Throughout this past week, Lakeshore Middle School students participated in the Lakeshore Winterfest filled with school spirit activities.

White Pines Middle School students will soon have new a new way of filling water bottles.

Despite a renewed push, expansion of a state turnaround entity for failing public schools beyond Detroit remains in trouble in the Legislature, where some majority Republicans still have concerns about a top initiative for Gov. Rick Snyder.

Although Wednesday’s Count Day creates only about 10 percent of per-pupil funding, local schools use that money for operational costs such as salaries, programs, supplies and services.