Paw Paw Public Schools (PPPS) is a school district headquartered in Paw Paw, Michigan.
| Paw Paw Public Schools | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| District information | |
| Established | 1870 |
| Schools | 6 |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 2,300 (2017) |
It was established in 1870. As of 2017[update], it had 2,300 enrolled students.[1]
Schools
edit- Paw Paw High School
- Paw Paw Middle School
- Paw Paw Later Elementary School
- Paw Paw Early Elementary School
- Cedar Street Community and Family Center (preschool)
- Michigan Avenue Academy (alternative school)
Points of Pride Video Series
editIn the fall of the 2019–20 school year, Paw Paw Public Schools began a popular video series to feature individuals connected to the school district. Called Points of Pride stories, or POP Stories, each video is 3–5 minutes in length and features a student, staff member, or community member talking about his/her connection to Paw Paw schools. The videos are published on the District Facebook page, and several videos have been viewed 8,000 times or more.[2]
Threat
editSchools across Paw Paw were closed on Monday, March 19, 2018, due to a threat.[3] The threat was reportedly given by a 15-year-old student Aiden Ingalls at the High School, who was arrested after police searched the student's house.[4] All of the schools opened the following day.
Nickname
editOn March 9, 2020, Paw Paw Public Schools Board of Education trustees voted to retire the Redskin nickname at the end of 2019–20 school year. A 27-student task force worked to gather input from students, alumni, and the Paw Paw community, and after a several-month search, announced the new nickname for the school would be the Paw Paw Red Wolves at the July, 2020 meeting of the Board of Education. Paw Paw Athletes, Coaches React to New Red Wolves nickname. The school district will begins the 2020–21 school year as the Paw Paw Red Wolves, the only school with the Red Wolves nickname and logo in the State of Michigan.[5] Paw Paw School District Officially Changes Nickname to 'Red Wolves'; Introduces Logo[6]
On January 21, 2019, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan filed a federal discrimination complaint alleging a racially hostile environment in the Paw Paw Public Schools District.[7] The ACLU reported that it "used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain a substantial number of school district records that betray the widespread racially toxic climate in the schools."[8] In 2017, the district witnessed a controversy involving the removal of "Redskins" as the school mascot name, with the school board of education voting 4–3 to keep the name.[9]
References
edit- ^ "About PPPS". Paw Paw Public Schools. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/774103405951774/videos/2852257231492271 [user-generated source]
- ^ "Paw Paw Public Schools closed Monday due to threat". MLive.com. March 19, 2018. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
- ^ "15-year-old Paw Paw student arrested after 'credible threat,' guns located in home". WZZM. March 19, 2018.
- ^ "Paw Paw athletes, coaches react to new 'Red Wolves' nickname". mlive. June 23, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Paw Paw school district officially changes nickname to ‘Red Wolves,’ introduces logo
- ^ ""Artistic" swastika? School district accused of racially hostile environment". CBS News. January 28, 2019. Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
- ^ "Racism in the Paw Paw school district threatens to crush MLK's dream". ACLU of Michigan. Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
- ^ Jones, Al (February 9, 2017). "Paw Paw remains the 'Redskins,' but it suffered on way to that decision". MLive.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.