Brownstown Township residents may have a lot in common, but there is one thing that separates them: the school districts their children or grandchildren attend. Unlike many other cities Downriver in which the school district's borders mirror the community's boundaries, Brownstown instead is served by three different school districts. While that trio of school districts may differ in size and makeup, all three also share something in common: In a time when spending has become increasingly difficult, all three continue to work to provide the best education possible for its students.

The Northern section of Brownstown is split between the Taylor and Woodhaven School Districts (as illustrated in this map).   The Central and Southern portions of Brownstown use the Gibraltar School District.

Woodhaven-Brownstown School District
Until 1998, those attending this school system actually were attending the Woodhaven School District. That makes sense, though, since the vast majority of the students in the district were from Woodhaven. Over the years, however, the makeup of the district changed. A tremendous amount of building in the township starting in the late 1980s meant many new families for Brownstown, and many new students for the school system.
 
In 1998, however, the name "Brownstown" was officially added to the district's moniker to better represent the makeup of the district. The growth has meant more than just a name change, however. It also has meant more schools: Just a few years ago the district reopened Patrick Henry Middle School, a facility that had been closed for 10 years. The move brings eight the number of schools within the district.
 
They are: Woodhaven-Brownstown High School, Brownstown and Patrick Henry Middle schools and Bates, Erving, Gudith, Wegienka and Yake elementary schools. The growth has meant many changes, but one thing officials stress has not changed is the commitment to excellence for the students, and a look at recent history certainly shows that to be true.
 
In December, Gov. John Engler announced that Gudith Elementary School was one of less than 200 schools around the state to be selected as a winner of the Golden Apple Award. The award brings more than just congratulations. It also brings a handsome award, with winning schools receiving a minimum of $50,000 for the district. Supt. Bill Meadows, at the time the first awards were announced, said that money would be used for additional library books, more computers and other supplies for the schools.
 
The School Board meets the first Monday of every month at the board offices, 24975 Van Horn Road. For more information, call Meadows at 783-3300.
 
 
Gibraltar School District
Change is a common theme throughout the Brownstown Township, and it's certainly the case throughout the Gibraltar School District.

Just 10 years ago, the district had a population of about 2,700 students and operated three elementary schools, a middle school and Carlson High School.

Today, there are four elementary schools and a student population of 3,423, an increase of 27 percent in the last 10 years. That steady growth led in 2000 to the reopening of Weiss Elementary School.

Schools in the district are: Carlson High School, Downriver High School (an alternative school operated by the Downriver Technical Consortium), Shumate Middle School and Weiss, Chapman, Hunter and Parsons elementary schools.

The district has also seen a number of changes with its leadership. Several full-time and interim superintendents have been in place over the last 10 years: R. Nick Johns, Don Pobuda, James Vollmar, Thomas Riutta and Eric Federico, who was appointed to the position in January.

The Board of Education consists of Elton Laura Jr., Timothy Dean, Kenneth Jacobs, James A. Crapko, Linda Andrzejewski, Edward Camilleri and Marsha Kozmor.

Regular meetings of the board are held the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the board offices, 19370 Vreeland Road, in Woodhaven.

For more information, visit the district's website at http://www.resa.net/gibraltar.
 
 
Taylor School District
Although the vast majority of Brownstown children attend school in either the Woodhaven-Brownstown or Gibraltar school district, a smaller number are part of the Taylor School -District, the largest district Downriver.
 
Taylor has changed somewhat in recent years -- in the mid 1990s, one of its three high schools was closed --but district still operates two high schools, three middle schools and 15 elementary schools. In total, the district serves more than 10,000 students though an operating budget that exceeds $80 million.
 
In addition to the traditional schools, the district also operates the Taylor Career Center, a training-based facility that stresses job skills in specific professional and industries areas such as allied health, business services technology, cosmetology, computer systems, construction technology and culinary arts. The career center provides more than just classroom training, instead putting the emphasis on real-world scenarios students soon will face once they are working.
 
Throughout the district, there are a number of program place to target specific areas of student performance. Among those programs is Project: T.L.C., or Technology Literacy Curriculum. The program provides teachers with four weeks of comprehensive instruction in the use of technology for classroom applications. Following that training, some teachers are elected to be "technology coordinators" to serve as in-school technology liaisons. The end result, then, is technology experts throughout the district, right where the students can use them the most. The School Board meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at the district's offices at 23033 North Line Road. For more information, call 374-1206.

Trenton Veterans Memorial Library
Constructed on the same site, the new library covers 21,000 square feet making it capable of increasing its book collection to over 90,000 volumes. Patrons have access to Internet, electronic information, increased programming for children, access to Trenton's historical documents. The new building is designed to adapt to future changes in library technology. For over seventy years Trenton has provided a library to the community. As the new millennium approaches, Trenton can take pride in continuing its heritage and tradition of providing quality library services.

Brownstown Township
21313 Telegraph Road
Brownstown, MI 48183-1399
SE corner of Telegraph / King Road
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