The Cassopolis Board of Education unanimously voted to set graduation dates for 2017-19 for the Sunday following Memorial Day at its regular meeting at Squires Education Center Monday.

Board member Jesse Binns was absent from the meeting.

The board also voted unanimously to begin school for the 2016-17 year the Tuesday after Labor Day.

Cassopolis traditionally has started the Wednesday following Labor Day and hosted open houses on Tuesday.

But with the addition of five extra days to the school calendar this coming year as mandated by the State of Michigan, Cassopolis Superintendent Tracy Hertsel recommended starting a day earlier.

The district is continuing to move forward with the proposed sale of Red Brick School and its property.

Hertsel informed the board that he has met with Jefferson Township officials and is working with the district’s lawyer to get the property posted for sale.

The board accepted a 90-day leave of absence without pay for teacher Linda Vite and approved an overnight field trip to Central Michigan University for the Ranger band in July.

Two presentations were also made at the meeting — one about the advance art class’ trip to Chicago and the other by the Sam Adams History team, which won the Michigan History Day competition and will now travel to Washington, D.C. to compete nationally.

The board also hired Cristy Ernst, Lindsay Gorham, Cheryl Rogers and Alisha McCoy to teach elementary summer school. It also recommended that Lindsey Carlisle and Katie Stermer be hired as additional summer school teachers.

Janice Gatson will be the new girls varsity basketball coach, replacing Nate Pittman.

Stephon Luckey will be the middle school track coach and Nick Davis, both former Rangers, will be the middle school football coach.