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Teachers, students urge board to keep Okemos journalism course and student newspaper
Summary
Multiple teachers and students told the board the OHS journalism course and OS Press student newspaper should be retained for 2026–27; speakers said enrollment figures cited by administration undercount current interest and stressed the program’s civic and career value.
Several speakers during the public-comment period urged the Okemos board to preserve the high school journalism course and the OS Press student newspaper for the 2026–27 school year.
Eric Potter, an English teacher at Okemos High School who advises the school newspaper, told trustees he had not been informed of a proposed cut until April 9 and that enrollment outreach since then shows growing interest: "I have over 15 pupils for the course," he said, adding that the registrar’s figure had been 12. He described the class as a student-driven, real-world reporting program that supports civic engagement and trains future student leaders and journalists.
Corey Gossman, a humanities teacher with eight years in the district, argued program quality should not be judged solely by raw enrollment numbers and said the OS Press is a high-quality, student-led newspaper that supports critical thinking. Student Quinton Reynolds said the program provided essential early experience for students pursuing journalism and called the opportunity "a launch pad into other careers."
Trustees asked administration to follow up with details about the scheduling threshold used to cancel classes and for historical enrollment data; trustees noted this is a substantive issue with implications for student voice and civic learning. Interim superintendent and board staff signaled they will gather information and return with clarification.
Where it stands: the public speakers asked the board to intervene with administration to keep the program on the schedule and to provide clear enrollment numbers and any alternatives; trustees requested a report back with threshold and historical numbers to inform future action.
