UCS operates with elementary schools serving kindergarten through sixth grade, junior high schools covering seventh through ninth, and high schools serving 10th through 12th grades. The district is now exploring a more traditional setup — kindergarten through grade five elementary schools, grade six through eight middle schools, and grade nine through 12 high schools — aligning with most other Michigan districts.
Monroe said the district’s Safety and Success Bond, approved in 2023, has expanded building capacity enough to consider this change. The timing also connects with the district’s Enrollment Distribution Advisory Committee (EDAC), which is studying long-term attendance boundaries and classroom use.
“This change would better align our schools to successfully meet curriculum and assessment expectations, and provide more opportunities for sixth and ninth grade students,” Monroe wrote, according to Utica Community Schools.
If approved, the shift would allow UCS to expand middle school programs, strengthen transitions to high school and give students earlier access to electives and co-curricular activities. The district plans to collect parent feedback and publish FAQs and fact sheets as part of a transparent review process.
UCS parents with elementary and middle schoolers could see building changes as early as the 2026–27 school year if the plan moves forward.
Families can submit questions directly to the superintendent’s office through the district website.
State awards clean bus grants to three Macomb districts
Three Macomb County districts — Chippewa Valley Schools, Anchor Bay School District and New Haven Community Schools — will receive new funding to upgrade their bus fleets through the Clean Bus Energy Grant Program, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
The grants are part of a $35.9 million statewide investment aimed at reducing emissions and improving student health.
- Chippewa Valley Schools will receive $3.48 million for 10 electric buses.
- Anchor Bay School District will receive $984,738 for three electric buses.
- New Haven Community Schools will receive $78,927 for two propane buses.
State officials said the new buses will improve air quality, reduce maintenance costs and give students a quieter, cleaner ride, according to EGLE’s Oct. 13 press release.
This round of funding brings Michigan’s total number of clean-powered school buses to nearly 900 statewide, with a final round of grant applications due by Dec. 18, 2025.
Bus upgrades will benefit students across kindergarten through grade 12 beginning next school year.
